ALLEGED ROBBERY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 143, 16 December 1908, Page 8

ALLEGED ROBBERY.

! ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. : William Neil, alias Thompson, an I John M'Cormick, alias Scannlon, appeared on remand before Mr. Riddell S.M., this afternoon, charged with assaulting and robbing, on 7th December, ono Knud Christian Jorgensen of a watch-chain, a sovereign-case, £2 8s in money, and several other articles, of a total value of £4 10s 6d. Against M'Cormick were three other charges of a similar nature — assault and robbery. He was charged first with having, on sth December, assaulted and robbed John Corich of 15s in money ; then, on the same date, Arthur James Black of 4s money; and finally, on the 7<|h December, George Reid of one silver watch, a gold-mounted ribbonguard, and a sovereign-case, of a total value of £8. Chief -Detective M'Grath prosecuted j Mr. Meredith appeared for the defence. Knud Christian Jorgensen, a cooper by trade, residing at 306, Adelaide-road, said that he was spending che evening of the 7th December at Mr. Moeller's, 59, Ellice-street. He left at 11.50 p.m. As soon as he came out he saw four men standing at the corner of Brougham and Ellice-streets. He passed between the four men, one on the righthand side and three on the left. M'Cormick was on the right. When witness had passed about two yards some one caught him by the throat from behind. Two others seized him by each arm. The fourth jumped m front and went through his pockets. It was M'Cormick, the dark man. He took the articles mentioned in the information out of his pockets. The value of the property was about £4 10s 6d. After M'Cormick had gone through the pockets he pave witness a blow on the mouth with his fist. The fellow who held his throat said to M'Cormick, "Put his hand down and give him another one." M'Cormick said, "No, it's all over now, put him down." They then threw him down and went away all four together, i Neil, the other accused, was standing t>y the telephone post when tho witness first saw him. It was he who held witness's left arm. After they ran away witness went brck to Moeller's place, where he washed away the blood. He then went with MrMoeller to the Mount Cook Police Station. He next^saw the two accused in Cour-tenay-place a little before 11 a.m. M'Cormick went into the Albion Hotel. Witness knew him as soon as he saw him, and went back to look for a policeman. The police came up, and witness saw the two come out of the hotel. The two accused went into the hotel again. Detectives Cassells and Connolly came on the scene. Witness pointed ouf the two accused to the detectives, who made the arrest. ' Witness 'declared that he was positively sure about, the identity of the two men. To Mr. Meredith: It was moonlight when he saw the men. He specially noticed M'Cormick, who was standing alone on the right hand side. The man who seized him by the ' throat was neither of the two accused. They ran up Broughain-streeb after the affair, was over. It was all over in three or four minutes. Karl Heinrich Moeller, professor of music, residing at 59, Ellice-street, gave evidence of the condition of the last witness, when he came back after the robbery. Jorgensen's nose and mouth were bleeding and his clothes were knocked about. Percy Flynn, restaurant keeper, 54, Vivian-street, said he knew the two accused. Neil rented a room from him. from tho Friday before he was arrested. The two accused occupied the room — Neil for a fortnight and M'Cormick for a week before the occurrence. He could not say exactly the time they came home that night, but thoy generally came home from a quarter to to a quarter past twelve. He had told Detective Cassells it was between twelve and a quarter past twelve that they came in on the night of the 7th December. To Mr. Meredith : On that night the two accused came in with another man who was a bit drunk. He generally kept open till twelve or a little nfter. The premises were locked up on the Monday night, when the affair occurred. There was nothing unusual about .their appearance. They did not look as if they had been running. Somo time after 11 M'Cormick came in and engaged a third bed. Detective Cassells said that on the Bth instant ho saw the two accused in the bar of the Albion Hotel about 11.15 a.m. The witness told th-3 two he wanted them to accompany himself and Detective Connolly to the police station. On the way down to the station in a cab, M'Cormick said, "If you'ro .taking us down for rooking a bloke, and he don't pick us, don't put u& in on the crust." "Crust" mea"hs a charge of vagrancy. He did not know at first what ho was being taken to the Station for. i Then he charged him with the offence. M'Cormick said, "Oh , you haven't got that against me !" He said he was "snickered on the 7th December. Neil said his name vas Thompson. It would | only take about five minutes to walk I from the corner of Ellice and Broughamstreets to Flynn's restaurant. To* Mr. Meredith : He had found none of the stolen property on the accused or on the premises. (Left sitting.)

It has been decided by the Gisborne Oil Company to invite tenders in. New "Zealand and Australia for boring tosuch depth as payable oil may be struck, or to a depth of 2500 feet, the directors reserving the right to go to any depth up to 500 feet extra at a stipulated price. Boriag is to be commenced on Ist March. A special meeting of the Johnsonviile Town Board was held last evening for the purpose of discussing the matters of lighting, sewage, and water for the district. Previous reports as to water and drainage made by Mr. Rount-hwaite, M.1.C.E., for the board, were brought forward, and it was finally decided to get an installation of light firsfcandeubmit a water and drainage scheme to the ratepayers when the lighting was settled. Applications are to be invited from syndicate^, companies, and others, for a concession to mstal a system of lighting by coal-gas or electricity at once. During the Maori war a ford near the back of the Tauranga township was made use of by the Maoris, and shells were thrown into it from, a man-o'-war lying some distance out in the harbour. Some days ago a 561b shell was found a short distance from the place, and there seems little doubt that it was one of those thrown from the old Rosario to prevent the Maoris using the ford. Mr. Harry A. Shepherd advertises in this issue a fresh list of city and suburban properties. Plans and partTcailars of Hataitai and Tirohanga Estates may be obtained from the office, Norwich Chambers, Customhouse-quay A special meeting of the Petone Cooperative Building Society will be held on Friday evening. Tho attention of the members of Jupp's Band is directed to an announcement in another column calling a meeting for tomorrow ovoning to receive balance-sheet of tho rooent bazo*r.