YOUTH SHOT IN CHEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22064, 21 September 1933, Page 10

YOUTH SHOT IN CHEST

STRUGGLE IN DARKNESS

A DESPERATE BURGLAR

VICTIM’S FORTUNATE ESCAPE

(Special to Daily Times.)

CHRISTCHURCH, September 20. Shot in the chest when he grappled with a burglar in the stable yard of his father’s farm at Kirwee last evening, Allott Gilbert Gallagher, aged 19, lies in the Christchurch Hospital to-day while four members of the police force are engaged in a search for his assailant. Gallagher was shot without warning when he seized a masked man who suddenly ran out of the car-shed and endeavoured to get away as the youth entered the yard. By the time he had aroused the other members of the family his assailant has disappeared,’ leaving behind a small sack containing the magneto which he had stolen from a tractor in the yard. The bullet entered the youth’s chest a little above the heart in a slanting direction. Fortunately for the victim he was wearing a heavy overcoat, and the bullet passed through his overcoat, coat, and braces before it entered his body. He was not dangerously injured. The wound was small and was made evidently with a pea-rifle or small-calibre revolver. The shot must have been fired at very close range as the young ■man’s overcoat was singed. Gallagher lives with bis father, Mr David Gallagher, and two brothers and two sisters on his father’s farm, which is situated on the main west road about three miles past Kirwee. The farm buildings are about 200 yards back from the road, a drive leading into the stables and other out-buildings, and the house being situated to the left of these. The yard is square in shape, with some buildings in the centre and backing towards the road. The shed in which Mr Gallagher’s car is garaged is on the other side of the yard. Behind the central buildings a farih tractor has been standing for the last few days. The family has lived in the district for about 17 years and is widely known and highly respected. . - Last evening Allott Gallagher and his younger brother, Graham, went into Kirwee at 7 o’clock to attend a Bible class, both boys cycling. The class finished about 9.30 p.m. and the boys stood in conversation for a while in Kirwee with some friends. Then Graham cycled home, leaving his brother talking to another boy. About 10.15 p.m. the elder Gallagher began to cycle home. When he had gone about a mile the pedal came off his cycle and he walked the rest of the way. . As young Gallagher entered the yard on the farm and turned towards the carshed a man suddenly appeared in the doorway of the shed. The night was dark and cloudy and the boy could not see the man clearly. He challenged him, and the man ran away to the other side of the yard, where there is a gate leading to the back paddocks, carrying with him a email sack.

Gallagher chased him, caught him, and grabbed the sack which the man was carrying. He called to the house for help, holding firmly to the sack with one hand and to the shoulder of the man’s coat with the other. He called again for help. Then, without warning, the masked man half-turned and fired. Gallagher fell, still clinging tightly to the sack, and the man disappeared. For a while the boy lay where he had fallen, calling for help, but the rest of the household was In bed, and although the gate is only two or three chains from the house there is a thick macrocarpa hedge between. Gallagher finally made his way to the house, where he roused his father and brothers. They ran out to the ear. They found that the burglar had taken the distributor off the car and had interfered with the wiring. When the necessary adjustments had been made it was too late to start searching through the darkness for tho assailant. The sack hia victim had taken from him was found by the gate, and it contained the magneto from tho tractor. The youth was attended by Dr Charles E. Reid, of Barfield, and was ordered into hospital. Although it is clear young Gallagher grappled with a desperate man who was fully armed and prepared to go to any limit to avoid capture the nature of his looting is somewhat amazing. Having taken the magneto from the tractor he was apparently engaged in stripping parts from the car when he was disturbed. He had not entered the house, and the desperate nature of his resistance is difficult to reconcile with the minor nature of the thieving. The Christchurch police started to work on the case early this morning, and at 6.30 a.m. detectives Thompson, J. J. Halcrow, and J. C. C.' Edwards were at Kirwee. They are being assisted by Constable J. J. Clements, who is on relief duty at Barfield. Gallagher is reported to be progressing satisfactorily in hospital. Gallagher’s condition to-night was reported to be satisfactory. Chief Selective Bunlop stated that there had been no new developments.