NIGHT-PROWLER SHOT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12746, 17 April 1909, Page 2

NIGHT-PROWLER SHOT.

An Exciting Ohase.

NEWCASTLE, April 7. At an early hour this morning a man, whose name is given as Augustus Budda, was shot while in the vicinity of the residence of Mr Percy Taylor, at the corner of Bourke and Hargrave-streeta, Carrington. He now lies in a precarious condition in the Newcastle Hospital. About midnight Mr Taylor, who was superintending stevedoring operations on one of the wharves, received a tele] hone message from his wife stating tliav ' au..<u person was endeavouring to break into th« house, and that she believed he had secreted himself underneath, the building. He rang up Sergeant Turnbull, and asked that officer to proceed at once to his resident.

The sergeant had just reached the hoiwe when he heard a loud report, and ivTr. Taylor appeared about at the same instant on the verandah with a smoking revolver in his hand, and explained that he had h'red the shot merely to frighten the man from beneath the house. Apparently the shot had the desired effect, for Mrs Ta\ lor from the other side of the house suddenly called out, "You've missed him ; he's running this way." Darting round the premises Sergeant Turnbull and Mr Taylor saw a man scuttling away at top speed. The police officer called out, 'Stop or I'll shoot," and was about to draw his revolver, when Mr Taylor fired again. "lac fugitive, however, failed to stop, and for the third time Mr Taylor fired after him. This time the shot took effect, and the man staggered and fell to the ground. When picked up he was found to have been 6 hot in the left thigh. A cab waa procured, and the injured man was taken to the surgery of Dr. Crawley, who on making an investigation found in addition to the shot in the thigh a bullet wound in the right side of the back. Th^ bullet had apparently pae*ed almost through the body, and was onbedded under the skin of the :<i'S l-retust. Dr. Crawley regarded the 'nj'ire* :is of such a serious nature that the amLuiancp was sent for and the man conveveu to the Newcastle Hospital. Before being placed in the c?b the iran. in reply to Sergeant Turnbul., stated that he was a seaman on the steap'oi I'trioi. which is lying at the sulphide wharf, lie appears to be about 30 years of age. iißd ie a foreigner.

The Hospital authorties sta'* that the patient may recover, although his injuries are of a serious nature.