An Exciting Chase.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8619, 25 March 1897, Page 2

An Exciting Chase.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent),

Auckland, March 25.

Yesterday afternoon tho premises of Mr George Garrett, butcher, Karangahape road, were broken into and entered, and a man named William Knox caught red-handed on the premises with a quantity of household requisites and goods packed up ready for removal, who bolted after a hand-to-hand struggle with Mr Garrett, and was subsequently captured after an exciting chase by some Karangahape Road tradesmen and handed over to the custody of the police. It appears that Mr and Mrs Garrett had gone out to have their photographs taken, and yesterday afternoon being the statutory half-holiday, their premises were closed. Mr Garrett had occasion to return home to change his coat, and upon putting the latchkey in the door he was surprised to find it give. On entering he saw a sack on the floor with a number of things in it, and' a man standing beside it, afterwards identified as William Knox. He said to Knox, " What are you doing here ?" but he gave no reply, and Mr Garrett caught hold of him, and they struggled together on to the pavement, the former calling out for assistance. In the meantime Knox fell from the pavement on to the roadway, grazing his hands, Mr Garrett also coming down on his knees, and before he could get up Knox had got off, and headed away j|own East street. The hue and cry being raised, a young man named McKeown started in pursuit. Messrs Batkin (draper) and Reid (jeweller) also took up the chase, and went down another side street with a view of intercepting Knox if he should double back on McKeown. On their getting down the street they found that McKeown had got hold of Knox, and the two men were struggling on the roadway together. On their coming up he was secured and taken back to Mr Garrett's shop. Messengers were at once sent to the Newton, High street, and Freeman's Bay police stations, but in each case the constables were found to be absent on police business. Eventually Constable Walker was informed of the matter by a passing cyclist. In the interval after Knox was taken back to Mr Garrett's premises, and before the arrival of the police, he got very demonstrative, and seized, it is stated, a knife in the shop. Mr Batkin seized his arm, whereupon he dropped the knife. But for the prompt action of Messrs McKeown, Batkin, and Reid, there is little doubt Knox would have got away. Hundreds of people congregated in Karangahape road, at Mr Garrett's premises, when the capture became known.

An examination of the premises shows that an entrance was effected by the kitchen back window, the upper half being pushed down, as the muddy marks of boots were on the sills. The articles put together, apparently for removal, were of the most varied character, and were as follow : Six horns, polished; 1 carving knife and fork, 11 knives, 7 spoons, 5 forks, 2 bottles black currants, 3 bottles of preserved plums, 1 lib sausages and 4 loaves, 6 table cloths, 2 smocks, 1 coat, 1 windowblind, 2 towels, 11 aprons, 10 napkins, 1 piece chamois leather, 1 piece print, 1 tea cosey. A bottle of whisky was also in a sack with the goods, but Mr Garrett stated it was not bis property. It will be remembered that Knox pleaded guilty at the last Supreme Court criminal sessions to receiving stolen goods, and in view of the faqt that he had rendered assistance to the police—was bound over in his own recognisance of £25 to appear for sentence at the next sitting of the Court.