THE POST OFFICE ROBBERY.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 172, 18 March 1896, Page 2

THE POST OFFICE ROBBERY.

Arkest op Two SusrEcrs. As far as can bo ascertained the total amount of money abstracted from the Post. Office; amounts to £220 10s 2d. Constable Wlielan and Mr Dansey may bo complimented on the careful manner in which they made their investigations and the promptitude -with which they followed up every clue of d rather (angled ski in. Enquiry elicited that two men who, it is alleged, had been seen hanging "bout the Post. Office for the previous few days had left on the morning of the burglary by coach for Okorofre. These men who had given the naines and Stoen had been staying at Balhgato House, ostensibly as tourists, though it was remarked that they made no effort to visit any of tlio sights. It. was further discovered tliat though they'., liiid made enquiries from Mr Melville, of Messrs E. Robertson and Co., as to the coach service between here and Okoroirc their departure seemed always to depend upon some contingency. Mr Callaghan of the Okoroirc Hotel, and postmaster there, was informed of the burglary by wire and was instructed to keep the men on their arrival under surveillance. The nilmbers of some of the missing notes liad also been ascertained; and on the return of the driver of the coach in the afternoon it was discovered that a £1 note given by one of the men in payment of the fare bore one of the niimbcrS wanted; Const. Wlielan immediately procured a warrant and accompanied by the native policeman proceeded to Okoroire. On arrival there lie was met by Constable Brennan of Cambridge and after a little finesse the men were arrested and brought back to Rotorua at an early ,hour on Thursday morning. They gave the names of Thomas ITardie of Wellington, and James Steon of New South Wales, and protested loudly against their arrest. In their possession a sum of over £.36 was found £l4 of which, in single notes, has been identified, it is alleged, as the property of the Postmaster-General, being part of a remittance made by Mr It. Wake. No gold was found in their possession though over 30 sovereigns wore in the safe prior to the burglary. Oilier trails have been followed up but so far without success. Constable Murray whose holiday was ruthlessly broken into returned on Thursday night accompanied by Detective Crystal. On Thursday before Messrs Malfroy and Taylor, J.P.s, Thomas ITardie and James Steen were formally charged with breaking and entering. Const. Wlielan asked for a remand for eight days. The accused, Ilardie, objected. He did not know what he and his friend had been arrested for or tlio nature of the charge against them. It was necessary that they should know, so that they might employ counsel from Auc-land. Constable Whelan stated that the men had been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the robbery at the Post Office. Notes had been found in their possession with numbers corresponding to those on the notes stolen. The accused having signified that they understood the charge the remand was granted. Application was mads for bail but the police objected and the Bench signified that bail could not be allowed at that stage.' The accused were ta' : on to Auckland by Monday's train under the escort of Constable Beri-iman and will be again brought before the Bench on Friday.Two men named Henry Albert Austin and Henry Moiinscy who had travelled from Rotorua oil Monday's train were arrested at Newmarket by Constable Fry charged with beiug concerned in the burglary.-