BOGUS AVIATOR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17165, 15 October 1926, Page 7

BOGUS AVIATOR

TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT COMPLETE EXPOSURE JUMPS THROUGH HIGH WINDOW (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press AesnJ SYDNEY, Oct. 14. “Captain” Robert Robertson, who arrived here from Auckland, to arrange for a flight from Sydney to New Zealand, fell from the fourth floor window at the Aero Club’s building in the city' to-day, landing on a verandah roof. He was carried through a window on the first floor. He was admitted to hospital in a serious condition. When Robertson arrived in the Ulimarna he said he was going to make a flight from La rerouse to New Zealand. He also said he was suffering from a nervous breakdown, and .would take a couple of weeks’ holiday. Captain Hughes, president of the New South Wales Aero Club, states that Robertson called on him to discuss the flight scheme. Robertson was closely' questioned by Captain Hughes, who came to the conclusion that many of Robertson’s statements would not bear verification. Captain Hughes, in the presence of a witness, told Robertson that he was an impostor, and that, to safeguard the interests of aviation he would get into touch with the police. Robertson then leapt out of the window of Captain Hughes’ office, and striking the top of the oriel window of the third floor, rebounded, and crashed on to an awning level with the first floor. When they' were discussing the details, Captain Hughes found the whole proposal vague, and Robertson 1 .was then questioned regarding statements which appeared in the New Zealand papers to the effect, that the Aero Club of Australia was providing htm with a machine. Robertson denied making such statements. . After.. b.eing closely questioned, Robertson admitted that he had never been iu the Flying Corps, and then as Captain Hughes turned to telephone the police Robertson jumped through the window.