AN ALERT WATCHMAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 12

AN ALERT WATCHMAN.

SUSPECTED SHOPBREAKERS. While on patrol duty in Elizabeth street, near BoUrke streef,, at 5.1.5 on the night of Saturday, April 13, David Mi sell, a night watchman employed by the business firms in the block, had his attention attracted by . a man who was walking across the road carrying a large bundle (says the Melbourne Age). A-price tag in red ink was hanging from the bundle. Misell followed the man irto a doorway in Post Office place, and there saw that the bundle consisted of nine shotguns. “ Pm. a night watchman,” he said; “what are you doing with all those guns?” The suspect replied that he belonged to the Bookmakers’ Club, and was returning from a shooting expedition, . Misell inquired if it was the man’s custom to go shooting with nine guns, each bearing a price tag, arid, the man replied: “Ton know top much; get out of the road.” At this juncture a taxi cab drove up, and a second man alighted and assisted the first suspect to load the guns into the taxi, in spite of the watchman’s protests. Just as the taxi was about, to drive off, a constable, who had been sent for by Misell, appeared, and leaving the guns in the taxi the men bolted. Misell chased 'one of them to Swanston street and on to a tram. Seeing he was pursued the man jumped off the tram and boarded another. Misell stuek to his heels, and gave him in charge to the traffic constable at the corner of Swanstou and Lonsdale streets. In the meantime the police patrol had brought the. taxi driver and the guns to Bussell street. Three-quarters of an hour later, in Elizabeth street, Misell encountered the second man. “ You’re the chap Ini looking for about those guns,” he said. The man took to his heels along Elizabeth street into Lonsdale street. After repeatedly calling to him to stop, Misell fired three shots over his head. The fugitive turned into Caledonia lane, and ran into the arms of Constable Scott, whose attention had been attracted by the noise of the shooting. An examination of the premises of the Small Arms Company, 229 Elizabeth street, showed that the iron grille in front of the entrance .had been forced, ■and a glass show case broken open ami rifled. The guns recovered by the police are similar to those stocked by the Small Anns Company. Later, at the City Watch House, William George Davis, 40 years, labourer, and Leslie William Wilkinson, 20 years, carrier, were jointly charged with having broken into the premises of the Small Arms Company., and stolen therefrom nine shotguns, valued at £IOO.