WHOLESALE STICKING-UP IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

West Coast Times, Issue 116, 31 January 1866, Page 3

WHOLESALE STICKING-UP IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

(From tho Queanbeyan Aye.)

Another stickin^-up scene, on a gigantic scale, has been enacted. The extensive Foxlow Station, tho establishment of Mr John Ilosking, of Sydney, was stuck-up on last Friday night, sth January, by a largo party of armed nion with their faces cither masked or painted with soot, and their figures enveloped "a la poncho," with cloth" of almost every color. Shortly before 9 o'clock, Mr Vallancc was surprised by the sudden opening of the door of his sitting -room, and the appearance of two men — one of them a very tall, strong man, with a black mask and black cloak, or something from his shoulders to his topboots ; the other was rather under the middle height, but strong and active hi make, and disguised with a kerchief lied round his face from the eyes downwards. He wore a monkey jacket and white moleskin trouscis. For a moment Mr Vallaneo could not realise what they were ; but a motion of the tall man's hand revealing a revolver indicated their intentions, and on Mr Vallaneo starting up, he was requested to walk outside with Mrs Vallaneo, Mrs J. Walker, of Qucanbeynn (who was on v visit to Foxlow at tho time), Miss Willis, and ono of the servant girls who happened to be in the loom. Of course there was no refusing, and on going outside they found another servant girl in custody of another of tho gang, and crying. The little man with the moleskin trousers, and who was evidently captain or leader of the gang, considerately told them not to be alarmed, as no injury was intended to anyone ; and that they hud only come for a few slops. Mr Vallaneo and ' all the females were then requested to walk into the adjoining room, at the door of which the tall man took up his position, with revolver m band, whilst the others commenced in .r work of plunder. At the time th 1 ? 1 the tall man and the leader of the party made their first appearance to Mr Vallaneo, other two had, with guns, bailed up all the farm -people they could find, and walked them into ono of tho rooms occupied at prosent by Bryant, tho plasterer. Hero tho proceedings were conducted in a very different spirit from that shown by the party at the store. Tho leader and the tall man were all civility, at Bryant's all was bounce and authority. Every one of the farm people that they came across were ordered in a loud voice to bail up, and at the gun's muzzle were walked into Bryant's, where they had to stand motionless, with tlioir hands up, till they worn nil searched. After this they were told that they might sit down and amuse themselves at a game at cards. By and by wine of all descriptions and overproof spirits were brought over from tho store, and, ' nolens volens,' they had to drink. Some of the people, though willing enough to drink, complained about taking spirits ovcrproof without water ; but they wore t.old that if they never drank such good spirits before they must do it now, and that without water. The consequence was that the most, if not all, the prisoners became groggy, and when, about two o'clock in the morning, Mrs Bryant expressed a wish to go to bed, and suggested the propriety of them nil adjourning next door (the schoolroom), the bushrangers obligingly consented, and lold all their male prisoners to march. Ono of thorn, howovor, (a shepherd), boenmo, from tUo spirits ho had drunk, very restive, and wanted to takohis .twit with ttim. Tl»s they would not

After examining every place, about six of them in number collected in front of the store and summoned " the governor" to their august persons ; and on Mr Vallanco going out to them he wns asked where ho kept all his monoy. lio told them that all tho money in the place was in tho cash-box in tho storo, Tho man in the moleskin trousers aaid therq were wcro only a few pounds there, and it wad impossible so largo a place as Foxlow could bo conducted without a great deal of monoy, and lie advised Mr Vallaneo not to conceal it. Mr Valhuico replied that it was the truth he told them % that ho never kept much money in tho house,and ho paid tho greater part of his expenses by cheques on tho Queanboyan bank. After a short consultation amongst themselves they searched Mr Vnllaneo's pockets, without finding anything, and they said that they were now going to leave, with the exception of one of them, who would slay to watch the place until morning, and therefore advised every one to keep inside till then, fov fear of consequences. Mr Vnllanre, who beenme latterly much alarmed for the safety of tho females, on account of tho bushrangers indulging so liberally in wines and spirits, said ho could not let them go without thanking them sincerely for their civility to the i female part of their prisoners. ' Many, he said, doing what they were doing, would have added insult to injury, and therefore it was that he thanked them for their civility. They then left just as the moon was going down. The appearance of the store and every room on tho place, after they left, was confusion itself. Hrokcn bottles, broken tumblers, kerosene lamps, kerosene oil, drapery of all descriptions, lay in a chaos, on the floor, mixed with straw from tho cases they had broken open. Mr Vnllanco's bedroom was nothing but a heap of papers and clothing, almost hopelessly mixed ; as every desk, chest and box was emptied of its contents, evidently in search after money, for nothing from here was taken away. Tho following is another remarkable circumstance ; if their conduct wns strange in taking some articles, it was just as strange in leaving others. Mrs Vallance's gold watch and chain, which they could not help seeing, were left untouched ; so were six silver watches in the store, and so was a one pound bank note, and many other things which, to all appearance^ would have seemed acceptable to them. They were scarcely gono when Mr Vnllnnco had messengers in all directions, and the police promptly responded to tlio call. In about six hours after the bushrangers left, seniorconstable Watson, of the Wildcattle Flat, sergeant Latimer, of Queanbeynu, and one of his force, were on the bushrangers' tracks; asweie also the Braidwood and Dungedoro police, and on Tuesday afternoon we were gratified to see' that indefatigable and clever oflicer, who has before distinguishc I himself in the service, bring into town one of tho suspected parties. We wait anxiously for more news, as there is every hope that v. thcr arrests will soon take place. At the police-office, Queanbeyan, ou Tuesday, before the police magistrate, JJonj. Jermyn, of Jingera, was brought up charged with being concerned in the recent sloro robbery at Foxlow. Seniorconstable Walter Watson deposed, that ho took the accused into custody near his residence, at Jingera, on charge of being concerned in the robbery of tlio Foxlow Stove, From good information received, witness proceeded from tho scene of the robbery along the road leading in the direction of the accused's place. Tho road was not much frequented.- Tracked unshod horses from the storo along this road. The tracks led to prisoner's house, whoro witness found his daughter. On asking for accused, tho daughter cooeyed, and witness saw accused and his wife coming from a pile of granite boulders a little from tho place. In answer to a question put by witness, accused said he had been looking for sheep. Witness remained there half an hour, and then went back fo the police station, about seven miles distant. On tho next day witness went to the boulders and mado .search. In a cave, having its month blocked up with stones, witness found a cornsack half full of tea, and in a hollow tree at the same place another cornsack containing a quilt and a bag of sugar. Tho tea and sugar had been claimed by Mr Hugh Vallaneo, of Foxlow, tho latter being branded 11. V. While searching, witness heard a dog bark, and on looking up saw tlio accused coming towards him on horseback. On seeing witness, accused turned away in another direction towards a gully. Witness then went and arrested accused on the charge stated. Ho replied, " Me, Sir ? I know nothing about it." Witness pointed to tho bag of sugar, and asked accused if ho knew anything about it? Accused replied, "No." Witness then took tho accused towards his residence, searched there, and in his bedroom found a lot of drapery, consisting of brown holland, French merino broadcloth, tweed, kc. ; tho tea, sugar and drapery witness produced in court At this stage of the proceedings, on tho representation of the police, the case was i email ded for eight days, bail refused, it being understood that other suspected persons would bo in custody before that time, and important evidence forthcoming.

Jlorr Jouoliim lias foiniiunciil v !on^ pro* fosMOiiiil tour Uirongh lloHiiml. Signor Tiunbcrlik lms been crotitcil, by tlio Queen of Spain, n knight ol'the oi<loiol! Clinrlcs nr. Jlorr l'ormos liiih sailed from Hamburgh for Amori(M» wherp lio ptoposcs giving a soiios of conotrtH, His Majouty King Victor fiuunnnuol has -just boßtp\yotl ii pension of four hundred nnil fifty frnnos on tho spn of GuJgllnl, to oimblo him jo wplM Jiff! »■}««% 111 Hio NfMl tiolltypi