ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18875, 13 May 1931, Page 9

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.

DUNEDIN SENSATION. By Telerrapn—Pres* Association DUNEDIN, May 12. A sensational attempt at a burglary, accompanied by violence, occurred just before mid-night at the premises of Messrs. W. G. Rossiter, pawnbroker and jeweller, George Street. Mr Rossiter was working in a window, with the door ajar, when two men entered, knocking him down when he attempted to resist. Mrs Rossiter, coming to help, received a head blow and was later sent to hospital with head injuries and shock. Mr C. Vennall, a watchmaker on the other side of the street, heard the noise and rushed over, armed with a screwdriver, and forced an entry. One man bolted upstairs, and the other reached for a weapon, but Mr Vennall intimidated him. The Police then arrived, securing the captured man, who is about 35, an Englishman, who has been in New Zealand a few years. The other man had apparently jumped from the upstairs window to adjoining premises, dropping thence to the street in the Octagon. So far he has not been traced. It now appears that Mr Rossiter was removing jewellery from the window to a safe when a knock on the door interrupted him. He opened the door when two men pushed in. One pummelled Mr Rossiter, who is over 60 years old, floored and throttled him, while the other removed rings from the window. It was then that Mrs Rossiter appeared on the stairs, and was knocked unconscious. Her daughter heard the crash of the fall and jumped in her night clothes from the upstairs window to the verandah roof, 8 feet below, raisins? an alarm. When Mr Vennall arrived he saw Mr Rossiter on the floor, under his assailant. He broke the glass top of the door, unlocked it, and confronted Saunders, a powerful man, 6 feet tall. Mr Vennall had a heavy screwdriver in his hand, which he pointed at Saunders, threatening to blow his brains out. The bluff of having a revolver was successful, and the man was easily held till the police arrived. Rings were strewn all over the shop. It is believed the man who escaped got away with a few. Mr Rossiter was unable to leave bed to-day. He is suffering from a badly swollen throat. Mrs Rossiter’s injuries are not serious. Robert Saunders (36), a native of England, appeared at the Police Court charged v. l u h assaulting Walter Gabriel Rossiter, with intent to rob. He was remanded for 8 days. SECOND ARREST MADE. By Telegraph—Press *ssociat!on DUNEDIN, May 12. As a result of a vigorous police search, a second man was arrested tonight and will be charged in the morning with assaulting Rossiter, with intent to rob him.