THE NAVUA ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13399, 30 January 1907, Page 7

THE NAVUA ROBBERY.

TWO ARRESTS IN AUCKLAND.

SUM OF £190 RECOVERED

Ever since the robbery occurred en the Navua, while at sea, in October las*, the police here and in Australia, and the Ishnds, have been assiduously following the matter up, with what .success in Australia is already known, two men having been arretted there, and £400 in cash recovered. Tie efforts of the local police were similarly rewarded late on Monday night, two men l>eing arrested in connection with the robbery, and £190 in cash recovered. The two men arrested in Auckland appeared at. the Police Court yesterday, charged before Messrs. (J. Roberts and S. Nathan, justices of the peace.

The men axe Charles George Frederick Pepper, a resident of Mount Roskill, and Herbert Hewlett, a resident of Ponsouby, both young men. The charge against Pepper is that i" December, 1906, lie received 500 sovereigns obtained by crime, knowing that the same had been so obtained, while that against Hewlett is of a similar character, the amount stated being 180 sovereigns. Detective Henderson, appearing on behalf of the police, stated that these charges were in connection with the recent theft of 1000 sovereigns from the Navua, and applied for a remand for a week without bail being allowed. His reason for not wishing the accused to be set at liberty was that, all the. money had net yet been recovered. The remand was granted accordingly, the accused remaining in custody.

From inquiries made, it- appears that. Manning, the man -vbo Mas first arrested in (Sydney, and from whom £''.C 0 was recovered, was a setmau an the Xavua at the lime of the robbery, and on landing at Auckland stayed at the same house with Pepper for several weeks. It, is also alleged that Pepper, on learning of the arrest of Manning, feared that he would be visited by the local police, and removed a, bag of gold which be had to Hewlett's house, in Ponsouby, burying it beneath the house. On searching the latter' premises the police recovered the bag, which was found to con tain 180 sovereigns. • Ten guineas in gold was also .seized in Pepper's house, when it was searched. Christie, the second man who was arrested in Sydney, was the third mate on the Navua at the time the crime was committed, and it is stated that he has made a confession.