THE "KING" OF BURGLARS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7239, 28 October 1901, Page 2

THE "KING" OF BURGLARS.

-* HEAD OF AN ARMED GANG SENT TO PENAL SERVITUDE. One of the most desperate and successful burglars dn the country stood in the dock at the Old Bailey lately, confronting Mr Ju.stio3 Bucknill and a jury. Among Scotland Yard detectives he is known as " Shooting Harrison," because he has never hesitated to use a revolver. His real name is John Harrison. Most of his friends are burglars, and he is the "king" of the gang. Two of them are now undergoing sentences of twenty years' penal servitude, awd one is serving ten years. Harrison's career has been a remarkabh one. Up to the day he stood in the dock again recently he had been convicted sis times. In. 1897 he was released from penal servitude on tiekot-of-leave. He failed to report himself as required by the ticket-, and in November, 1898, Police Constable Goy and oilier officers went to a hcuse in Sigden Roud, Dalston, to arrest him on a warrant. They knocked at. the door, whereupon j Harrison rushed into the garden, where I Goy encountered him. Harrison kicked Goy, fired at- him with a revolver, and leapt over a wall. Goy followed, and Har. rison fired another shot and then managed to get clear away. Fortunately, Goy was not struck by either bullet. For nearly three -rears after this Harrison was lost to the police. A few week; ago Detect ive-Sergeant Macarthy, of Scot- | land Yard, learned that Harrison. und«i the name of Warner, kept a shop in New Road, Battersea. The detective and a comrade went, there, s:~d Harrison, guessing the nature of theii errand, made a desperate attempt to get tc a shelf in the shop, but was quickly secured. There was a revolver on the shelf '•Yes," .'-aid Harrison, when shown :th« weapon, "liberty is sweet, and if I couk have got hold of it I would have used it.' j The Judge highly cemmended Goy, aiu ; ■ sentenced Harrisuii to twelve yeai'a' pena. i servitude.