A Desperate Character.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8611, 16 March 1897, Page 2

A Desperate Character.

The Melbourne police have succeeded in identifying a man named Richard Buckley, now in custody, as the perpetrator of a series of most desperate cases of assault and robbery committed during the past six months. On August Bth last, Mr George Williams, a grocer was assaulted and robbed of £16. It was a Saturday night, and, aftor tho last customer had departed, Mr Williams, removing his takings from tho fill and placing a loaded revolver in his pocket, set out for his home, which is situated at about two hundred yards distanfUtom his place of business. He pas3ed a couple of men on the way, and as he seized the knocker of his own front door, one of the men, who had shadowed him up the street, grasped him from behind, while another presented a re /olver at him, and a third came from around the corner, where he had evidently been lying in wait. Though Mr Williams fought desperately and cried out for assistance, he waa overpowered, and £16 in money, a cheque for £4, a silver watch and chain, and the revolver were stolen^ As the men ran off, Mr Armstrong, who keeps a shop opposite, ran ove% and was chasing the thieves, when one fired a shot at him, narrowly escaping hitting him. Detec'ive F, O'Donnell suspected that Buckley was concerned in the outrage, and secured the attendance of Mr George Williams and Mr Armstrong at the City Watchhouse, where they had no difficulty whatever in picking Buckley out from nine men placed before them. The second crime for which Buckley was identified was a burglary under arms which took place at Mr Crawcouv's pawnshop, Victoria street, North Melbourne, on October the 9th of last year. An old man named Charles Steward, who acted as watchman, heard a noise in the yard, and, opening the back door, was knocked down by two men, who struck him on the head with a jemmy so soon as he attempted to give the alarm. A revolver was presented at him, and he was gagged and bound, while the burglars prepared to rifle the shop. Mr Williams, who lives next door, saw the scuffle through a window, and ran round to intercept the robbers. Hearing him coming, they made their escape through the front door. Both Steward and Williams identified Buckley as one of the criminals concerned. In connection with Crawcour's case a reward of £100 was offered, which will now be secured by the detectives in the event of a conviction being obtained.