THEFT OF £l40

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 234, 29 June 1922, Page 7

THEFT OF £l40

THE SENSATIONAL TRAM ROBBERY ACCUSED MAN BEFORE THE COURT EVIDENCE OF IDENTIFICATION A sequel to tho sensational robbery which occurred on a Wallace Street tramcar on the evening of Juno 12, ' when a brief bag containing the day’s l takings at Messrs. Gamble and Creed’® ; dining rooms was snatched from bc-i tween tho heels of a principal of tho | firm, was heard in the Magistrate’®! Court .yesterday. ■' James Joseph Willoughby,-alias Wilson, was charged that on Juno 12 ho| did steal one leather bag. valued at; £l, and £l4O 16s. IOJd.. the property, of Gamble and Creed. Mr. F. K. Hunt, 8.M., was on tho bench; Chief Detective Kemp conducted the prosecution; and Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell appeared for the accused, "who pleaded not guilty. How the Robbery Occurred, William Gamble, a partner in the firm of Gamble and Creed, said that i on the evening of June 12 he caught | a Wallace Street car at Winder’s cor-) ner about 7.40 o’clock. He had with) him a brief bag containing £l4O 165.; IOJd. When he got on the car he placed the brief bag between his feet, gripping it with his heels. When opposite the Masonic Hotel, witness felt the bag being wrenched from between his legs from behind. He glaficedover his shoulder, and saw a man swinging off the car. Witness watched the direction taken by the man, who had taken the bag, and then went in pursuit, but was not successful in catch- ■ ing the thief. Witness did not got a proper view of the man’s face, but he ■ was dressed in a suit of brown material and a brown hat. He took him tfl be . a man about witness’s own build. By Mr. Treadwell: Witness last saw the man who had taken the bag about two doors below the Masonic Hotel, running ' through the crowil .on the pavement. ' .« A Rude Passenger. Hadyn Algar, carpenter, said that on the evening in question he w.ib travelling on a Wallace Street car with his brother and “Freddy” Roberts. He saw Gamble get on the car with a handbag, and put it on the. floor of ■ the car between his feet. Witness attempted to take a seat immediately behind Gamble, when he was pushed Vway by another passenger, who took thq, seat. Witness was inclined to re-1 sent being pushed so rudely, but con-; eluded that the man was drunk, and . witness then took the seat parallel to the one occupied by Gamble. The accused was the man who had pushed witness. Witness saw the accused jump off ‘the- car with a brief ba£ lh his hand. Gamble jumped off the car,; and went in pursuit of accused. Witness identified accused from amongst • seven or eight men at the police ste - ' tion. When witness identified'accused, ■ the latter used an opprobrious epithet to witness. 1 . Mr. Treadwell': Y T ou are a well-known footballer, are you not?--“No; I am Is it your brother who is so well known as a footballer?—“Yes. You were discussing football matter® on this car? —“Yes.” i To Mr. Kemp: Witness very seam spoke to the accused. For'what reason ?—“Because he so rudely pushed me off the seat. The car was not full, and there was no necessity to bustle.” “Accused Was the 4rtan." Beethoven Algar, carpenter, corroborated his brother’s evidence.- He heard a commotion and saw the accused stepping off the car, with a bag held high up in one hand. A little later Gamble jumped off. The accused! ran in the opposite direction to that in which the car was going. Witness, was positive that tho accused was tho man who had taken the bag from tho car on June 12. •. Mr. Treadwell: Did anyone else besides Mr. Gamble chase the thief?—; “No; I did not realise what had really ; happened.” , , , ~ His Worship: If he had, he would have been off the car, and there would have been no Question of identity then. Mr. Treadwell: They would then have caught the right man. Proceeding, witness said that he remembered seeing the bag between- Mr. Gamble’s feet distinctly. ‘‘Certain Accused Was the Man.'’.,. Frederick Roberts said that before getting into the oar at. Winder’s Corner, witness noticed a man, dressed like a man who had been working amongst coal, waiting for the car. Ho thought'it a strange time for . such a man to be off work. This man boarded the car, and seat behind Mr. Gamble. Not long car had started, witness saw this man,, who was the accused, grab the bag, and slip off the car whilst it was in motion. .The accused ran off down tha, street, and shortly afterwards Mr. GambleT jumped off the car and follow- i ed him. Witness was certain that tha; accused was the man he saw taka the > bag. He had identified him at the, police station. , , . v , I Detective Walsh stated that ho went.,, to the house where the accused. wa«, living, 15 Horner Street, Newtown.' The accused said. “Is it a pinch? Hq! denied all knowledge of the offence, j and refused to' make any statement' regarding his whereabouts on tha evening of the robbery. An identifier-, tion parade was set up, and the j cused was identified separately ortho Algar brothers and F. Robert?. When arrested the accused was , wearing brown suit and brown felt hat t turnoaj down all round. ' Detective Tongue corroborated Detective Walsh’e evide&ce. Committed for Trial, Accused reserved his and | was committed to the Supremo tburt, for trial, tall being allowed h. enmof £2OO, and one surety of £2OO.