ROBBERY ON GREAT NORTH ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 261, 10 November 1870, Page 2

ROBBERY ON GREAT NORTH ROAD.

Tubks men named Charles Harris, Thomas Sheehan, and Joseph Smith were last evening arrested on a charge of assaulting one Wm. Chapman, on the Ghre&t J^ortb Road, on the evening of the 7ih instant, and stealing from him the sum of £31 in £1 notes. The following are the particulars of the case :It appears that the prosecutor is employed at Henderson's Mil), and on Uie evening in question lie had occasion to come down from the mill to the Waikomili Hotel, mid-way between the mill and the Whau. Inside the public-house were Harris, Smith, and Sheehan. While staying in the public Chapman had one glassof beer only. Tho reason of liis going to the Waikoir.iti was to fetch a parcel which had been left for him. On getting {his he went outside, and was strapping*'it together, in order to put it on the horse's back, ■when Harris came behind him and gave him a violent blow on the back, and before he could recover himself put his hand into his pocket and took out his pocket-book. In this book was the sum of money mentioned above, which Chapman was carrying about with him, being wages that he had recently received. On losing the purse'he at "once turned round and demanded it back, but Harris —a tall, powerful follow —commenced to bully him, and wanted to fight him. The other two prisoners also got round him, and the poor man wag at length glad to make his escape

safft' and so.und, .leaving the money in the hands of Harris. The next day. lie came to town and gave information to the police, and last, evening Detective Ternahan apprehended Harris in Chancery-street, and he was at once identified by Chapman as the man who had robbed him. In his possession was found a one-pound Bank of England note with several holes in it, and to the identity of whi h Chapman is ready to swear. The other two men were apprehended on suspicion later in the evenin', but Chapman had not seen them up toa late hour. They were all three dressed in new clothes, and they have been noticed to be spending money pretty freely during the last day or two. Harris is a very ugly custo ncr to deal with. He has uot been out of prison long, havingbeen sentenced in the March sessions of 1869 to two years' imprisonment For a garotte robbery, and"to be twice whipped upon that occasion he stuck a man up in Wakefield-streefc, and assaulted him with such severity that the Judge considered it necessary to' oivler him to receive two floggings du'riuj his term of imprisonment.