THE MUSEUM ROBBERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 28 March 1895, Page 8

THE MUSEUM ROBBERY.

SOME OF THE COINS RECOVERED.

ONE ARREST MADE.

ACCUSED REMANDED.

Some further developments have taken place in connection with the robbery from the Museum on Monday night, which the police expect will lead to the matter being thoroughly investigated, and the offenders dealb with. When the police authorities were informed oi the occurrence they took steps at once to warn all the local jewellers and pawnbrokers against personß, trying to dispose of old coins of anjgdescription,, and Inspector Hickson isaura instruction^to have all the out-going Bteamara watched by the detectives. ■■:'■■' '■ ■ ;■■■ .; ■' :'

As a consequence of these steps several jewellers iDiortned the police yesterday that eft'erta had bien made during' the day and on Tuesday to dispose of old coins to them. The coins were, of course, purchased and these were handed over to Detective Chrystal. A description of the persons who cold them waa also supplied and during the day Detective Chrystal-and Acting Detectives Bailey and Quirke were. on the lo_ok-oub for a person of the description given. '" ' ,'. ; T' .: ■ ■ .'.• /'■'.'

Aboufa half-past six o'clock a man went into the Royal Mail Hotel, in Victoriastreet, and tendered a half-crown in payment for a drink: The barmaid hoticod that it was an old coin of George ll.'s reign, and dated; 1743; Sho accordingly informed Mr Roberts, the proprietor, of the fact, and ho at once telephoned to the Police Station for ,a constable.. The man, apparently unconscious of what; was going on, remained in thehotel, but on Constable Wainliouee coming in shortly afterwards from Victoria-street?, he passed out by a side door.into Elliott-street, and started at a quick pace to make his way down to Queen-streets The constable followed him, and catching him at the City Hall, brought him back to the hotel, where ho was identified by the barmaid as the man who had given her the old half-crown. On the man being then brought to the police station, he was identified by the police as Robert Levefct. He was thereupon accused of the theft, and searched, and the following old coins were found on him:—Five shilling dollar, 1804 ; Mexican dollar, 1849; Indian rupee, 1835; halfrupee, 1835; 25 cent piece, 1870; dime, 1859; dime, 186 S. ... ':

The barmaid, Mr Roberts and the constable deserve credit for the prompt manner in which they acted. .

The accused was brought up at the Police Court) this morning before Messrs J. Gordon and VV. Dinnison, Justices, and charged with that he'did, on or about the 25th March, ab Auckland, break and enter a certain building, known as the Auckland Museum, situated «in Princesstroeb, and therefrom steal a certain quantity, of English and foreign coins of the value of £120, the property of the New Zealand Government!. Sergeant Gamble said that as the accused wa9 arrested only late last evening, he would hayo to ask; .for a remand for a week. v\" ~■. ' "V; ".m. ". - ' The accused : Having these coins on me —does that say that! 1 broke into the placa?; '~ " ' ■■' ;. ' . " .-, ...-. Mr .Gordon: You have, heard the Sergeant ask for a remand. Have you any objection to that ?. ' ■ The accused : I bought these coins-<-lS 6f s them. . ■ •■■..; j- ; > vv^' y-iH^W:>'->,~^ ,/^.i porturiityiOf proving yoiir innocence .this day weok. Under , the, circumstances the Bench cannot do otherwise than adjourn the case. " The accused: You never seen met in that place. I simply had the coins on me. Mr Gordon : You acknowledge having had the coins on you? (' The accused : Why, they found the coins on mo; but that doesn't cay I broke into the place. ; s .' , The case was adjourned for a week, ip accordance with Sergeant Gamble's application.- '

Lovetb, who was charged as above as having been concerned, in the t robbery, is an elderly man considerably over 50 yoare of age. Several of the jewellers to whom coins had been sold during the last few days, have called at the Police Station to identify him, but) with the exception of one, who states there is a resemblance between the accused and a man who sold him a coin, they failed to identity Lovett as the vendor of the coins to them.