POST OFFICE ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17484, 31 May 1920, Page 4

POST OFFICE ROBBERY.

THE RUNOIMAN' 'SENSATION.

THIEF PRODUCES REVOLVER.

ONE SHOT FIRED ON ROAD.

BOOTY AMOUNTS TO £107.

The robbery at the Runcimanpc-t office on Friday evening caused quite a sensation, following as it did a. closely on the Ponsonby post office , burglary and murder case. • The statement made by Arthur Charles Whitburn, about 17 years of age, a letterearner at the Rui.ciman post office, ami son of the postmistress, Mrs. Helen Whit burn, indicates that the crime was effect?. a, the result of a carefully thought-out plan, which for cunning and " bluff has not been equalled for a long time. The lad was in the habit of opening the offp it seven o'clock in the morning and remainin., in charge until relieved by his mother /nine o'clock. The ordinary routine was followed on Friday morriug. th« only difference being that his sister, Miss Whitburn, took charge at nine o'clock to enable him to distribute some mail. He returned to the office at twenty minutes past three o'clock, and was left in charge at live o'clock, when his sister went off duty. Half an hour later ho locked up and started on his bicycle for his home, a mile and a-quarter distant, on the Karaka Road. " Balled Up" on the Bead.

At the Waiuku crossing a man whom he | had seen twice previoualy hailed bin., say ing, "There is a registered letter in the office for Wilson." The lad said, "Is there _ The man replied: " Yes, I want to get it. Whitburn offered to go back to the office to b*l the letter, but the man said: ' Give me the keys; I'll go back myself, at the same time producing a revolver and pointing it at Whitburn. At the sight of the revolver the la* became alarmed and gave up the kevs. The man then took hold of Whitburn's bicycle by the handle-bar, saying : " Get off and get away home. The lad let go his bicycle and commenced walking in the direction of his home. The man's object was only too obvious, and, with a view to gaining time, just prior to mounting tho bicycle he fired a shot, but in which direction Whitburn was unable to say. Instead of increasing his speed homeward, on hearing the report frrfm the revolver, the lad turned and began walking toward the office. At the Karaka. Road corner he met two men, to whom he related what had taken place. Mr. Arnold Bycroft and his sister came up on bicvcles, and one of the men suggested that Whitburn should borrow Miss Bycroft's bicycle, and in company with Mr. Bycroft pursue the th if. This was done, and on the way to the post office they found the lighted lamp from the stolen bicycle lying on the roadside. On arrival at the office they found the door open, and Whitburn ran over to Mr. T. Sloane for assistance, and also called the railway workmen, all of whom took up positions immediately in front of the office, waiting for the man to come out. Mr. Bycroft went to the Drury railway station and telephoned to Constable Johnstone at Papakura. On his return he went for Mr. Whitburn. In the meantime Sergeant Cowan, of Pukekohe, had been communicated with, and he and Constable Wolfendalo arrived on the scene I about haU-an-hour later. Unsuccessful Search for Thief.

On entering the office Sergeant Cowan found it in a state of disorder. The cash box was lying on the floor empty, there being no sign of the thief. Questioned as to the app»"nnce of the man Whitburn said he was between sft 6in ar.d sft 7in in height. He was wearing a black felt hat and a daric overcoat, and had the lower part of his face from the bridge of his nose covered with a scarf. The colour of his hair or eyescould not be seen, owing to the fading light. . ' Word having been received that a cyclist had been seen riding at a great speed in the direction of Papakura, a search prrty proceeded along that road, ana Constable Johnstone came on to m-?et them. No sign of -the fugitive was discovered, however. On Saturday morning Constable Johnstone found the first trace of the thief, this being the stolen bicycle, which was discovered in a clump of gorsa in Papakura. . Detectives McHugh and Sullivan, of Auckland, went out early in the morning, and the search was continued throughout the dav. but without success. Investigations revealed teat in all €o7 in cash, £27 in cheques and £23 in Government vouchers -were stolen, making a total of £107. A cheque taken from the post office was picked up on the Takanini Road yesterday