FIGHT WITH BURGLAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3772, 29 June 1926, Page 36

FIGHT WITH BURGLAR

YOUTH'S PLUCKY ACTION. CHRISTCHURCH. Juno 22. “I think that it is timely to make a statement on behalf of the public commend ing the action of this youth, Geoffrey Rush worth, in attacking accused as he did under the circumstances. Although accused got away he left evidence which enabled him to be identified. The Chief Detective has just told me that accused has a long list of previous oonvietions. The action of this youth of 18 years has prevented the pro perty of citizens from being further despoiled.” These words were spoken by Mr H. A. Young, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at the conclusion of the hearing of a charge of breaking entering, and theft at Shirley, against Joseph John M'Clintock. Chief Detective Gibson endorsed the magistrate 3 statement, and aded that a passing motorist had refused to give assistance to ihe youth when struggling with the man. M‘Clintock was charged with breaking and entering by night the dwelling house of Harold Rushworth and stealing £7 10s in money. Harold Rushworth, of 21 Golf Links road, Shirley, said that he had a son called Geoffrey. On June 12 he and his wife retired to bed at 11 p.m. All the doors were closed, but the back door was not locked, as bis son was out. At 1.15 the next morn ing he examined his cash box and found £6 missing. Some money was also missing from nis wife’s purse and bag. His son was with him at the ti tie and they went half a mile down the Lhirley road. They found £5 10s during the darkness and 10s after daylight. The notes found were identical with the missing ones. Accused had no right to enter his house at the time Geoffrey Rushworth, son of the previous witness, said he was returning home at a quarter to one in the morning. He noticed a racing bicycle against the fence of his home. He went towars the back yard and saw the shadow of a man coming to the bicycle Witness followed on his bicycle and caugh* up with the man within half a mile. Witness accused the intruder of being on the premises illegally. This was denied and witness tried to make the man return. They had a fight, and witness got an electric torch, some silver and a money bag from the man. The intruder broke away at the corner of Shirley and Marshland roads where he ran across the pad docks leaving the bicycle. Witness recognised the man as M'Clintock, now in the dock. Jack Suckling, a cycle dealer, recognised the bicycle produced in court as one cf his make He held a bailment over it signed by accused. Detective J. Bickerdike said that on June 15, in company with Acting-detective Studholm, he arrested accused a 9 Papanui. M'Clintock admitted the offence and said that he had had a fight with a man. and had got away. He identified the bicycle as his' property. M'Clintock had nothing to say and pleaded guilty. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was not asked for.