EXCITING CHASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25561, 14 June 1944, Page 4

EXCITING CHASE

ARREST OF SUSPECTED THIEVES SEQUEL TO HOTEL BURGLARY Following a burglary at the Naseby Hotel on Monday night, when a safe containing a large sum of money and a quantity of gold was stolen, detectives early yesterday morning arrested two suspects at the revolver point after an exciting chase by car. Endeavours were made by the detectives on the Main North road near Waitati Hill to stop a motor ear. which was proceeding to Dunedin arid in which the thieves were thought to be travelling. Disregarding signals to stop, the two men in the car drove straight on, nearly running down one of the detectives. The police officers then gave chase m their car. and overtook the suspected thieves. . The two men who were arrested later appeared in the City Police Court before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., and were remanded until Monday next. The accused were Henry Walton Phillips, a labourer, aged 29 years, and Stanley Robert Phillips, ,a labourer, aged 28 years. They were jointly charged that on the night of June 12 they broke and entered the dwelling house of Thomas Hutton at Naseby and stole the sum of £277 9s BJdChief Detective T. E. Holmes said that on Mdnday night the Naseby Hotel was broken into and the safe removed. The safe contained money, alluvial gold and documents. A quantity of spirits and some cartons of tumblers had also been stolen. A network of police was organised immediately after notification had been received of the crime, Chief Detective Holmes continued, and about 6 o’clock yesterday morning Detectives A. W. McDougall and A. A. Mcßae endeavoured ,to stop a high-powered Studebaker car which was travelling to Dunedin near Waita'ti. The detectives’ car was parked at an angle across the road and, when the other vehicle approached, Detective McDougall stepped into the middle of the road and signalled with a torch for the oncoming vehicle to stop. The driver took no notice, but drove straight on and the detective just managed to jump clear. The two detectives then gave chase in the police car, the chief detective said, and they ultimately overtook the accused near Dunedin and arrested them at loaded revolver-point. In the rear of the car was found the money and other material which, it was alleged, was stolen from the hotel. “I wish to object to any application that may be made for bail,” Chief Detective Holmes added. The accused, who were not represented by counsel, were remanded in custody. An application for bail by Stanley Robert Phillips was refused by the magistrate.