New Britain herald., 1930-10-23
Edmond 1heriault M0rtaly Wounded in Gun Battle Dur
 ing Holdup Of Store
DESIRE TO REPAY DEBT
 TO MOTHER CAUSES ACT
Amateur Gunman Attempts to Raise $25-Surprised to Find Officer in Candy Store-Policeman Edward O'COnnOr Distracts Bandits At tention, Rests Him by Accurate
  Shooting.
Especial to the Herald)

Bristol, Oct. 2S - Spurred on by the fact that he owed his mother S25, which he had borrowed some five weeks ago to go to Maine. and by the fact that his parents were poverty stricken, Edmond R. Ther- fault, 21, of 109 Arlington street, un- successfully attempted to rob Rocks Candy store at IS Maple stNet shortly before II o'clock last night and was shot down by an alert po- lice officer. Edward O'Connor, of the Bristol police department. The gun- man, mortally wounded in his pis- tol fight with Officer O'Connor died at the Bristol hospital at about SEQ o'clock this morning.
 Theriault the officer stated to- day, entered the store and brandish- ing an automatic, shouted orders to have John F. Rock, "A, son of the owner of the establishment, throw his hands into the air. He apparently was unaware of the officers pres ence at the moment, but as soon as he spied him in a booth, where he had seated himself preliminary to drinking a hot chocolate, which he had ordered, Theriault commanded him to come out.
 While Rock was complying with the order the patrolman remarked to the bandit, You know there's another cop outside
 Theriault replied, "I don't care if there is He'll get it, too.''
 Rock then said, 'All right. Don't shoot anybody. Take the money" O'Comors Ruse Succeeds
 The bandit, attired in two suits, his features concealed completely by the black cloth which covered his head, was given $17 in cash and checks. As he grasped the money and was about to make his getaway, Officer O'Connor. ill an attempt to outwit the burglar, shouted, Look, there comes a cop.'
 Theriault turned to look, and as he did the officer dropped crouch ingly behind a showcase and drew his revolver. The bandit sensing the situation he was in. fired at him twice but the deadly precision with which O'Connor returned the volley was too much for him to cope with.
 The policeman fired five times and all bullets found their marks. The first shot, it was revealed at the hospital, finished Theriault. It pierced his side and punctured an intestinal passage in 1S places. The other four shots, although they struck within a few inches of the first, would probably not have been fatal in themselves. The robber started to fee but had gotten only about 20 feet from the store when he dropped to the ground, the stolen money still in his hand and his face showing that he was suf- fering terribly.
 Begs to Be Killed
 Officer O'Connor said today that the only target he had had to shoot at was a silhouetted figure in the darkness. The prostrate man beg ged the officer to shoot him through the head, so great was his pain. He remarked to the officer, after the latter had kicked his gun from a weak hand, that he had been too | quick for him. Officer Warren G. | Burlington, who saw the firing from a distance of several hundred feet also testified to this speedy shoot ing. He said that he thought the
 firing was done by a machine gun. ! Halting an automobile driven by William Frazier of Woodland street 1 which arrived upon the scene short
 ly after the shooting occurred. Off, cer O'Connor took the wounded man I to the hospital, where it was said by Dr. Benjamin B. Robbins and | Dr. Joseph Papa that he was insa
 critical condition. Prior to going
 under ether at 3:30 o'clock this
 morning, Theriault told pr. Robbins
 Continued on Page Two)