ALLEGED GAROTTING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11571, 30 April 1903, Page 2

ALLEGED GAROTTING.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Michael O'Malle.v, William Murray, Joseph were chargod at the. Polic* Court, yesterday, before Mtvssrs \\. H. Ha; greaves and "W. Hay\rard, J.P.s, vriu: stealing fi-om the pereon of Lovo Guiniwtv a purso vahied at l.«, nnd £2 in cash, at the fsamo timo using perianal riolcucc u>• wards their victim. Ix)\\> Guinness, aa eld»riy man and a labourer, Jtatod that ho came to town last Saturday with from £2 to £3 in notes and silver. He met. the thuv accused at the Shamrock Hotel, jutt after ten o'clock at night-, but did not speak to them, though th«y accosted him. He went along Tnam street, ami the three followed him as far n:the Wellington Hotol. As they passed him witness mad* aa inquiry of them, aac they directed him to a place down the right-of-way. Arriving there, one caught him by the throat, arid the other seized both his arms from behind, while the third went through his pocket?. Witness tried to scream, buj the blood was issuing from his mouth, and the one who was going through his pockets enid, "Can't you choke that old , and be done with him." Hearing his sc-re.inis, the detectives ruf-hed to his help. A cut still showing on the right. side of his ceck had boon caused by the accused, as well as a swelling in his throat, cuts on hie fingers, and an aching in his side. Witness kill found great, difficulty in eating. Ho had no doubt whatever of the identity of the accused. Defective Herbert deposed tlwt at a quarter past ten on the night in question he was with Detective Ward in Manchester etreet, opposite the Shamrock Hotol. He saw tho three accused come from the direction of Hgih street, into Manchester street, and walk together towards the south pa-st the hotel. They nut the last witness in front of the hotel, and stopped. The four went together to Tuani street, and along towards the Wellington Hotel. When they disappeared out of Manchester etreet the detectives cut through the lane opposite the Shamrock Hotel, to where they got a view of Tuam street. They caw the three accusod and {he last witness coming up the lan« in their direction. Coates, who was in advance of the rest, came close to the detectives, who hid behind cover. They saw Jiim peeping up and down each aide of the lane, walking stealthily and he. disappeared in the direction from which he had come. The detectives emerged from their hiding place, and went towards the corner. They heard muflkd cries, and ran down the lane, at the bottom of which they ray Coat-es running into Tuam street. They discovered that the cricks came from a urinal in the lain-. Detective Ward rushed in, and found the last witness nearest to the entrance, O'Mallcy holding him from behind by the throat, and Murray gripping him by the arm. The old man wae in a. very excited stuns his mouth and nose, were bleeding, and ho said, in t-h« hearing of Murray and O'Mulley. that he had been robbed "of about £2, a.nd his purse. The detectives had sonic difficulty in persuading him that they were not fresh antagonists. Detective Ward handcuffed thi* two prisoners, and they were taken, with tho last witnew, to the Police .Station. They made no statement. Next morning Coateg was arrested in Colombo street, and informed that he -would be charged in company wit;h the other two with assault and Tobbery. He said that he knew Murray, but net O'Malley. that he had been with them and with "an old man, and that they had gone to th<i Wellington Hotel to have a drink. He was slightly ahead of the rest, and went into the private bar first, expecting them to follow,, but caw no moro of them. On eearohing them no money was found on Murray, O'Malley had is, and there was Hβ 9d on Coates. All the marks on the. old man were quite fresh, as if they had only just been inflicted. Detective Ward gave corroborative evidence. The a-ccused reserved their defence, and ■were committed for tiial.