POLICE FIRE SHOTS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1930, Page 9

POLICE FIRE SHOTS

CAR STRUCK FIVE TIMES. - . STRUGGLE WITH MOTORISTS. The disappearance of a motor-car from Parramatta, Sydney, on the night of Saturday, August 23, had a sensational sequel in Newtown early the following morning. The car was seen by the police, a constable fired six shots, and later on Joseph Lloyd Swan, aged 18, was admitted to hospital with a bullet wound in the back. The car was recovered in Alexandria. It boro the marks of five bullets. The police subsequently arrested two men, one of whom was suffering from a bullet wound in the left shoulder, and the other a wound in the hand. The car, which was the property of Mr. Donald A. McLeod, of Merrylands, had been left parked in a street at Parramatta, about 8 p.m., but when the owner went to get it at 11 p.m., it was missing. The police were at once notified, and immediately circulated the nupiber and description of the car, Whiph is believed to have been taken to Mnrrlckville, where the driver was joined by two companions, the party then setting out for the city. While Constables Kelly and Harrison were on duty in Newtown, about 3.30 a.m., on Sunday, they saw the car, and, “being mounted on bicycles, at once set out in pursuit. They had not gone far when they noticed the car turn slowly into another street. Kelly followed, Harrison taking another route so as to intercept it,’if possible. “We’re police. Stop that car. It has been stolen,” shouted Kelly as he drew abreast of the driver. “Get out, or I’ll run you down,” replied one of the occupants, and, action being suited to the words, the car was backed towards them, Kelly’s bicycle being smashed. By this time the constable was on the footboard: There was a struggle and he was pushed to the roadway. Theear was now in King Street and in forward gear. Kelly recovered himself and regained the footboard, but was again thrown into the road as the car dashed forward. “Stop, or I’ll shoot,” he cried. The cur drove on and disappeared, but not before it had been hit by'five out of the six shots fired by Kelly. Shortly before 4 a.m., the Central Ambulance received a call to Waterloo, where a man had been found in a state of collapse, with a bullet wound in his back. He was taken to a hos ital and admitted by Dr. Gunther in. such a •serious condition that it was thought necessary to take his dying depositions. He gave the name of Joseph Lloyd Swan, and an address at Marrickville. Tho ear was found abandoned not far from the Redfern railway station.

Later on detectives visited a, house at Marrickville and arrested two young men. One of them had a bullet wound in the left shoulder and the other had the tip of a finger shot away. They were charged with stealing. Another car that had been taken from near the military training ground at Marrickville was found abandoned at Parramatta.