INTRUDER IN NIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19377, 12 July 1926, Page 10

INTRUDER IN NIGHT.

SMART CAPTURE EFFECTED. STRUGGLE IN AN HOTEL. PROPRIETOR SECURES HIS MAN.A sensational capture of a very daring burglar was made by Mr. E. H. Cucksey, j the proprietor of the Prince Arthur Hotel, in the small hours of Sunday morning. Mr. Cucksey had retired before midnight, but shortly before two o'clock in the morning he awoke suddenly. He did not know what aroused him, but in the half-light he could see the form of a man in the corner of the room where he kept his clothes. Surprised, ho asked him what ho was doing there, but the intruder turned and made off through the door. Mr. Cucksey jumped out of bed and gave chase. The intruder went down the stairs with the proprietor in hot pursuit. He was evidently unfamiliar with the plan of the, building, for at the foot of .the stairs he turned to the left and went along a blind passage leading to the private bar. Mr. Cucksey knew that ho had cut off his retreat and. followed him. Near the end of the passage he came to grips with the burglar and a struggle ensued which ended in Mr. Cucksey bringing down his antagonist. So great was the noise of the wind outside that no one in the hotel had heard the sounds of the struggle on the ground floor, so Mr. Cucksey decided to take his prisoner to the foot of the stairs and get assistance while he telephoned for the police. The man struggled violently and tho pair were at grips at the bottom of the stairs, with Mr. Cucksey uppermost, when a boarder and tho night porter arrived and took over the prisoner. The police were then summoned and the captured man was handed over to them. v It appears that Mr. Cucksey's clothes had been ransacked. They had been hanging up in a corner of the room and were found littering up the floor in the corner. It is not definitely known how the man gained entrance to the hotel, but both the front and back doors were unlocked. BURGLARIES AT EPSOM. TWO CASES REPORTED. Two cases of breaking and entering and theft occurred at Epsom on Friday night. The shop of Mr, .Geprge Bar.tley, chemist, in Manukau Road, opposite the tram barn, Was entered, the door being forced and about £5 in cash was stolen. Porter's dye works in Market Road were also broken into, entrance being effected through a side window. A suit, of clothes and 19s 6d in cash were taken from the premises.