BOGUS HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 124, 26 May 1909, Page 5

BOGUS HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

A a'° C CABMAN?S CONFESSION. '""' ■ (By Telegraph.—Press Association.; "''Z't ;'.'■-;""' ' HASTINGS,' this day. An alleged, highway robbery telegraph:, ed to a" Wellington paper by' its Hastings correspondent has been. investigated 'by ithe police, and found to be untrue in every detail. The cabman has confessed to Detective Butler that;hei concocted.'the;: story, as'he -was half off his head'with financial troubles. .'' The''story referred'to in the above message was published by the "Dominion," as. follows:— -. - • .'..-'.,■ '.'.'. :.'v ~.: - ^STIN^,'May; 2 4. Mr. Hugh Millar, a,. cabdriver , of; Hastings,, reports an audacious highway-., robbery, of which, he was the victim, on Saturday night..-,-: After driving; a. fare home; Mr. Millar was going along South-land-road into .Hastmgs, and just as he was passing Jull-road, opposite the racecourse; gate, he was accosted by two men. who hailed him. .He pulled up, and one of the.ipair asked him which was...the road to Pakipaki. While.Mr. Millar was giving the information, the other': man jumped on the opposite side of the cab : seat, gripping Mr.; Miliar by'the"arm.; He turned round *•■.• his assailant, but.at' the same time the man on the other side of the cab jumped up and.laid hold of the driver's arms and legs; The two men. then proceeded to go .thrqughVMr. Millar's pockets, and relieved Kirn of air his cash, .amounting to. 16/-. . They did not take his watch or any Other articles which might have assisted in identifies"..-; tion.. The.: two men, after the jumped off the 'cab and walked- away,' saying, "Good night,' old' man. , You are not a bad sort." They disappeared in the direction of Jull- road. The night was very dark, and in spite of his cab lights Mr. .Millar could not recognise" the thieves,.but he says they had an unkempt appearance, as if they iad been for a long tramp, or had just left: off work. They were about 5 feet 8 inches in height, and, wore torn grey clothes. They appeared'to be between 30 arid 35 years df; ago, arid had moustaches. ,'' ' * '/'■•■