DUEL WITH POLICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19009, 9 May 1924, Page 10

DUEL WITH POLICE

OLD MAN’S STRANGE ACTS. SON-IN-LAW MURDERED NORTH SYDNEY SENSATION SYDNEY, April 24. It is many years since the Sydney police have engaged ,in a sustained revolver duel with a man they wanted to arrest, but on Easter Monday they took part in a thrilling shooting affray with a man who is said to have mur dered his son-in-law and then attempted to commit suicide. The sensational affair occurred in Hampden Street, North Sydney ,where, after his lunch, George Hawkins, 51, a carter, went upstairs to get some tobac co. Some minutes earlier John William Datson, his father-in-law, who stays at his home, and retired to his room, brooding over alleged wrongs. When Hawkins reached the top of the stairs his wife, who was washing the dishes, heard a shot, and her husband fell down stairs, mortally woun ded just under the heart. “Go for the doctor,” he commanded, and she ran out and called in Dr. Moreau, who had been attending Datson for some months. They returned to the place together, and it was then apparent there was no hope of saving Ha wkin’s life. Dr. ■Moreau and Mrs. Hawkins climbed the stairs, but Datson came from his room and menaced them with his revolver. To the doctor he said, “Get back or I’ll shoot you, too. There are two more to account for yet.” Deeming discretion the better part of valour they obeyed his order, and the doctor drove towards the police station, picking up Constable Coomber eu route. Again they returned to the house, and policeman and doctor essayed again to i surprise Datson and get his revolver. They were halfway up the stairs when Datson appeared again, and, presenting a revolver at them, said, “Go back. ’ ’ Both jumped over the staircase to safety, and the constable, realising that the two of them could do nothing without taking needless risks, telephoned for assistance, and a few minutes later met a party comprising three sergeants and two other constables as they reached the intersection of Alfred Hampden Streets. SHOTS EXCHANGED. “Truro,” the house where the shooting occurred, is about 30 yards from the intersection, and the police left the car there. Datson walked out to the balcony, and he beckoned to them. But when they ran towards the house he fired a shot in their direction. Constable Cummins fired in return, his bullet smashing the glass in the pale ony* six inches from Datson’s head. The latter turned to enter the house, and Coomber tired also, his bullet going through the open door. Cummins, Sergeant Travers, and Sergeant Dobson rushed the house then, and as they entered the front door Datson fired again from upstairs. Mounting the stairs together Travers and Cummins went to two doors opening on to the hall from either side. Travers could heas some one moving about the room outside which he was standing, and when he placed his hand on the doorknob another shot was fired from inside by Datson. With the object of making Datson expend all his ammunition, Travers fired two shits in a slanting direction through the lower panels of the door, but as there was no reply he smashed his way inside to find Datson, shot through the roof of his mouth, lying on the floor. “I’M SORRY.” “Why did you fire at the police,” Travers asked him, and Datson said •±’m sorry.” Datson was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he still lies in a critical condition. He is 74 years of age, and is not expected live. Years ago he was a watchman on one of the wharves, and one night two men attacked him and severely injured him. Since that time he has been under treatment by Dr. Moreau, and he has been subject to delusions, it is stated. Datson’s dying depositions w’ere taken in the hospital, and he stated that the Hawkins, he thought, were going to rob him. He admitted that he siiot Hawkins. Apparently Datson’s idea of an attempt to rob him was engendered by a chance remark of Mrs. Hawkins. She said at the dinner table that it would have been lovely had they sufficient money to have gone for a holiday at Easter. He seemed to be impressed with her words, and left the table, brooding. He had complained to her that she prepared more table delicacies for her husband than him, and this, too, is said to have had an influence on him. While the police were outside the house Mrs. Hawkins went upstairs and asked him why he shot her husband, but he pointed the revolver at her and drove her back again. “I’ll give you wanting money for holidays,” he said, menacingly. He seems to have been quite rational since his admission to hospital.