DESPERATE STRUGGLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10972, 28 January 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

DESPERATE STRUGGLE.

HOUSEHOLDER AND ALLEGED BURGLAR, Hardy Watson, 25, a well-dressed, tall young fellow, who gave no account of himself, was charged at North London Policecourt a few days ago with feloniously attempting to break and enter a warehouse in Hulas-street, Tollingtou Park( with intent to steal therein the goods of Henry Willian Short, an electrician, of Gamvick House, llarnet. There Has a further charge against j the prisoner of maliciously wounding the i prosecutor by striking him on the head with a jemmy. I The prosecutor, whose head was enveloped \ in surgical bandages, said at nine o'clock on Friday night he was in a room on the ground Hour at his warehouse when be heard a kick at the door. Believing that boys were playing in the neighbourhood he took no notice. Presently a key was placed in the lock, and an attempt was made to open it, but it failed. Then there was a cracking of wood. Witness crept up to the dour, and, suddenly throwing it open, grabbed the prisoner, who was standing there with a jemmy in his hand. Prisoner struck witness on the head with the jemmy, and noke away. Witness followed, and iMino up with him in Eversloigh Uoad, where a desperate struggle ensued. Prisoner turned upon him. and struck out again with the jemmy, billing witness three or four i limes on the head. They closed, and both fell to the ground. There he managed to wrench the jimmy from prisoner, and, while holding the man down with his right hand, he threw the weapon as far as he could away from him with his loft. Then they both gut up. and prisoner seized witness, pushing him against the wall, and endeavouring to strike him in the stomach with his knee. He succeeded in bringing witness' head in contact with the wall, and then he ran away. Though half-stunned and blinded with blood, witness followed, shouting "Stop thief!" Two gentlemen took up the chase, and finally prisoner was handed over to the police. Mr. Clarence Edwin Rapsun, a Stock Exchange clerk, residing at Bickertou Road, Dartmouth Park Hill, said he saw the accused and prosecutor running in Tollington Park. Prosecutor was shouting "Stop thief!" and he asked for assistance. Witness followed prisoner, caught him, and detained him until assistance arrived. He then fetched the police. Dr. Michael Bulger said that he was called to the police station to attend to Mr. Short, who bad the following injuries: A lacerated wound over the right eye half an inch long and penetrating to the bone; an incised wound on the right side of the head one inch long ; an incised wound one and a-half inches long on the top of the head; another on tho top of the forehead, left side, and and aquarter inches long; a lacerated and contused wound on the right index finger, and several abrasions on the back of the left hand. Ho had lost a great quantity of blood. Constable Henderson said two door keys were found on prisoner. Sub-divisional Inspector Mountficld said that he made a search in Eversleigh Road, and in a builder's yard near where the strggle took place he found a blood-stained jemmy. On going to the door in Dulasstreet be found that this instrument corresponded with the marks upon it. Prisoner was subsequently charged with the attempted warehouse breaking and with maliciously wounding. In reply, prisoner said, " I only struck him once." Tho prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial.