THE BATTLE OF SYDNEY STREET SIR, —Referring to your note in
the Spectator of July 15th on the "Battle of Sydney Street," at which I was present, I can say that there was a universal belief that there were three men at the outset, including "Peter the Painter." I discussed it fully, at a later date, with Det. Sgt. Leeson, who was the first casualty (afterwards he recovered and became an inn- keeper at Henfield), but I cannot remember his actual assertion that one man escaped, though I think he probably did so assert. The yard at the back, where Leeson then was, was well guarded when the " fight " began, but it is possible that before it was fully light someone might have made his way off, possibly by getting up to the roof. It is difficult to see how anyone could have got out later on.—Yours very truly, 210, Montpelier Crescent, Brighton. (CANON.) GILBERT ELLIOTT.
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