FIGHT WITH INTRUDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27266, 17 December 1949, Page 7

FIGHT WITH INTRUDER

AUSTRALIAN SUPREME COURT JUDGE NZPA—Copyright SYDNEY, Dec. 16.

Two judges, one of the New South Wales Supreme Court, and the other of the Australian High Court, made their closest contact with crime last night. Mr Justice W. F. L. Owen, of the Supreme Court, was in the garden of his house at Rose?' Bay, when he saw a man attempting to enter through a window. The judge seized the intruder .by the legs and dragged him back on to the verandah. The man broke free, but" the judge again brought him down on the lawn and a fight ensued for 10 minutes. As he battled to subdue the man the judge called to his wife to telephone the police. She could not find the number, but she called a neighbour. Mr Justice D. Williams, of the High Court. . „ , Meanwhile Mr Justice Owen suffered a probable fractured hand, through landing a number of heavy punches on the intruder’s face and head. Mr Justice Williams run to the scene, brandishing a club, but the intruder broke clear and escaped through the back garden after smashing down a lattice fence. The would-be burgler is described by the two judges as a young man about six feet tall and weighing 14st, with a “large protruding jaw.” Mr Justice Owen added: ‘ I think his coat is considerably torn, and I hope his face is sore and as swollen as my rijpit hand."