EXCITING CHASE.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1820, 11 January 1913, Page 6

EXCITING CHASE.

John Robertson, aged 41, was charged at the Auckland Police Court on Thursday with having stolen a purse, containing £7 Is, from the person of Joseph Powell. The story told by Powell and a mate named Harold Baskeville was that they were at the Ellerslie races, and were at the fence of the outside enclosure watching the last race. As i the horses were coming round to the I finish Powell was pushed from bei hind against the fence, and felt his ' purse removed from his hip pocket. I He turned round and made a rush i for Robertson, who was going away, I and threw his arms round him. Ro- | bertson put one hand behind him ' with the purse in it, as if he were trying to pass it back to someone, ' and Powell snatched the purse and I put it back in his pocket. At that ! moment Baskeville, having heard his ' name cried by Powell, came up and i grabbed Robertson as he wrenched ■ himself free from Powell. Just then i Constable Moss came up, and took i the three of them away for explana- ! tion. Some man of the crowd that I collected said that he had seen Ro- ! bertson pick the purse up, and then get grabbed by the other man, but that man could not be found at the address he gave. Robertson's only reply, when he was charged with the theft, was "I know nothing about it" He had £l6 17s on him ! when he was arrested. ! Accused was committed for trial. ! When the question of bail was raised, the Sub-Inspector asked that the amount be substantial, as Robertson was now wanted in one of the Australian States for skipping his bail. Bail was fixed at two sureties of £l5O each.