CONSTABLE HURT

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 8

CONSTABLE HURT

CRUSHED AGAINST CAR ATTEMPT TO STOP THIEF . BRAVERY RECOGNISED (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 26. The courage displayed by Constable Edward Stew'art on the night of September 19 when he attempted to arrest a motor car thief in Grey Lynn, received public recognition when he was presented with a cheque for £lOO from the New Zealand Motorists. Constable Stewart was seriously injured when he was crushed against a stationary car and he is still a patient at the Auckland Hospital, where the presentation was made by the Mayor, Mr G. W. Hutchison. “I am here as Mayor of the city at the request of all the Automobile Associations of the Dominion to present to you something tangible to mark motorists’ appreciation of . your attempt to apprehend what motorists call a car thief, but which the law is pleased to term a converter of cars,” said Mr Hutchison. The cheque had been subscribed by members of eight Automobile Associations and also by the Pioneer Sports Club and the Ashburton, South Canterbury, Southland and Nelson Motor Cycle Clubs. Inspector Hollis on behalf of the Police Department thanked the Automobile Associations for the enthusiastic manner in which they had taken the matter up. Constable Stewart had simply done his duty. It was very pleasing for the men of the department to know that motorists thought so much of the constable’s efforts that they had made him a handsome presentation.

The Inspector said he hoped Constable Stewart would not be permanently crippled. Whatever happened he would be retained in the service as long as his health allowed. “I only did what any other constable would do under the circumstances,” said Constable Stewart. “Any other constable would do the same thing tomorrow in such a case. It is only a matter of doing your duty.” Constable Stewart added that he was only sorry that his attempt to catch the thief had not been successful, as it was seldom that the police got the opportunity of catching such an offender red-handed. The handsome cheque would compensate him for the injuries he had received. He asked that his appreciation should be conveyed to all those interests which had subscribed to the presentation.