Four. armed robbers, three whom have been identified as having! taken part in the robbery on Mon-ay mouping in the course of which GP.C. 1087 was murdered, were shot and killed by three foreign se keats, who responded on Tuesday morning at 9.30 o'clock to the cry for assistance, when the gang i vaded the premises. at 508 Elgin Road. The hero of the occasion was [Det.-Sgt. Benton, who, single-handsel broke open the back door of the house and drove the guard from the foot of the stairway into an alleyway, where Det-Set. Crawford kill. Benton then. rushed the] frightened Chines scene of operations, and) farmed man came down the stairs, shot him dead with a bullet through the neck, which emerged from the] top of the skull, the robber collapse ing at his feet, Benton next dashed! upstairs, and turned into the back-oom, but on being confronted by two armed men, took cover behind the wall, ang! picked them off dividually, as they attempted shoot him.
The house which the robbers had chosen for their raid is situated in the furthermost cross alleyway to the rear of an open alleyway facing! the Public School for Chinese Elgin Road. A' watchman on duty atthe alleyway noticed four a parent loafers enter and informed fan assistant, who Lurried to West Hongkew police station, which about 300 yd. away in Haining Road. The charge-room sergeant sounded the alarm and Sets. Crawford and Yarnell responded. Sgt. Benton, having breakfast after early mo ing investigations, descended to the charge room, picked up the first weapon available" and followed. Behind the foreigners were Chinese detectives, A" minute later Inspr. Walker, in charge of West Hong ow, notified by telephone, also on his way to the scene.
Door Burst. In Upon arrival after their 300-yd. sprint, Sgt. Benton said that would' guard the rear door, whereupon Sets. Crawford and" Varneli took post on either side of the entrance to the front courtyard, the former at the turning into the main alleyway, the Intter on the side of the enlsdenwae, Set. Benton would not wait, however, and put shoulder to the door. After several Attempts, the door gave, the officer centering 'a small kitchen, which led to a narrow passageway leading to the front room and from which stairs led upwards.
One of the robbers stood guard fat the stairway and covered. the inmates whom they had herded into the front room, When Sgt. Benton rushed in through the rear door, the robber fled, Benton after him, Benton fired, and missed, but drove the man out of the front door into the hands of Sgts. Crawford and Yarnell. The robber, his.32 calibre pistol in hand, tried to get back' Into the house, but, on seeing Hened again. Sgt, Yarnell is. pistol, but did not dare to shoot, as his comrade was in the line of fre. The robber fired. one shot at Set. Crawford, missing, whereupon Yarnell drew himself as close as possible to the wall, shouting to Crawford to shoot.' The officer fired twice and one ballet struck the robber square in the throat, severing the jugular vein, whilst' the second hit him in the leg. He died immediately,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.