ROBBERY OF £5000 IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5496, 28 June 1879, Page 6

ROBBERY OF £5000 IN SYDNEY.

One of the most audacious robberies that has ever been committed in this city took place at the offices of Messrs. Williams and Co., coach and carriage ironmongers, of 3 YVyn-yard-street. It appears that Mr. Irish, the managing elerk to Messrs. Williams and Co., left the office 1 p.m. on Tuesday, £or lunch, and, on leaving, locked the door, placing the key on the top out of sight of any person, and almost ont of reach. In Mr. Irish's office was the safe, the key o£ which is always kept by Mr. Lynch, the head of the office, but is invariably unlocked in the mornning for the use of the clerks during the day. In this safe was the cash-box, which on this occasion contained pro.-notes, cheques, bank notes, and cash to the amount of nearly £5000. Short!, after Mr. Irish left it appears the thief or thieves—evidently no stranger to the whereabouts of the key— went in and hurriedly took the key; but being disturbed by the movements of the office lad upstairs, must have left the premises for the boy in coming down stairs to go to bis dinner, had to climb over the partion to get his cap, a3 there Was no key there. Shortly after the boy and the other clerk left for dinner, the thieves entered and taking the cash-box, alao seized a coat kauging up, with which they concealed their booty. On returning to the office from lunch, Mr. Irish found his office door open, and the safe door wide open. He at once missed the cash-box, and thinking Mr. Lynch, the principal, might have been in and taken it home, he at once dispatched a messenger for that gentleman who speediy came to the office, and of course information was at once given to the police. However, murder will out, for the thieves bad been observed, and before Messrs. Lynch and Irish had returned from the police-office, Detective Tindall had got his eyes on the offenders, and was quickly on their trail. In the courae of an hoar or so after the robbery, a little girl found the cash-box near the Grafton Wharf, together with the pro. notes and cheques, and these being handed to the police, Detective Tindallspeedily arrested two men who were brought before the Water Police Beuch on Saturday morning. Edward Evans alias Read alias lago, and Thomss Ryan, were both charged with the robbery. Detective - officer TindaU said,- "about 9 p.m. on Oth instant I arrested prisoner Evans—who I also know under the names of Read and lago—after a sharp chase of 200 yards or so in York-atreet. About 10.30 p.m. same night, I arrested prisoner Ryan in the Smiling Morn Hotel, Kicg-street. I conveyed them to the lock-up at No. 1 station, and then charged each, separately with having, at Sydney, on Tuesday, 3rd Juue, stolen from No. 5, Wynyard-street, one coat, one cash-box, pro. notes and cheques value £4064, one £5 England note, two defaced shillings, the property of E. Williams and Co. Evans said he knew nothing about it. Ryan made no reply. I found on Evans a purse, knife, 2s Bd, and some photos. On My an I found 2s, two copper coins, three pawn, tickets, knife, and two purses. I produce a cash-box, cheque, and pro. notes to the ; amount.of £4064, and a ,portion of another pro. note and a letter. The note wag made on May Ist, 1574, due 4th September, 1874. I found this proportion on a vacant piece of ground near the. Grafton Wharf. The prisoners who where seen aotually in the act of cpmmitingthe robbery." The prisoners were remanded . until, Wednesday, when they wero brought .up, and again remanded. It appears that the prisoners are believed to be connected with athoroughly organisedgang of robbers in the city, and that one. of their number is wanted as a witneiu in order to complete the evidehoe againtt Evans and Ryan, but it is believed he -is ■" put, away,", to prevent tho police getting his aitehdence. Another daring robbery was ■ committed the other evening, and it is believed it can b9 traced to the gang of which Ryan and Evans are reported to be members,—jEi'eninjr ITetoa.