TWO ARRESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 8

TWO ARRESTS.

ARMED HOLD-UP?

TAXI MAN'S MONEY.

PALMERSTON N. SENSATION.

SUSPECTS BEFORE COUBT,

(By Telegraph — Own f"nrrespiini|pnt.) PALMKRSTOS" X., this day. As s sequel to an alleged hold up at. Ihe point of a. pistol of a taxi-driver, Mr. Tom Seel, in I'almerston North last night, two youthful suspects were arrested this morning and later appearpd before the Police Court.

Kntering Mr. Scel's taxi only 20 yard* from the police station ahout. 8 o -lock lit<a t night, it i-< alleged that two youths hail themselves driven to one of the loneliest parts of the city and theiv nt t In* 11i ->t <>I point robbed the taxi-driver of the money he was carrying.

The youths, one of who n was later »laled to have been a Maori, asked to ho driven to Ihe entrance to the motor camp, ii. spot, which is several hundred yards from the nearest s>trp->t and surrounded hy dpnsp hush. When Mr. Seel got out of his car lie found n youth on either side of him and lie had a presentiment that they worn not going to pay Ihe fare, both being roughly drc*scd as though they might have iieeu sleeping out. However, one of the lads asked for change. Whereupon Mr. Sepl pulled out a handful of silver. Mr. Seel next heard the remark: "Wo don't want no change." and on looking up saw a pistol levelled at him as he was ordered to drop hi* money on the ground.

"Collecting my wits hurriedly," said Mr. Heel to-day, "I stepped back a pace and aimed a kick at, the weapon, but missed. I was then Informpd that if I made another move I would be drilled. This time I dropped my money, which would bo about 4.">/. I was then ordered to get back into the car and to go and keep going. I was very pleased to get out of it."

Hearing that a lad corresponding to a description which ho had given ha<l been seen going to the railway station, Mr. Scol to-day cycled there with Constable (ioodwin, each entering the station from opposite ends. Mr. Heel saw the suspect llrst and pinioned him till the constable, running along the platform, arrived and took the youth in charge.

Mr. Seel then cycled to a boardinghouse, where it was learned that two youths had stayed for th® night, and discovered a Maori youth in a bedroom. Mr. Seel held him there till the arrival of Constable 'Purvey.

ROBBERY CHARGE.

YOUTHS IErOM COURT.

<By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON NORTH, thk day. Two youths were charged before the Police Court this morning, that, being armed with an offensive weapon, to wit an automatic) pistol, they did rob Tom Heel of 42/.

Tho accused, who were remanded till Wednesday next, were Eric Clark, aged 17, a station hand, of Oiaborne, and Bert Karapa, aged 17, a labourer, of Kuatorla. It is understood that both the youths had been working recently in the Hastings district.