SYDNEY SENSATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14567, 1 April 1918, Page 5

SYDNEY SENSATION.

ALLEGED OPIUM SMUGGLERS. ESCAPE UNDER. FIRE. A sensational incident occurred m Sydney on the morning of March 14. .Some time ago the Customs authorities suspected than an attempt would be made to land a large quantity of opium. A watch was set about the approaches to Mort'it Dock, Balmain, where an Island steamer manned by Chinese was-dry-docked. Just before 3 a.m. two men came off the boat, and disappeared. A few minutes later a motor car, with its hood raised, drove. tip to the dock gates, and was approached by a man carrying two bags. Two officers at once sprang from Uieir concealment, but the car was started, the man with the bags threw them into the back of the motor, and jumped m beside the driver. Gathering speed at every yard, the car dashed straight at the officers, who now commanded it to stop. The officers escaped being run down only by inches. Each fired four shots from his revolver m ouicfc succession, aiming at the tyres. But the car sped past with its precious freight. Further on two more officers endeavored to bail Tip the car, but the driver steered straight for them, and they had only time to spring out of the way as it tore past. These two officers fired eight more shots at the disappearing car, but the two occupants crouched low m their seats, and apparently escaped unharmed. Hearing distant shots and the noise of a car fast approaching, Sergeant Doyle, who was on his regular beat m Darling street. Balmain, stood out m the road and indicated to the car to stop, but paying jio heed, it rushed past him, missing him by a hair-breadth. Constable Welbourne, of Marrickville, who was on duty at Dulwich Hill tramterminus, next saw the car speeding towards him; and noted its number, on account of its excessive speed. The car was found abandoned m Burke street three hours latei*. Examination showed that one shot glanced off the bonnet and smashed the wind' screen, while another entered the back of the car and embedded itself m the rear seat. Last evening the police arrested James Law and Robert Campbell Powell on a charge of haying assembled for the pur•ise of smuggling opium from a steamer. In the Police Court next morning, Mr. Ferguson, instructed by the Federal Crown, solicitor, asked for a remand. He said £4000 worth of opium was still missing, and that other persons were implicated. l The remand was granted, bail being refused.