THE HAMPTON MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19693, 21 January 1926, Page 9

THE HAMPTON MURDER

ROBERTSON COMMITTED FOB TRIAL. STATEMENT BY THE ACCUSED. (Btess Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, January 20. (Received Jan. 20, at 8.36 p.m.) Douglas Robertson, was charged with the muixler of Almeida and was committed for trial. .A statement alleged to be made by Robertson was put ie as evidence. It was stated that Robertson is a native of New Zealand and came to Australia about sixteen months ago, purely for a holiday. On arrival in Melbourne he was unfortunate in making the acquaintance of Perkins. When Robertson said he des’/ed to return to New Zealand Perkins asked if he would like to take £2OO or £3OO back with him, and he outlined a scheme for robbing the teller, who Perkins said was short of money, and would not resist. Robertson agreed. He said he and Perkins went to the hank, Perkins going first. When Robertson entered he saw Perkins pointing a revolver at the teller. He heard a defeaning report, and saw the teller fall. Perkins jumped over the counter and Robertson asked what he had done. Perkins replied; “Get a move on. Get the money and get out.” Robertson grabbed the money, ran to a waiting motor car and eventually got hoiqe. Later he read of the teller’s death and the arrest of Perkins and he remained in hiding., , As a sequel to the murder of Mr William C. Almeida (manager at Hampton of the Victorian branch of the Commercial Bank), on November 28, 1924, fwhen the bank, was stuck up by two men, one of whom escaped, Douglas Robertson,, aged 37 years, described as a skilled labourer, was arrested on December 28, 1925, on suspicion of murdering Mr Almeida. A man named Perkins, whom Mr Almeida, after being wounded, held at the revolver point till He was arrested, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.