SENSATIONAL BURGLARY AT MELBOURNE

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 64

SENSATIONAL BURGLARY AT MELBOURNE

A CONSTABLE SHOT DEAD TWO BURGLARS WOUNDED. MELBOURNE, October 1. There was a sensational encounter between the police and three burglars at the Trades Hall, in Lygon street, Carlton, resulting in Constable M'Grath being shot dead and two of the intruders—John Jackson and Richard Buckley—being wounded. The constable on duty at the Trades Hall had his suspicions aroused by hearing a slight sound as of sawing, and sent for assistance. A posse of police surrounded the building, and on entering were met by a volley of revolver shots, to which they replied. When the lights were turned on two men -were seen running along the corridor, and M'Grath hurried along the passage, where he was subsequently found in a dying condition. The two burglars then rushed for the door amid a rapid exchange of shots between them and the police. Jackson was wounded in the thigh and one of his ankles was broken. He was secured in the building. Buckley, who was seriously wounded in the neck, collapsed after reaching the yard. In the meantime the third burglar (named Ward) was caught while attempting to escape through a window. Constable M'Grath received two shots in the breast when entering the doorway of the corridor. Sub-inspector M'Kenna had a narrow escape. A burglar fired a shot which grazed him and entered the thigh of the second burglar, Jackson, who luckily was'in the line of fire. Jackson was treated at the hospital, and was subsequently, with Ward, charged with the murder of Constable M'Grath. The burglars’ objective was the office of the Typographical Society. The safe was found, wrenched off its stand. A portion of the steel back had been sawn off, and when interrupted the men -were prising it open with a jemmy. There have been several attempted burglaries at the Trades Hall lately. One of them succeeded, and £4OO was stolen. Since then the hall has been closely watched. October 2. Three men have been arrested. They are all builders’ labourers, and two of them are members of a union having rooms at the Trades Hall.