SENTENCED TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 11

SENTENCED TO DEATH.

murder of a youth. PLUCKY CHASE OF ROBBER. (Received March 11. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. March 11. Reginald Woodley has been convicted of the murder of Cecil Baker at Yagoona on January 11 and sentenced to death. Cecil Baker, a youth of 19. was shot, dead near Yagoona railway station on January 11 in a plucky attempt to assist in the capture of two robbers. In tho confusion following their crime the robbers escaped, but the police received early information concerning tho tragedy, and fhrv drew a cordon around the. district. Subsequently the man Woodley was arrest cel. j. • i When the porter at the. Yagoona rai - way station, which is situated on the. li, J running between Bankstown (12 miles south of Sydney) and Lulcombe, >sing down for the night ho inspected tho station premises and found nothing amiss. "When lie returned to tho office, howeve , a man walked through tho doorway after him. The porter turned at the unexpected footsteps, and found that . stranger was presenting a >'cyo lv er at head "Now hand over the Kejs of the safe," said the stranger. 1 have not, got the keys," declared the porter. " Of course you have got the kojs. Han them over, or 1 will drill you, said the th The discussion concerning the keys proceeded for some minutes, and then a cai containing some young men fncnds of the. porter, drew up at the station, and the thief, either fearing tho approach of ~o many people, or having received some warning from his accomplice-later even , proved that there was another man concerned in the affair-ran from the station The porter gave chase, calling to Ins "Jhn h„l LvriW .h» r«-,lvor at tho porter and another man were seen running swiftly down the road, and the porter and his youthful friends hot pursuit. Cecil Baker was in the lead and was almost upon the men when one 'turned. He levelled a, revolver at tho plucky boy, but Baker continued toward him and attempted to close with him As he. did so the criminal fired at point-blank range, tho bullet entering the unfortunate youth's head. Death was instantaneous. Baker's 30-year-old brother had joined in tho chase and was not far behind when the fatal shot, was fired.