STREET ROBBERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24125, 18 November 1941, Page 8

STREET ROBBERY

LABOUBER GUILTY BAG SNATCHED IN DAYLIGHT PLANNED FOR SOME WEEKS The daylight robbery in Victoria Street on October 28, when a bag containing £6lB 14s 7d in cheques and cash was snatched from a message boy, was admitted by Victor George Mosen, labourer, aged 21 (Mr. Meek), before Mr. J- Morling, S.M., yesterday. The use of personal violence against the messenger, Colin Mckenzie Jackson, aged 15, was included in the charge. Joseph Kissin, acting proprietor of the Waitemata Trading Company, Hobson Street, said Jackson had been taking the firm's money to the bank every morning for three months. When tlie bag was recovered by the police there was a cheque for £I4Q» and 9d cash in it. When it was handed to the messenger it contained £305 2s 9d in cash, and cheques for a further £343 lis lOd.

Thelt Described Colin McKenzie Jackson said be first noticed accused in Albert Street. He had the lapels of his coat turned up. When witness reached Victoria Street someone tugged at the bag and swung him round. He was then struck a blow on the upper arm by the assailant, whom he recognised as the man he had previously seen. Accused then ran into the Victoria Hotel with the bag and disappeared. Andrew Watson, naval stoker, said he saw two youths scuffling and at first thought they were "skylarking." He had no idea there-was money involved, but learned what had happened when he went to help the smaller boy. He saw accused run into the hotel. In a statement produced by Detective Gordon, accused said he had been watching the boy for two or three weeks and knew his movements. On the morning of the robbery he was waiting near the Hobson Hotel and followed Jackson into Victoria Street. After taking the bag be ran through the hotel into Durham Street, where he gave the bag to a man waiting there by arrangement, received another, and went down Albert Street to Customs Street. Sharing the Money "The money bag was opened in a telephone box and I later met the other man and we 'split' the money," the statement 'continued. Accused received about £BO for his share in the robbery. This money was spent on champagne, hiring rental cars, and "giving some girls a good time." Accused said he lost £8 in a bet on the racehorse Beau Vite in the Melbourne Cup. Accused found himself short of money on November 6, the statement went on, and decided to try to cash some of the cheques. Previously none of those sharing in the proceeds of the robbery wanted them, and they were hidden near Blandford Park. Accused persuaded a man he knew to drive him to Papakura, where he made an unsuccessful attempt to change one of the cheques in a shop. He was located by Detective Gordon the same day, when he had only 2s in his possession. Accused refused to give the names of the other persons concerned, and said that two women who were in the car and the driver had nothing to do with the robbery. In answer to a question by Mr. Meek, Detective Gordon said he had reason to believe accused was not the only one in the case. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.