STRUGGLE WITH BANDITS

Western Star, 13 June 1933, Page 4

STRUGGLE WITH BANDITS

FIGHT IN SPEEDING CAR. “KIDNAPPED” DETECTIVE SENSATIONAL ORDEAL. Carried off by bandits m a stolen motor-car, a London detective officer recently, had an exciting ordeal in one of the most extraordinary incidents in the criminal annals of Britain. Unable to fling the detective to the ground after he leaped on to their car from a vehicle in pursuit, the ban dits strove to overpower him. Against cruel odds the plucky officer gave a gallant account of himself in a. desperate fight inside the car, while it raced through the streets at breakneck speed. Beaten in . cowardly fashion and dazed by a.blowon the head from a jack, he was prevented from stopping the car, and was left inside it, ex‘hausted, when the. bandits abandoned the vehicle and escaped. Attempts

made to catch car bandits who were known to be a£ work in the Golders Green district gave rise to the incident in which Detective Bailey, of Edgware, displayed such courage. Detective-Inspector Duncan and De-

tective Bailey were patrolling in a police car, on the watch, when a cai in front of them suddenly pulled up by the'side of a woman. • The • officers saw a man leap. out. snatch the woman’s handbag, and jump back into the car, which then sped on. The police car accelerated rapidly in pursuit, and the bandits, not expecting a chase, allowed it to overhaul and pass them bafor© realising they had fallen into a trap. Inspector Duncan cleverly manoeuvred his car across the front of the other vehicle, and called on the occu pants to stop. Detective Bailey then clambered on to the running board oi the police car and leaped on to the running board of the bandits’ car. The bandits tried to" hurl him- off. but lie clung on resolutely, and tried to force-the driver to stop. As the detective leaned to grasp the wheel, two men in the car caught him by the shoulders and pulled him bodily into it. He was hauled ovei the front seat kicking and fighting, while one man tried to hold his feet and others a* the back held his shoulders.

Tlie driver of the bandits’ car then suddenly zig-zagged and eluded Inspec tor Duncan by driving ou the pavement for 50 yards. Again the inspector gave chase, but by a stroke of bad luck the police car was caught in a traffic hold-up and when it got clear the stolen vehicle with the detective inside had disappeared Detective Baiiey kicked the wind screen out, of' the bandits’ car in hi: struggle to get free. He fought or with blood streaming from liis head and put up such a desperate resistance to the attacks of liis ‘kidnappers’ that his.boots were torn off. At length, having rendered the de dective helpless and finding that th' 6 .' were no longer being pursued, the bandits pulled up near another car a: Hampstead and jumped into it, one of them giving the detective a fina’ blow with a jack. By the tinio Detective Bailey’ stumb-

led out into the road the bandits were fa r away. Tie was able to blow hi: police whistle and seek help from a passing ear. The driver, noticing tin wrecked windscreen, suspected bandit: when he saw the detective in tlie road. Thinking it a trap several othei drivers passed by.

In the meantime Detective-lnspectoi Duncan had warned Scotland Yard b. telephone Wireless messages were flashed oufc and a police cordon was drawn round Hampstead Heath and Golders Green. Patrols were warned, and through the night all roads were watched on the north side of London v

The second car used by the bandits was ultimately found abandoned not far from where it was,commandeered. A number of 'women’s handbags were found in the first car used by the criminals.

So savagely . was Detective Bailey a; tacked that on reaching lii s polici 'station he had to be put on the sick •isfc.