ANOTHER " HOLD DP."

Dunstan Times, Issue 2094, 10 September 1901, Page 6

ANOTHER " HOLD DP."

SYDNEY, September 2.

Another sensational sticking-up case is reported. The mail coach from White Cliffs, the centre of the opal-mining district, to Wilcannia, in making a night journey, drew up at a gate. A passenger named Ranter jumped down and opened the gate, when a masked robber stepped out and fired a revolver, wounding Ranter in the forearm. He ordered the driver and three other passengers to stand against the fence whilst he secured the mail-bags. He warned the driver that if he attempted to return to White Cliffs he would be shot. The bags contained a quantity of valuables, including packages of opals. In his hurry the robber overlooked several valuable parcels of opals in the hoot of the coach. The police discovered many opened letters, a number of crossed cheques, and the marks of a bicycle in the vicinity of the robbery. A later message says that the coach robber made the driver hand over the knife, which he used in opening the letters. The man pocketed the notes and other valuables promiscuously, occupying over an hour, during which time a bicyclist rode up. The robber made him stand with the others till he was finished, lie placed the loot in an empty mail-bag, and rode away on a bicycle. SYDNEY, September 3. The mail robber made a good haul. The exact amount is not known, but it is estimated at between £9OO and £1,400 in notes and £SOO in opals and jewellery. The loot included three parcels of opals. There being no bank at White Cliffs necessitated the forwarding of large amounts through the post. An attempt was made to rob the mail some time ago, but failed. The robber allowed the passengers to go scot free. One carried a large sum of money on hhn. Ranter, after being shot, and expecting to be overhauled, hung a bag containing £2O on the horse's names, where it remained unnoticed.