AN EXCITING CHASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20514, 15 March 1930, Page 14

AN EXCITING CHASE.

MAN WHO STOLE FROM SHOP. TWO MEN AID IN CAPTURE. THREATS TO THE PURSUERS. The story of the capture, after a chase, of a man who had robbed a till from a shop, was described in the Onehunga Police Court yesterday, when Charles Henry Cox was charged with the theft of a wooden till containing £4 12s at Onehunga on March 6. Cox admitted the offence, and was committed by justices of the peace, Messrs. J. E. Green, T. C. Schnackenberg and T. H. Geraghty, to the Supreme Court for sentence. Miss L. R. Lee, fruiterer, of Queen Street, Onehunga, stated that when she was in the sitting room at the rear of her shop she saw accused, standing near the till. Hearing the sound of money jingling, she walked into tho shop, and saw accused leaving with the till. Following him into the street, she informed two men, T. C. Turnbull and F. G. Wilson, who started in pursuitl There was a struggle and the fill fell to the ground. Before the accused entered her shop there was £4 12s in the till, most of this being in silver.

After another witness had stated that he saw accused enter and leave the shop, T. C. Turnbull, chemist, described the pursuit which followed. In company with Wilson ho followed accused into Arthur Street, where Wilson caught him. Accused turned and threw the till at Wilson's head, and the money was scattered over the footpath. Wilson grappled with accused, while witness went to summon the police by telephone. He then returned to the scene and picked up all the mouey he could find. Cox said that he was sorry for what had happened and that he would return to the shop and apologise to Miss Lee. Ho then walked away, followed by witness, but near St. Peter's Church suddenly threatened to " crack " witness, breaking into a run. After climbing a brick wall and entering a private garden he was lost to sight. Corroborative evidence was given by Wilson, and Constable Hinton stated that he had found accused behind a wall and arrested him. The money found on the footpath and in Cox's possession totalled £4 3s 6d. After accused had pleaded guilty and been committed for sentence, the justices congratulated Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Wilson on their action in following accused, even after being threatened. An application for bail was refused, Senior-Sergeant O'Neill stating that it was not accused's first offence.