WELLESLEY CLUB ROBBERY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 99, 21 January 1926, Page 12

WELLESLEY CLUB ROBBERY

BRYANT SENTENCED FLEETWOOD COMMITTED FOR TRIAL When tiie names of Frank Patrick Fleetwood and Archibald John Bryant were called in the Alagistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the recent Wellesley Club robberv, Senior-Detective Walsh asked that the cases be dealt with separately, for while one of the accused had pleaded guilty the other (Fleetwood) maintained a stout den lal of the whole affair. Mr. E. Page, S.AL, agreed to this, and the case went on. Besides being charged with theft from the Wellesley Club. Bryant was also charged with stealing two gold cigarette cases, the property of members of the Empire Press delegation. . He pleaded guilty to both these charges. In outlining the circumstances of the Welleslev Club robbery, Detective Walsh said that the cups and trophies were formerly valued at £75, but with a bicycle ’included, were now found to be worth £45. Bryant, a young man of 23 came from England, and was a sailor. At one time he worked as a steward at the Wellesley Club, that was about a vear ago, when he was employed there for a month. He was arrested in company with Fleetwood, who was a friend of his on January 11. A few days later Bryant made a statement to the’ police about the whole affair, confessing to the crime “Although he reallv broke and entered the club, went on the detective, “we are charging him with theft, for under the Act one cannot be charged with breaking and entering a club, although such a terra can be applied to a shop or dwelling. Brvant says he wanted the money to return to England to see his mother,'who was ill, and for that reason he took the valuables. Regarding the cigarette cases, he admits stealing both of them when employed as a porter at the Midland Hotel.” j x Mr G Toogood, who appeared for accused, asked Mr. Page to extend leniency. Brvant, he said, had given great assistance to the police in this case Although only arrested on the charge of consorting with Fleetwood, lie owned up and made a statement as to where the cups would be found. This however, was not in. the sea near' Miramar, where they were subsequently discovered. He took the police to a certain house where he thought thev were. However, someone had come along in the meantime and removed them. Although his Worship might not be able to extend the benefit of the First Offenders’ Act, counsel asked that his client be dealt with as leniently as possible under the circumstances. The Afagistrate: This is not really a case where I can extend the benefits of the First Offenders’ Act. The accused admits stealing two cigarette cases valued at £3O. On the charge of stealing from the Wellesley Club he will be sent to gaol for nine months with hard labour. On the charge of stealing the cigarette cases I will impose a penalty of one month on each count. Case Against Fleetwood.

"Although Fleetwood denies having anything to do with the robbery from the club,” remarked Detective Walsh, when dealing with the other case, “we have found’ his finger prints, which were on broken glass to be the same as those we have in our possession. For that reason we have charged him with the theft.”

George Thomas Pearson gave evidence as to his having locked up the club at 11.30 the night before the robbery. When he came in the. next morning he found tiie police stationed on the premises.

Finger-print Expert’s Evidence

“From out of 35,000 finger prints at niv disposal, which we have at the office, I picked the finger marks on the broken glass found at the Wellesley Club. to belong to those of Fleetwood,” said Edmund Walter Dinnie, senior-sergeant in charge of the Criminal Registration Branch.. Witness went on to say that the morning after the robberv he went to the club with Detective Murray and made investigations. On the floor of the bar they found some broken glass. ~ This, on being examined revealed finger prints which were later found to be exactly the same as those of Fleetwood, who had had his prints taken by the police some years before. Witness was satisfied beyond all doubt that the finger prints on the broken glass were the same as those at the office. Claude Montagne Francis, also of the' finger print department, gave evidence corroborating the previous .witness’s view of the prints being the same. He bad examined them, and was sure thev corresponded with those of Fleetwood. Detective William Murray said he had charge of the Wellesley robbery case. Fleetwood was arrested on January 11. At that time and ever since he had absolutely denied his guilt. “I told him,” said the detective, "that we had his finger prints and they corresponded with those on the glass. Even then he denied it. He said he knew nothing about the club, not even where it was. Brvant and Fleetwood .were great friends. One was always v>»li tiie other everywhere they went. As Fleetwood refuted the charge Bryant made a statement saving he himself was guilty. He told us where he thought the cups were. This, however, was wrong, although he appeared genuine about it. Subsequently the cups were secured by a diver from the sea near Miramar wall on January 18.”

“Knew Nothing About It.”

Mr. Toogood (who also represented Fleetwood) called Brvant as a witness. "Fleetwood had nothing at all to do with tiie robberv,” declared Brvant from the witness-box. “T .did it myself. He never knew about tiie matter, for I Had never mentioned it to him or anybody else. He had worked at the club at one time and knew were the cups were kept. T only admitted the theft because I did not want to see another suffer fop what I had done.” "Can von give nnv reason,” asked Mr. Toogood, “as to how Fleetwood’s fingerprints could possibly get on the glass ?” Witness; None at till. Detective Walsh; Vou snv that Fleetwood knows nothing about it ? Witness: T do. Absolutely. Arc vou shielding him?—"No. not at all.” He was not there with you?—"No.” Wliy was it that vou did not own up to the crime straight ;wov, instead of waiting a connlc of davs to confess?— “Because I didn’t want to.” So vou were in custody for four days before vou decided to do the decent tliiti" bv Fleetwood and come forward? Witness did not answer this question. At the conclusion of the case the accused. who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the coming sessions of the Supreme Court.