MURDER CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 19153, 21 January 1926, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

THE HAKPTOH CASE ROBERTSON COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Press Association, AIELBOURNE, January 20. Dougins Robertson was charged willi the murder of W. (’. Almeida, and was committed for trial. A statement alleged to be by Robertson was put in as evidence. It tens stated that Robertson is a native of New Zealand, and came to Australia about sixteen mouths ago purely for a holiday. On arrival In Melbourne ho was unfortunate in making the acquaintance of Perkins. When Robertson said he desired to return to Now Zealand, Perkins asked if he would like to take £2OO or £3OO back with him. and ho outlined a scheme, for robbing the toller, who, Perkins said, was short of money, and would not resist. Robertson agreed. Ho said he and Perkins went to tho hank, Perkins going first. When Robertson entered lie saw Perkins pointing a revolver at the teller. Ho heard a deafening report, and saw the toller fall. Pcrk’i ns jumped over the counter, and Robertson asked what ho had done. Perkins replied: “ Get n move on. Get flic money and get out.” Robertson grabbed tho money, ran to a waiting motor ear, and eventually got home. Later lie read of the toller’s death and tho arrest of Perkins, and lie remained in hiding. fAs a sequel to tho murder of Mr William C. Almeida (manager at Hampton of tho Victorian branch of the Commercial Bank) on November 28, 1921, when tho bank was stuck up by f wo men, one of whom escaped, Dougins Robertson, aged thirty-seven years, described as a .skilled laborer, was arrested on December 28. 1925, on suspicion of murdering Mr Almeida. A man named Perkins, whom Mr Almeida, after beiim wounded, held at the revolver point till he was arrested, was sentenced to if teen years’ imprisonment.]