SERIOUS ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 860, 24 August 1888, Page 2

SERIOUS ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

Early on Sunday morning a seripps crime was committed in this city, a man namea Thomas McEwen being violently assaulted and robbed by three men in a small street leading off Taranaki-street, alongside the Salvation Army Barracks. It appears that McEwen was in company of a young man named Arthur Moeller during Saturday evenin'*. McEwen was supposed to have a considerable sum of money in kis possession, and the robbery appears to have been a planned affair. McEwen states that Moeller promised to conduct him to bis home in College-street, and to this he (McEwen) consented. On reaching Tara, uaki-street., Moeller suggested that they should go through the thoroughfare mentioned, as it would be nearer. After going down the street a short distance, two men named James Parker and John Winters, who had been following Moeller and his companion, rushed up and seized McEwen from behind. One of them struck him in the eye and knocked him down- While on the ground McEwen states that Moeller gave him a violent blow in the mouth. The three men immediately proceeded to Bearch McEwen’s pockets. A silver watch was torn from his vest, and a gold watch he bad in one of his other pockets was also taken; in addition a leather parse containing two sovereigns and a pocketbook in which there were some property deeds were stolen. After searching his other pockets and possessing thepselves of the contents, the robbers made off. McEwen, Who was considerably knocked about, endeavoured tp follow them, but they dodged round a corner opposite the Panama Hotel and were lost in the darkness. McEwen reported the robbery to the constable on dnty in the vicinity, and subsequently he reported the occurrence to the detective. About noon on Sunday Detective Campbell arrested Moeller in a brothel at Pipitea, and subsequently his two companions were taken into custody.. The victim of this offence was arrested a few days ago on a charge of drunkenness, and it was stated at the time that on being searched it was found that he had the sum of £67 in his possession. It is supposed that the accused were aware of this, and have baen shepherding McEwen since. Fortunately he had not got this money with him at the time of the robbery. The accused were arraigned at the Resident Magistrate’s Court.on Monday, as reported elsewhere.