ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 266, 24 October 1935, Page 5

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE

Accused Found Guilty By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 23. A plea of not guilty was entered in the Supreme Court to-day by John Robert Armstrong to a charge of robbery with violence. 'The Crown Prosecutor, Mr A. T. Donnelly, said that the case was one of common lobbery, but it w T as rather more cowardly than usual. A retired farmer, Mr Golding, aged 70, came to Christchurch with £l6 in his possession. He visited hotels and met the accused. The pair went to the Grand Hotel, and when Golding entered a convenience the accused and a man named Clelland (now serving sentence) followed him, Clelland jumping on the old man’s back while the accused went through his pockets. Clelland had already admitted the offence. Later Golding identified Armstrong as the second man concerned in the robbery. In evidence, Sampson Robert Clelland declared that he committed the crime himself. Mr Donnelly; You made a statement to the police saying Armstrong was the man who assisted you in the robbery of Golding. Clelland: I did, and then denied it. 1 was trying to settle an old score with Armstrong. Detective Parrish said he found Armstrong hiding under a bed. Armstrong made a statement denying all connection with the offence. The jury returned a verdict of guilty with a strong recommendation to mercy because of the accused being influenced by undesirable associates. His Honour: Your recommendation will be taken notice of, but possibly you are unaware that the prisoner has a long list of convictions, and was possibly more dangerous to his associates than they were to him. However, the recommendation will be taken into account.