AN IMPUDENT STICKING-UP CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 8482, 6 April 1891, Page 2

AN IMPUDENT STICKING-UP CASE.

A Daylight eobbery.

Two men well known to the police were arrested by the police yesterday on a charge of robbery in broad daylight in a bnsinesss part of the town, the offence having been committed a short while previously. The accused—James Curacy and Roderick M'Kenzie alias O’Brien—were to-day charged at the Police Court with assaulting Richard Sims Faville, and with robbing hint of a silver chain and pendant, valned at thirty shillings, Richard Sims Faville, a baker, of Lee Flat, said' he bad arrived, in town from Ontram ea Tuesday last. Yesterday morning bh WAS neat the railway'station, when he WAs .a&Bostbd by the prisoner Gurney, who asked witness if he knew where Mr Brown lived, and witness replied that he did not know; he was a stranger in the town. M'Kenzie then came up, and both prisoners said they were strangers also, like witness himself. M'Kenzie then asked witness to shout, and he replied he was as poor as themselves. M ‘Kenzie said i “ You’ve got a watch. ” Witness at the time was wearing a watch chain. Witness opened his vest and pulled out the chain, saying “ I’ve got no watch; it’s at the jewellers.’’ M‘Kenzie then cailght hold of the pendant, and said “What’s this?” Witness replied that ho had bought that a few days ago at Stewart Dawson and Co.’s. M'Kenzie then proposed that witness should sell the Chain and albert. Witness declined to fall in with the proposition, ahd M‘Kenzie said that they holild raise a drink, and would " shout ” for witness. One of the prisoners then said “ Gome down this way,” They had all been standing near the Triangle, but proceeded down Cumberland street, under the overbridge. One of the prisoners then suggested to go into the opening at the bottom of the bridge, but witness replied “ These are only the steps that lead to the top of the bridge.” Witness proceeded to turn away towards the road which led to the Old Times Restaurant, but O’Brien asked him whether he was not going to have a drink. He showed witness a shilling and two other coins. They all then turned back and proceeded along Cumberland street, and M'Kenzie proposed that they should go into an hotel there. As they were going along, M‘Kenzie, who was loitering behind, called witness, who was walking with the other prisoner. Witness turned back, and M'Kenzie jammed him against the wall of d building and demanded the chain. Witness refused to give it up, and the other prisoner coming up helped M'Kenzie. In the struggle the bar of the chain became detached and fell to the ground, and the prisoner Curney struck witness in the face. The prisoner M'Kenzie took the chain, and threatened to “ smash ” witness if he said anything about the affair. The mark on his (witness’s) face was caused by Curney. Witness reported the matter at the Maclaggan street Police Station. Witness conducted two detectives to South Dunedin, and on their way one of the detectives pointed out two men, and asked witness if they were anything like the men who committed the assault. Witness replied that they were the men, and the detectives then followed and arrested them. Witness identified the chain afterwards in the police station. It was valued at 245, and the pendant at 10s fid. At the time he was assaulted witness was sober. The accused smelt of drink, but were quite sober. There was no person in view at the time the assault took place, Louis Simond, manager for Stewart Dawson and Co,, also gave evidence. Chief-detective Henderson deposed that he arrested Curney, and that Detective M'Grath arrested M'Kenzie. After walking a few yards towards the police station witness put hia hand into one of the pockets of the accused and found the chain and pendant (produced). The prisoner Curney had two pipes in his possession. This concluded the case for the prosecution, and the accused, who had nothing to say iu reply to the usual challenge, were committed for trial.

The prisoner Curney said he wished to plead guilty and to be dealt with summarily, so as to save further trouble. The Bench replied that it was then too late for the prisoners to be dealt with summarily. Inspector Hickson suggested that the admission of guilt be added to the statement made by Curney, and this was done.