THE BURGLAR SCARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11605, 20 March 1901, Page 5

THE BURGLAR SCARE.

THE POLICE AND A MINE MANAGER.

A SERIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING. A regrettable affair, arising out of a serimisunderstanding between the police and a civilian, occurred in Shortland-street at about half-past two o'clock yesterday morning.'';; * ' '

It ' appears that Mr. H. C. Woolmer, manager of the Waitekauri Extended Gold Mining Company, arrived from the Thames about two a.m., and went to his office in Shortland-street,, for a key and a change of clothes there, prior to going to the Auckland Club, on the opposite side of the street. Mr. Brabant, the well-known tennis player, who came up with him in the same steamer, walked up with Mr. Woolmer as far as the foot of Shortland-street, and Mr. Woolmer went on to his office. Mr. Woolmer remained in the office about a-quarter of an hour. ;• Shortly after some plain clothes mpn, challenged a youth farther down Shortlandstreet, who was, on his way to his work. He replied that he was all right, but that there was a light in an office up the street, and a man inside. They went away to the spot, one stopping in front of the office and the others going up O'Connell-street, with a view to seeing if a light was in the back. Mr. Woolmer says he came down the staircase, making a good noise, and heard before he opened the door, a voice saying, " Who goes there?" He replied, "All right.": imagining it was the constable passing on his beat. On coming out he turned round to pull the door to, when a pair of arms gripped him. Thinking he was being attacked by robbers, Mr. Woolmer grappled with and struck at the man, at the same time calling out loudly for help. In the struggle his watch chain got broken and loose, which, as he had five sovereigns in a case on his chain, confirmed him in his impression that robbery was intended. In response to his cries two other men appeared to come round tho comer from O'Connell-street, and they joined with the first man in securing him. Seeing that thej were all in plain clothes, although late on he heard one of them say they were detectives, he thought it was only a ruse, and continued to struggle with the three men. Presently, one of them feeling blood on one of his hands, called out, " I'm stabbed." It was afterwards found out that the blood was from Mr. Woolmer, but one of the others, unaware of this, struck the unfortunate gentleman several severe blows on the head with his own walkingstick. ■

A policeman in uniform now appeared on the scene, with some others, and Mr. Woolmer at once gave himself up, under the impression that his supposed assailants would also be arrested. He was handcuffed, with a view to being taken to the Auckland police station, but he requested to be taken to the Auckland Club for identification. This suggestion the detectives, for such they proved to be, acceded to, and the party went across to the Auckland Club, where he was at once identified. The detectives, finding they had made a mistake, released him. Mr. Woolmer states that he was dressed in' riding breeches, with a felt hat, and at the time he was seized at the door of his office was carrying a walking-stick and a wicker basket in his hand, containing a change of clothes. He sustained several severe cuts on the head, and was attended by Dr. Parkes, who stitched four wounds on the head. He was confined to bed yesterday at the Auckland Club." One of the police party also sustained some injuries from falling back on the pavement in the melee. The police, on their side, say that they disclosed who they were at the outset, and snowed their lamps. It is apparent that the unfortunate affah arose from a deplorable misunderstanding on both sides, the police believing that they had secured a burglar, while Mr. Woolmer was under the impression that he was being assaulted and robbed.