ROBBED OF £900

Evening Star, Issue 20987, 29 December 1931, Page 11

ROBBED OF £9OO

1 PEPPER THROWN IN EYES BANDITRY IN SYDNEY. One of the most carefully-planned armed robberies iu Sydney was carried out successfully on the morning of December 10, when two postal officials attached to the William Street i’ostal Offi.co were robbed of £9OO, The postmaster, Mr F. Seckold, and his, assistant, Mr A. R. Johnston, were set upon in Premier lane, Darlinghurst, a narrow, almost deserted thoroughfare behind the Rost Office, by three men, who threw pepper into their eyes. The bags containing the money were snatched from their hands. The postmaster was reluctant to part with the money, and a shot was fired by one of the assailants. No one w r as hurt.

As soon as they had secured the £9OU, which was to have paid pensions at St. John’s Parish Hall, the thieves ran through the back door of King William Mansions, slammed the door behind them, and made their escape unobserved into William street. They ensured their escape by imprisoning the three tenants in the building by securing the doors of their hats with rope tied to a star railing. The thieves were evidently well acquainted with the movements of the postal officials who carried the money. A few minutes before the officers Jett the Post Office the thieves entered King William Mansions, which has frontages to Premier lane and William street. After securing the doors with ropes the thieves waited for the postal officials to leave the Post Office.

Mr Seckold carried the greater part of tlie money in a leather hag. Mr Johnston had several hundred pounds in coin in canvas bags. The thieves had posted a look-out at the window, and the postal officials must have -been

seen as soon as they stepped into the lane. Unaware of their danger, Messrs Scckold and Johnston walked abreast down tho lane. Suddenly tho back door of King William Mansions was opened and tbe thieves stepped from tbe doorway. Tbe foremost of them held a long-barrelled revolver in his hand. “Stick them up,” he shouted. Tho postal officials turned round, and immediately another man dashed pepper into their eyes. The postal officers were temporarily blinded, and they staggered across the narrow lane. Mr Johnston felt himself seized, and the canvas bags were torn from his hands. He tried to open his eyes, but tho pain was too great. Mr Scckold staggered away in a vain attempt to save the money which was in the leather bag. He tripped on the kerb on the other side of tho lane and foil. He had just fallen when lie heard a shot. This was probably fired at him to prevent his escaping, and his accidental fall may have saved him from injury, Tho bag was wrested from his arms a moment later. Tho three thieves had only to run two or three yards to the door of the building from which they had come. Leaving two helpless men they slammed the door behind them and ran up a few stairs toward the front of tho building. As they went they heard some of tho tenants drumming on their doors. The latter had heard the shot and were making efforts to free themselves. However, the cords held and tho thieves made their way into William street. Their further movements are not_ known, hut they probably departed in a motor car.