"PICK AND .SHOVEL" MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 9

"PICK AND .SHOVEL" MEN.

DETECTIVES' STRANGE TASK. DIGGING FOR BANKNOTES. LOOT UNDER DAHLIA BED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 30. The unusual spectacle of squads of detectives armed .with, picks and shovels, passing through several Sydney suburbs was witnessed one day this -week, when, after a eafe robbery, they' investigated possible hiding places of the: loot. ■ ■ The robbery was reported from the offices of W. E. Smith, commercial printers, of George Street,. Sydney, and after detectives had questioned several suspects they started out on their queer quest.

Their first taste of digging waa in the backyard of one of the suspects. There the squad of detectives.set to work and systematically dug up every portion of the ground. Their efforts were fruitless. They refrained from disturbing a flouriehing dahlia bed in their operations, and except for this small patch they had uncovered a quarter of an acre .to a depth of three feet. Though loath to disturb the flower bed, they had no choice. They met with success almost immediately, however, for under one of the choicest dahlia plants they found £40d in notes, as well as several articles which were identified .as having been in the safe.

As, in addition to the £400, a considerable sum had been taken, the detectives' operations did not stop there. They continued their, investigations, and set to work to dig up.the backyards of three other suspects. But, even after turning over every square inch of ground in these places, their- efforts were fruitless. •>{' Then from "information received, , '- they concentrated their efforts on the bank of ; a creek running into Cook's River at St. Peters, a suburb of Sydney. They had a big task in front: of-them,, and teams of diggers worked; for three d'aye before, they achieyed : success. Well- ; buried under the ioot of a flourishing wattle tree they found another • £500 in notes.. ;.-'"/ .-.-r,! ~ ... '..',.■• . ■'■ ' < '"• The digging operations .of the « detectives —they numbered slxteen-ii-occupied nearly a-fortnight. Charges were made men.