HOLD-UP IN STREET

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 221, 14 June 1932, Page 10

HOLD-UP IN STREET

Auckland Robbery Sequel TWO MEN IN COURT By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, June 13. Arrested a few hours after a sensational hold-up in the city about midday on May 27, Francis John Peckham, aged 36, ship’s fireman, and William Keogh, aged 29, seaman, were charged at the Police Court with robbing Mr. Richard T. Dias of £lO6, using personal violence, and committed for trial. Mr. Dias, an accountant, said that for fifteen years it has been his custom to cash wages cheques on Fridays. He said that accused were two of three men whom he saw on the street when he was going to the bank. At the bank he received £146, including 124 onepound notes, which he placed in an inside 'pocket, twenty 10/- notes, which he put in a trousers pocket, and £3 in silver, which he put in an outside pocket. When returning he saw the three men near a shop. Peckham hit him under the ear and knocked him down; his head was held down on the footpath, and he felt hands going through his pockets. On getting up he saw Keogh standing on the running-board of a small car. He did not see Peckham then, but identified him next morning in an identification parade. Cross-examined, witness said he attended three identification parades, and in the first one recognised nobody. Witness asked leave to make a statement, and then said that last Thursday and Friday he received two telephone messages from persons who said that if he did not deal lightly with accused in court they would make it hut for him. A labourer who saw the assault and robbery said it was done by Keogh and two other men. He was not prepared to identify Peckham. Another eye-witness said he picked Keogh in an identification parade, but was unable to recognise the other accused. A third eye-witness identified Peckham, but not Keogh. Both accused were committed to the Supreme Court for trial.