ROBBERY ALLEGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 16, 20 January 1933, Page 13

ROBBERY ALLEGED.

MIDNIGHT SCUFFLE MYERS PARK AFFAIR. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., two men Were committed for trial in connection with an affair alleged to have occurred in Myers Park on January 11. Lslie John Walding, 24, fruiterer, was charged with robbing Eric George Oliver of 3/3, and with having used personal violence.

Claude Harold Miller, 21, fruiterer, was charged with assaulting Oliver, and jointly with Walding he was charged with robbing Oliver of 3/3, and that at the time or immediately after such robbery did use personal violence.

Detective Sergeant Martin prosecuted, and Mr. F. W. Schramm appeared for Miller, and Mr. Hall Skelton for Walding.

Oliver said lie was a metallurgist, but was now on relief work. He met the two accused at the door of a dance liall, and when they were refused admission he agreed to accompany them to another dance, for which they said they had tickets. They called at two hotels and tried unsuccessfully to get liquor. The two mentioned another hotel, and they took a short cut through Myers Park. In the park the accused assaulted him and robbed him of 3/3. While they were struggling on the ground a torch was flashed and a Constable came to the rescue.

Constable Massey said he heard a scuffle and found tlitee men struggling. He batoned one and Miller ran away. Witness chased and caught him, and when be came back Oliver was holding Walding, who got up on his feet and made off, while witness was handcuffing Miller. Papers afterwards identified by Oliver were scattered about on the graas. Subsequently, Walding was found at home in bed with a bleeding wound ,on his temple. He was later arrested.

Constable Patterson produced a statement made by Miller, referring to the affair. When searched at the station, Miller had 3/5 on him. Sergeant Garritty stated that when seen that night at his home, Walding said he got the wound through being bumped on a motor lorry. Constable Jones spoke of an interview at the gaol, at which Walding at first said. he recognised as his a hat* which had been picked up in Myers Park at the scene of the scuffle, aiid afterwards dieclaimed it. Accused pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial. Mr. Skelton raised a formal objection to the admission of Miller's statement to be used against Walding. Bail was allowed.