ARMED AND MASKED MEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10114, 23 October 1917, Page 7

ARMED AND MASKED MEN.

MELBOURNE JOCKEY ROBBED. SENSATIONAL STORY TOLD TO POLICE. i MELBOURNE, Oct. 4, Patrick Kelly, a jockey, of Ascot Vale, has reported a sensational story of attempted robber} Vy armed and masked men. Jn the course of tho adventure Kelly was almost choked to death, and if one of the robbers had not been advised by his mates Kelly would have been shot through the head. ' Kelly's story, which 'is believed by detectives, is that ho returned home about 11 o'clock last night and went to bed about 1 o'clock, He was awakened by the noiso of someone walking in an adjoining passage. He listened, and then heard a number of footsteps. He called out, - and the men. all masked and each carrying a revolver, entered the room in single file. A TERRIBLE ORDEAL, i They commanded Kelly to get up, and told him they had been informed he hac| £2OO, which they meant to have. ' Kelly protested that he only had 30s, and'wanted to give that over to save himself from violence, but the men insisted he should produce the big money. They then tied a scarf round his neck, and while one man pulled on each end another held a revolver close to Kelly's head ; a fourth stood on guard by the door, and the fifth gave orders to choke. Kelly to death. The men pulled on the scarf till Kelly became' exhausted and dropped. He was pleading, and .still protesting that he was without the money. Ho was placed on a bed, and while thero the man in charge was anxious to end Kelly's lite, but his mates succeeded in proven Liii" hiiu. fIKD TO THE BED. Kelly's legs were then tied to cornels of the bed, and each of his arms was stretched to the top of the bed, and his head tied firmly down. There he was left, and was told not to make a noise as some of the gang would wait I outside the door for an hour, and if he called out his "light would be put out." 1 After waiting till daylight Kelly heard"Ha'ssott, the trainer, moving about, next door, and called to him, and he was then released. 1 The -men took away CI, a bottle of I whisky, and a pair of field glasses.