SHOOTING IN SHOREDITCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHOOTING IN SHOREDITCH.

EXCITING CHASE AND CAPTURE OF

ALLEGED THIEVES. The story of an exciting chase was told at Worship-Street Police Court the other day, when two powerful young men, George Elston, 19, and George Lawrence, 27, were charged with the unlawful possession of a quantity of jewellery, supposed to be stolen, and Lawrence was further charged with feloniously shooting .at three police officers with intent to murder, and with feloniously wounding Police-Sergeant Hart, with intent to murder him. '■■ Detective-Sergeant Pride deposed that when in Old-street, Shored itch, with Detec-tive-Sergeant Hodson, they saw prisoners, who were looking into the window of a jeweller's shop there. Lawrence evidently saw and knew witness, and nudged the other man, both then walking away. Witness and Hodson walked after them," the men turning into Rivington-street. On witness and Hodson arriving at that corner the men had so far made use of their being out of sight that they had commenced to run, and were already 200 yards ahead. It being useless to commence a pursuit at that distance witness and Hodson turned back through New Inn Yard and across a bystreet in High-street, Shoreditch, expecting that the men might turn out that way. They had done so and witness sew them walking in the High-street on the other side of the way. (letting behind a van witness ran out and seized Elston, who wrenched himself away, but was again seized, and witness fell with him to the ground. With the aid of another constable Elston was secured and taken to the station, where witness found on him two watches, two chains, a neck chain, a silver matchbox, two gold rings, a scaifpin, and many other articles of jewellery, which witness had no doubt were the proceeds of a burglary. At the station Elston said the other man knew nothing of the things. When struggling on the ground with Elston witness, heard revolver shots, and someone remarked, " He's shooting." Lawrence was shortly afterwards brought into the station and charged. Among the things found on Elston were two ball cartridges, and the magistrate asked if they fitted the revolver found, remarking that the act of one shooting made his companion equally responsible.

Detective-Sergeant Hodson corroborated as to the pursuit into Shoreditch, and added tint when the two men separated and Elston was seized Lawrence ran off, pursued by Witness and P.O. Til ley. He ran into French Alley, Tilley being close up. Witness saw Lawrence raise his arm and present a revolver, which he fired. Sergeant Hart had joined in the chase, and followed prisoner into French Alley after the shot. Then, another shot was fired, and just as Sergeant. Hart and another constable got clos* up there was a third shot. The next moment Lawrence was secured, and Sergeant Hart took the revolver and handed it to witness later. When Lawrence was searched seven cartridges were found on him. together with a loaded life preserver and a knife. At the station prisoner said to Sergeant Hart. who wa« bleeding from a wound in the band and wrist caused by a bullet having traversed the surface. " I am very sorry ; it was not meant for you." Inspector Eldridge said that Sergeant Hart was not seriously wounded, but was suffering from shock, and by advice of the divisional surgeon was to 'be kept quiet. He was not in attendance. Prisoners were remanded.