ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14975, 22 April 1909, Page 5

ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr ft. iUinson. J.P., Mr F. Pender, J.P., and Mr T. AVallace, J.P., two young men, named Edward Hancock and William Hutchinson, were charged with assaulting Henry John Lawrence at Riccarton on April 13 and robbing him of £65 in money and a cheque for £22 os. Mr Donnelly appeared for both accused, and Chief-Detective Bishop prosecuted on behalf of the police. Henry John Lawrence, labourer, of Ashburton, said that on Tuesday, April 13, he attended the races at Riccarton and remained on tho course until after the last race. He returned to town in a. drag in company with two mates named William Fox and Charlie Nolan. Four more passengers go* in the drag outside tlie course. The two accused were two of the four who got in. The drag drew up at the Bush Inn, and witness shouted for “ al! bands.” After leaving, the Bush Inn Hutchinson passed a bottle of whisky round, and witness had a drink. Witness said he was then under the influence of liquor. He felt Hanoock putting his hand into his trousers pocket, where he was carrying gold and silver. Witness also carried £65 in £5 notes and a cheque for £22 os in his inside coat pocket. Two of the men then hit him under tho chin and pulled his head back, and also held his hands up. Witness could not see what was going on then, but someone went through his trousers pocket first and then his breast pockets. After that one of his assailants said “He’s got no more.” Witness added: “I then yelled out for all'l was worth, 'Thief! Help!’” Continuing, witness said that on the morning of tho races ho drew £62 2s 3d from the Post Office Savings Bank. Ho had three wins at the races, and that would leave him with more money than he .took out. He thought that he won about £25 or £27 on tho day. To Mr Donnelly : When the drag left the Bush Inn Hotel there were seven or eight men in the drag. Witness’s mate. Charlie Nolan, was sober, he thought, hut he did not interfere when the men assaulted him. His other mate, Fox, was fairlv drunk. Frank Brookor, Post Office Savings Bank clerk, said that he paid out £62 odd to Henry James Lawrence on the morning of April 13. It was most probable that he was paid with twelve £5 notes and the balance in coin. Charles Nolan, labourer, of Ashburton, said that he went to the Riccarton races on April 13, where he met Lawrence.- Witness returned to town by drag with Lawrence and William Fox. The two accused got in tho drag at the Racecourse Hotel, with two

other men. After leaving there 'accused Hancock suggested to Lawrence that they should toss to see who shouted at the Bush Inn. Lawrence lost,

and six got out io have drinks. An old man remained in the drag. They all had drinks, and Lawrence paid. When the drag left the Bush Tnn, a tall, dark man, who was not either of the accused, caught hold of Lawrence and held him down. Hutchinson got up, and started waving a whisky bottle about and shouting. When the scuffle was going on he heard some money drop on the floor of the drag. He saw Hancock put his hand into Lawrence’s inside coat pocket while the other man held Lawrence, and ho took out a roll of what appeared to he bank notes, and put them in his own pocket. After t-bat Hancock worked his way along the drag, apparently with the idea of getting out, but seeing witness watching him, ho came over and said: “Don’t put my moiiicor on. I’ll give you a cut out of it.” Hancock then jumped out somewhere about the Hospital. The reason ho did not interfere was that he did not want to get a “ crack ” with the bottle Hutchinson was waving about. When witness got to town he went with Lawrence to the police station.

Roy Burrows, a. youth ten yearn of age, said he saw Lawrence and the two accused iri the drag when it left the Racecourse Hotel. There were about ten men in the drag. Witness'was collecting the fares for the driver. He had trouble in getting the fares from the accused, but accused Hancock afterwards paid. Witness did not remember whether accused Hutchinson eventually paid him or the driver. When the drag got to the Bush Inn they all got out and had drinks. When they came back accused Hutchinson had a bottle of whisky. When the drag left the Bush Inn it contained Lawrence and his two mates, the two accused, an old man, another ,man and Percy M’Mullan, . another boy. Witness said he saw accused Hutchinson holding Lawrence down on the floor while accused Hancock put his hand in Lawrence’s pocket. Accused Hancock got off the drag near the Hospital with another young man. Accused Hutchinson remained in the drag till it got to the Square. To Mr Donnelly : The man who got out with Hancock was a tall, dark man. The two got out while Hutchinson was holding Lawrence down. He did not hoar anyone calling out for help. Witness was on the step of the drag imwt of the time and he could see into the drag. Witness thought every one of the men was drunk. Cross-examined by Chief Detective Bishop, witness said that after Hutchinson got Lawrence down he went up to sit by the driver. The drag made a good deal of noise going along. D'Arcy M’Mullan, another youth, eleven years of age, said lie came home from the races on Tuesday, April 13, on a drag with the last witness, and was sitting opposite Hancock. There were seven people in the drag. Witness corroborated the evidence of the boy Burrows as to what occurred iii Uio drag. ! To Mr Donnelly: Ho did not heac Lawrence call out for help. Accused Hutchinson appeared to be very drunk. When the drag gave a sudden lurch, Hutchinson fell on Lawrence. Witness did not see Hutchinson do anything to Lawrence. Mary S. Box said she found the cheque produced between the laths of the seat on tho left-hand side of tho drag when the drag came in from the races on Tuesday, April 13. Frederick Lahman said he was serving in the bar of His Lordship’s Hotel on the evening of Tuesday, April 13. Hancock came in about eight o’clock t and said he had a- good will at the

races and produced a roll of banknotes. A mate of Hancock, named Pullen, told him he had better leave it with witness to keep till mbrning. Hancock then counted out six “fivers’" and ■ handed them to witness. As Hancock was doing this a man named Calvert snapped some of the notes out of Hancock’s hand, which was part of the roll of notes from which he had handed witness the £3O. Calvert then went out of the bar and Hancock gave witness two further £5 notes. Witness afterwards handed over the money to PulJan to return to Hancock, as ho did n<st wish to have the responsibility of Folding it. Hancock stated that Calvert must have “snapped” about £3O. Hancock was sober and chased after Calvert. John Pullan said he remembered being in His Lordship’s Hotel on Tuesday evening, April 13, and lie saw tho accused' Hancock in the bar. Hancock gave witness os ho owed him and said he had had a good win at the races. While Hancock was counting out some notes to give to the barman, Calvert Snatched some notes out of Hancock’s hand. Witness caught Calvert as he ran away and searched him, but found no notes on him. Hancock told witness he had got some of the moiiey back from Calvert, but not ail. Later the barman handed witness a roll of £5 notes to give to Hancock. To Mr Donnelly: Hancock did not .appear to he drunk. Detective Gibson said that about 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, he went in company with Detective AVard to His Lordship’s Hotel and called Hancock out of the bar. AA’hon asked where he got all the money, Hancock said he had won it at the trots the previous Saturday. A\ 7 itness asked Hancock how he returned from the races that day, and he said he came on a tram. AVitness arrested him. The following morning the witnesses Lawrence and Nolan picked him out from seven other men at the police station. On April 15 witness said he arrested Hutchinson, who denied all knowledge of the offence, but admitted coming in on the drag. Hutchinson added that he was too drunk to know what happened on the drag. AYitness recovered eight £5 notes from Pullan and the cheque from Airs Box. AA 7 hen Lawrence came to the police station to report the robbery

he had not a, penny on him. To Air Donnelly: Lawrence and his two mates came to the station abouf eight o’clock. All- three had been drinking, but Nolan was not very bad. Both the accused pleaded not guilty and were committed to stand their trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed in each case in £IOO and two sureties of £SO each. Thomas Henry Calvert was then charged with theft from the person and pleaded not guilty. This charge arose out of the alleged, assault and robbery, and the evidence against the accused was similar to that given in the other prosecutions. Detective Gibson stated that when he arrested the acoused he admitted having “snapped” about £2O in notes from Hancock in His Lordship’s Hotel, but he was chased and returned the money. Witness did not recover any of the money from Calvert. The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. Bail was allowed, accused in £IOO and two sureties of £SO each