MAIL ROBBERY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 61, 15 March 1929, Page 11

MAIL ROBBERY

MORE EVIDENCE HEARD

GORDON ADMITS THEFTS

EACE INVESTMENTS

Tho.casc in which Thomas G.ordon, Arthur Henry William Bevau, Eichard Byan,' and George Wilfred Byan are charged with having stolon sums of money and articles from postal packets, of a total value of £184 5s sd, was ad-' vanced a further stage, before Mr.' F., K. Hunt, S.M., in tho Magistrate's Court this morning.

Continuing his evidence, DetectiveSergeant Trieklebank said that on the morning of 21st February, ho had a conversation with Bevan in the prosence of Detective Jarrold, when Bevan said that he had purchased a pair of gloves from a shop next to the King s Theatre on 7th February. The Byans. however* said thoy were unsuitable, and they were returned, another pair being bought the., same day .at M'Duff s. Bevan stated that the gloves /were bought to prevent fingerprints. With Detective Jarrold, witness, interviewed Gordon, who at first denied knowing anything about the robbery. The statement made by Bevan was then road to Gordon, who said:.-"The 'mongrel, to give us all. away like that. I Gordon said he-was prepared to make a statement detailing the part he had played, but rWKfIST to disclose the- names ot tho persons' with him. GORDON'S STATEMENT. In his statement Gordon said he had received £40 of the. money stolen from the mail bags, and also had a wristlet watch, a pen, and a ring, which ho had thrown away. The, money had been spent in Wellington having a good time. He had gone down tho hold of the vvahine, opened, the bags, and letters, and stolen' 1 tho money, coming out of' the hold just as the ship entered the Wellington heads. He did not desire to implicate any other person in connection with, the theft. . ,'.. .'■ . , , Continuing, witness said that after the statement had been made he showed Gordon the pocket knife, ana the pieces of glove that had been produced in Court. Gordon asked if a-pair of scissors had been found, as he had lost a pair. Gordon seemed surprised . that witness had the pieces-of glove, and said ho thought he had burnt them along with clippings from the letters. Gordon also tdld them that he had given the watch to Miss Jean Maddocks, ■the pen to Mr; Edwards, and tho ring to Mr. Egdell, all of Otaki. These articles witness and Detective Jarrold recovered.' .-.,;,.■ .-'. . .l. :- - BYANS/A? THE BACES. On 20th February, witness and Detective Jarrqia went to the Woodville races, and about 3.45 p.m: saw Richard Kyan coming from the totalisator. They spoke-to him,, and Ryan, who had some money in his hand, said he had ■just backed the second horse. When • questioned ■ about his brother, Richard Byan said he had arranged to meet George Byan after that race. A few minutes late George Byan appeared. They then told the Eyans that further developments,had taken, place concerning the robbery on the.-Wahine, and asked them to go- to the caretaker a house'near tho racecourse. On arrival at the house, witness. asked the Byans what money-they had'on-them. Bichard Byan .turned out his pockets on ■ tho .table. He,had £29 ,P,s Bd,iu his/.possession ■ in- bank .notes,, and:-George. Byan had £12 18s 3d. The accused said they had won the money they had in their possession at the races, and also other money at 'the Petone Trotting Meeting 'on 16th'February. George Byan also had £15 worth of tbfolisator tickets.-When they were" told tn'ey would have to go to Wellington, the accused made no demur about it. v On arrival at Wellington the Byans'said they'were prepared to make a statement in reference to tho money in their possession. ■ They were told that Bevan and Gordan had been arrested and charged with theft from the mail bags on the Wahine and also that Bevan had made a statement. Bichard Byan asked for Bevan's statemont to be read, which was done. Bichard Byan then made a statement, in which he said that portion of Bevan's statement' was correct, but others untrue. He denied having any connection ; with tho robbery,, but admitted that he had gone to Christchurch'on 9th February. - MAIL HATCH UNOUJAEDED. On the same night, continued Detective Tricklpbank, George Byan was interviewed,'and was told that Bevan had made a statement implicating him in the Wahine mail robbery. EyaA denied knowing anything: about; the robbery, but said that cer-tain parts of Bevan's statement-were true, but other portions lies. On the morning of 21st February witness searched the home of Richard Byan and-found a Wellington Trotting Club book for 16th February, in which Ryan's' investments and dividends for the day were given. The book showed he won £13 Is 6d, not,£l9 ss, as set out in his statement. When the bets ho made at both race meetings were totted up, it was found that he had £15 5s 9d in his possession more than, he could account for. i. . . Eichard Byan had been a member of tho crew of the Wahino between 4th January and 29th February, 1924. Witness had been stationed on the wharves for eleven years, and travelled on the ferry steamers frequently. He knew the mail hatch was left unguarded during the time the mails were, being loaded. The statements made by the two Byans after they had been. brought to Wellington had been made separately. At' this stage the case was adjourned until 2.30 this afternoon. (Beport of previous day's proceedings ... appears oil page 4.)