A BURGLAR SHOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9178, 6 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A BURGLAR SHOT.

At two o'clock on August Pi John Matthews, in the employ of Mr. Enos Reed, Monk's Farm, East Wickham, a lonely farmhouse between Woolwich and Bexley Heath, was about starting with a load of fruit for the London market, when he noticed a light in the sitting-room of the house. Thinking something was wrong, he tapped at the door with his whip, and the light immediately went out. lie then called up his master, saying, " Someone is in the house. You had better bring your gun down with you." Mr. Reed went down with a sixchambered revolver and a light. He said to the man, "Who's there?" and receiving no reply, challenged him a second time, saying, " if you don't tell me who you are, and what you are doing here, I shall shoot you." The man made no reply. Mr. Reed tired, ami the burglar fell on the floor, and exclaimed, " You have shot me. Don't fire again." They sent for the police, and Police-Constable Bentham, 442 R, went to the spot, and found the man still on the floor, shot in the thigh, and unable to stand. He searched hini, and found on him a chisel, gimlets, knife, a box of matches, and two pieces of wax candle. He made no statement, and was conveyed in a horse and cart belonging to Mr. Heed to the police station at Shooter's Hill, where he was attended to by Dr. Maxwell, the police surgeon, who ordered his removal to the Woolwich Infirmary. He was formally charged with burglariously breaking into the farmhouse, and gave the name of Frederick Saunders, refusing his address. He had effected an entrance by forcing back the catch of the window with the kn ;'c found on him. The charge-sheet was laid before Mr. Fen wick at the Woolwich Police Court, Inspector Taylor informing his worship that the accused had been shot, but was alive, and would bo brought up as ■ Boon .s he was able to appear.