HINDENBURG & BURGLAR

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2143, 28 December 1920, Page 3

HINDENBURG & BURGLAR

REVOLVER THAT DID NOT GO OFF How, in his villa at Hanover, FieldMarshal von Hindenburg wrestled with a burglar, was told in court in that city recently (says the Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle"). Whon the . .Field-Marshal appeared, judges and the public all stood up, and there was slight cheoring. Two men, it appeared, entered the garden of the villa, and holped .themselves liberally to pears. Then one of them, Albert Gallin, thought there might be something of value in the house, and eutcred by the verandah window. Hindenburg said he was disturbed by a noise in the room next, to that in which he was sitting and entered it to find the accused, whom he at once seized by the collar. He had to drag the young burglar into the next room | in order to reach a bell, so as to raise I the alarm. In the struggle a small cabinet was kno'-ked over, and a chair broken. Gallin wrenclud himself free and pulled out a revolver. The Field-Marshal then tried an upper-cut on the young man's chin, but that did not put him out, of action. He pulled the trigger of the revolver, but three cartridges tailed to go off. At the fourth effort, Gallin fired a bullet into the floor. Ho then calmly i walked to the table, took his hat, ami, ! covering the Field-Marshal with the rcjvolver, retreated to the window. I" "Now, hands up or I fire," Gallin said as he opened it. Hearing somelone coming along the corridor, tit* young man thought it best, however, not to prolong the incident, ami so he Slipped down to the ground and disappeared, to be arrested shortly afterwards. Gallin declared he was unaware hehad to do with such a famous parson. and added that when he found himself in the house he was struck with remorse, and waited for sojfteone to come to whom he might surrender. The prosecution emphasised the seriousness of the case, happening as it. did in the same week as the murder in Admiral Schcer's house.-but the Court

decided that there was nothing political in the affair. Gallin was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment. Hindenburg was loudly applauded as ho loft the court.