ARMED FOOTPADS

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 4

ARMED FOOTPADS

M'S SENSATIONAL STORY ROBBED IN LIGHTED STREET. MELBOURNE, August 5. With a revolver pressed against his temple, John Booth, of Victoria parade, East Melbourne, was last night bailed up by three masked men under a street lamp, within a stone’s throw of the Albert Park Police Station, and robbed of £l2 and his watch.

Booth was walking to the Albert Park Railway Station at 10.45, with the intention of catching a train to the city. He had got to the corner of Merton street and Kerferd road, when the three_ men stepped in front of him, 'blocking the footpath. Each of them was masked, and one at least was armed. Before Booth could express surprise at the behaviour of the strangers a revolver was pressed against his head. The dialogue that followed, according to Booth, was brief but effective Horn the bandits’ point of view.”' “What’s the game.?” asked Booth. “ We want your money,” said one r the masked men.

“ I haven’t got any,” replied Booth. “Then shoot him,” ordered one of the highwaymen to the man who held the revolver.

There was a pause evidently to allow Booth to make up his mind and to hand over his money, but Booth did not respond. “ Go through him,” next ordered one masked man

; Booth was then seized by the wrists, and made to hold his hands above his head. The masked man holding bis wrists kept his grip, and the man who held the revolver still pressed it against Booth’s head. The third man then expertly emptied Booth’s pockets, taking £l2 in notes i rid a silver watch. All this happened under a lighted street lamp. When the search for money ended, Booth was commanded to remain silent while his attackers departed. “ Don’t follow or sing out,” Booth was instructed. The men ran along Merton street. Booth followed, but he had hardly got into his stride when one of the three hold-up men turned end fired his revolver. Booth saw the flash, and heard the bullet whizz over Hs head. He thought of the police station nearby, and ran there. Messages were sent to the police motor patrol, but a search of the neighborhood failed to discover the three bandits.