BURGLARS IN THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18348, 14 March 1923, Page 9

BURGLARS IN THEATRE.

NIGHT WATCHMAN SHOT.

SENSATION IN BRISBANE.

As the outcome of sensational incidents in the Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane, early, one morning recently, John Salmon, 23, nightwatchman, is now in hospital in a serious condition, suffering from gunshot wounds in the left shoulder.

At about 2 a.m. several boarders in the Albert Hotel, next door, were awakened by revolver shots, and a desperate cry of someone for help. Two boarders jumped the dividing fence, and • found Salmon with his revolver in his hand, vid bleeding profusely from a wound in the shoulder above the heart. Efforts were made to staunch the flow of blood, but Salmon said, "For God's sake, put the fire out. Somebody broke in, and when I interrupted them they shot me." He then collapsed, and was taken to hospital in a serious condition. A small fire was found in the basement, but was quickly extinguished by the brigade on its 'arrival. At the hospital Salmon showed signs of improvement, and told a story that he beard a noise in the dress circle, and, picking up his revolver, went to investigate. mediately he opened the door of his room, which "opens on to the dress circle,, an electric torch was flashed in his face and someone' shot him. The intruders then ran down the circle to the back of the stage and made their escape down the laneway dividing the hotel from the theatre. He"fired two shots at them, but does not know whether they took effect. The doctors have been so far unable to remove the bullet from the wound. Robbery was evidently the motive, for a portion of the previous night's "takings were in the theatre at the time of the occurrence.