ALLEGED PLOT

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1938, Page 2

ALLEGED PLOT

FOR £6,500 ROBBERY. LONDON, October 15. Disguises, a car and a motor-cycle, it was stated at the Old Br ft -y yesterday, were used in a plot to rob two messengers delivering £6,500 to Lloyds Band at Kernel Hempstead Lloyds’ Bank at Hemel Hempstead, Herts. Charles Ford, 36, a salesman, and .Charles Millard, 34, a supervisor, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to rob, stealing a car, receiving it, or taking it away without the owner’s corisent. 'Mr Anthonv Hawke, prosecuting, said that the car disappeared frgm outside a club on September 5, and ■it was alleged that it was in the possession of Ford, Millard and' another man at Hemel Hempstead. On September 8 the bank messengers’ went to the Post Office and collected £6,500. ' ’ / ' ' Policemen saw the car bearing false number plates, and driven by a man not before the court. Ford was sitting beside the driver. 1 Later the car disappeared, and a I motor-cycle driven by Millard went in the same direction. In about an hour the car re-rpenned. ,*iis time being driven by Millard, who was wearing different; clothing. Shortly afterwards the police »aw Ford and the third man walking along the High-street towards the ’Post Office. The car was then being driven slowly along the road. As'the bank messengers came out of the Post Office the two men got into the car, which followed the messengers. It. suddenly accelerated and disappeared. When the car, was found abandoned; its contents included a chauffeur’s cap, tfie jacket, hat, and trousers Ford was alleged to have been wearing, and two pieces of rubber piping loaded with lead. Ford denied all knowledge of a plot and declared that on that he wa s at home. He called two witnesses in support of his alibi. Millard said that he was working at Welwyn Garden City, and he also called two witnesses. The hearing was adjourned.