POLICE DTJTY IN MELBOURNE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5563, 10 March 1886, Page 3

POLICE DTJTY IN MELBOURNE.

The Melbourne police have brisk work, occasionally, as the following extract from. I a late Argus will show : — Detective Coleman, assisted by Constables Thompson andl Skeehan, of Port Melbourne, last evening effected a smart capture of two desperate burglars, under circumstances of greafc personal danger. From information received they proceeded to a house in Albert street, Port Melbourne, for the purpose of arresting two men who, it was believed, had on the previous evening broken, into the Btoro. of' Mr Drake, at the corner of Boss and Bridge streets, and stolen .therefrom about/ .£lO worth of goods. On looking., into the yard they saw a. wellknown criminal named Foster, who was arrested, but not before he had fought and kicked like a maniac. The officers then went- to the front door of the bouse, but were threatened by a man .inside that if they attempted to come in they weald be killed. Detective Coleman,. however, was not deteared by the threats, and, smashing the doer in, rushed upon the man, who aimed' a tremendous blow at tb» officer's head with a rifle. Coleman had just time to dodge, and received a blow on the hand, that almost disabled him. ConstablesThompson and Skeehan eameto-thereacuo*. audit/he man, who proved to be- a notorious criminal named John Mountain, was handcuffed, and with his accomgtioe taken to the Post Melbourne lockup. On searching the piemises, the whole of tike goods stolen from Mr Drake's stone were recovered, together with a lady's silver mosaic bracelet, a number of other articles of jewellery, &&3 burglars' implements.