ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 June 1924, Page 4

ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.

GUNMAN’S RICH HAUL. BAG CONTAINING £l7O. SUSPECTS ARRESTED. SYDNEY, June 5. Sydney had a taste of what America has been experiencing, when a gunman held up a laundry man at the revolver point and robbed him of £l7O in notes and silver. Quick work by the police, however, resulted in the recovery of £133 of the money, and the arrest of a man and woman.

The sensational incident occurred in Glenmore Road, Paddington, at 12.30 p.m. last Friday. William Stark, the laundry man, whose business is at the intersection of Cascade Street and Glenmore Road, had been to the Commonwealth Bank in the city to draw the money for the wages of his staff. He left the tram, and was walking along Glenmore Road, carrying the money and his bank book in a small handbag. When about 50 yards from the laundry a man stepped from behind a telegraph post, against which he had been leaning, and demanded the bag. Stark was nonplussed for a second, but he did not release his grip on the bag. The desperado, realising that time was precious, drew a revolver, with which he menaced Stark, and then wrenched the bag from his hand. There were others in the street at the time, and they joined Stark in a chase after the fleeing robber. The chase led through Hampden Oval, and the pursuers were gaining on the fugitive whjen he turned, and fired a shot in their direction. This had the effect of slackening their pace, but they saw the man leave the park and dart into a. lane leading to McLean Street, Paddington. They turned the corner of the lane in time to see him running into MoLean Street, but when they reached the intersection he had disappeared. \ In the meantime a woman who' had witnessed the first of the hold-up had telephoned the Paddington police, and six men ( were sent down, while detectives were dispatched from the city in a fast car.

A search, was made near where the thief had disappeared, and eventually two of the detectives located a man sitting on .a bed in the back room of a cottage. Under the mattress they found the handbag taken from Stark. The top had been cut- away, and the contents were gone. The bag had contained £l4 m silver m a canvas holder, and this sum was found in a drawer in the room. The man said he knew nothing of it.

The police were not satisfied with what they had found, and thedr suspicion® were attracted by a fire in the grate. The fire was extinguished and the residue was carefully gathered. An officer from, the Commonwealth Bank was requisitioned, and, after examining the ashes and some of the more solid portions of the matter taken from the fire, he identified it as portion of the laundry bank book. The man was taken to -the station and charged with robbery under arms, and with shooting with intent to murdeE- The revolver was not discovered. Other officers searched high and low tor the hank notes without success, and they decided to wait nearby, for they were informed that a woman had left the house a few minutes prior to their arrival. They waited late into the afternoon, and were rewarded when a car containing two women drove along the street.

They stopped the car, and were astounded to find that the floor and back seat were covered with banknotes. The car was taken to the police station, and on the way the police gathered up about £SO in single notes, which bad been dropped in the ear. One of the women was searched there, and all aibout her clothing the police found' banknotes. Altogether over £IOO worth, .alleged to be proceeds of the robbery, were recovered. ~ u ' ne , the wome n, who explained that she had been taking the other home, was released, the police being satisfied that she was in no way connected with the theft, but the other was charged with receiving the money well knowing it to have been stolen.