ROBBERY ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21875, 10 August 1934, Page 14

ROBBERY ALLEGED

CHARGE OF VIOLENCE FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD TWO MEN TO STAND TRIAL Further evidence in the case in which Robert Reidy, a fieri 44, tailor, and William Keogh, apod 32, seaman, arc charged with robbing David Hook of £lO 15s after using personal violence, was heard in the Police Court yesterday. The evidence of the complainant Hook, a seaman, had been taken on deposition on Saturday, as ho was about to leave the Dominion on his vessel. Mr. Ackins appeared for Itcidy and Mr. Noble for Keogh. The offence is alleged to have occurred at the rear entrance to the chief post ofiico shortly before midnight on August 2. An engincdriver, Colin Hamilton MeGrail, gave evidence that while on Ins way ' homo shortly before 11 o'clock last Thursday night, lie saw Hook in Hobson Street and stopped to talk with him. There were four other men with him, one of whom was Reidy and another the second accused, whose name ho did not know at the time. Hook seemed to have bad some liquor, but was not in a bad condition, and the others seemed much the same. Men's Visit to Hotel Ernest Saintv Parker, son of tho licensee of the Alexandra Hotel, said that at about 11 p.m. on August 2 ho heard tho front door bell ring. Ho looked out of a window above the door and saw three men standing there. Witness called out: "Who's there?" and one of the men stepped into tho light and said he was Reidy tho tailor, and asked to bo lot in, presumably for a drink. Witness replied: "No good." He could definitely identify Reidy, but could not identify tho other two. Constable Allsopp said that Hook had come up to him shortly after midnight and laid a complaint of having been struck and robbed. His mouth was bleeding and both trousers pockets had been pulled out. There were drops of blood on tho steps at the rear of the post office.

Detective Davis detailed an interview he had had with the accused Reidy on August 3, and produced a statement which ho said Reidv had made but refused to sign. In this Reidy said ho had met some friends at a hotel at about 11 p.m. on August 2. Among them Avas the complainant Hook. Account ol Movements Hook, Reidy stated, had mentioned that he was going to telegraph some money to a friend, and Reidy said ho would walk down with him to the post office. Pie did this, but left Hook at the rear entrance of the building. Ho then went home by taxi, and knew nothing about the alleged robbery. Detective Davis said that after being arrested, Reidy was searched and the sum of 2s 4d was found on him.

Evidence of interviewing the accused Keogh in a city hotel shortly after 10 a.m. on August 3 was given by Detective Nalder. When asked where he was the previous evening, Keogh said he was home and in bed before nine o'clock. Ho said he did- not know Reidy. "When 1 said that it had been alleged that ho had knocked Hook down while Reidy went through his pockets, Keogh replied: '1 would not do that. I am not a fighting man,' " Detective Nalder continued. Hook picked Keogh out from 10 men at an identification parade. On being searched, Keogh had four £1 notes and 7s in silver in his possession. Both accused pleaded not guilty and were committed by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., to the Supreme Court for trial.

lleidy's bail was renewed, but Keogh was remanded in custody.