STICKING UP A MAIL COACH.

Lake County Press, Issue 978, 5 September 1901, Page 5

STICKING UP A MAIL COACH.

The mail coach from Whitecliffs, the centre of the opal-mining district, to Wilcannia (N.S.W.) was making a night journey and drew up at a gate. A passenger named Banter jumped down and opened the door, when a masked robber stepped out. and tired a revolver. He wounded Rinter in the forearm and ordered the driver and three other passengers to stand agiinst hj fence while he secured the mail bags. He warned driver that if he attempted to return to WhiteclitT-. he would he shot. The bags contained a quantity of valuable?, including packages of opals, but in his hurry 1 lie robber overlooked several valuable parcels of op ils in the boot of the coach. The police discovered many open letters, a number of mossed cheques, and marks of a bicycle track

in il,e \iei.n'ty <»f the pi ic where the 11 Mien took place. Tin c >ach robber nmde the driver hmd over a knife, which be used f>r opening the h-tt< is, pocketing notes and other valuables promiscuously. This occupied over an hj >ur, during which a bicyclist rode up. The robber made him stand with the o hers till he was fi lit'r.ed, when he placid the loot in an empt\ mail bag and rode away on the bicycle. Later. The mail robber made a rich haul. The i-xict amount is not known, but it is estimated at from £OOO to £I4OO in notes and £SOO in opals and j -wellery. There is no bank at Whiteclifts, thus necessit ding forwarding a large amount by post. An attempt was male to iob the mail coach some time ago but failed. The robber allowed the passen gers to go scot fiee. One carried a large sum. Ranter, after being shot, expecting to be overhauled, hung a bag containing £2O on a horse's liaines, and it pissed unnoticed. The robber's bicycle was traced back to "WiiitccliiD, where he apparently dismounted at a verandah, and then evidently shouldered the bicycle to hide his track. The bicyclist who came up while the robbery was proceeding has been detained by the police. A lady passenger was allowed to remain on the box seat and her and a tug covered the boot of the coach, containing a parcel of opals. Pedraua, the driver of the Whitecliffs coach, has been arrested on suspicion of b. ing concerned in the robbery. He was acting as substitute for the regular driver.