A FREE RIDE FOR ROBBERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9391, 18 March 1898, Page 3

A FREE RIDE FOR ROBBERS.

Daring Gang of Highwaymeu.

Clevor Capture by Train Officials.

A most impudent daylight rcbbei-j was committed early in the morning of February 1 on the open highway l nulling alongside tho Noi tli-eastem lino of lnihvay between Craigieburn and the Doimybrook station, in Victoria, which resulted In the novel spectacle of a pursuit by a flying goods train, and the ultimate capturo of the robbers by railway offici Üb. It appears that early in the moiniug an old mar, travelling in the direction of Ciaigiobiußj Was stuck tip by forir men some distance outside the Donnybrook station, and having been roughly handled, was knocked down and robbed of JC4O and a number of articles of jewellery. Having accomplished their purpose, the lobbers, who appeared to be tramps of the larrikin type, made off northwards along the"railway lino, and their victim, who was left lying on the roadside, on recovering proceeded to the railway station at Donnybrook, where he gave information of the occurrence. On the arrival of the ILBS ftiffl. ordinary goods train from Melbourne> Diiver Polgase and Fireman Hall were informed of the oecui rence, and warned to keep n sbarp look-out for theoffendeis, and to report at tile neSt Nation, The robbers had been seen hugging the line in their flight northwaids ; no doubt in tho hope of catching a train at ono of tho way side stations, and getting away before the police could get upon their tracks, but if this idea influenced their line of lotrent they were doomed to disappointment. Having once taken in the situation tho railway officials on the traiu were hi full cry after the oulprits, and having ciaclted on all speed for a few miles, were rewarded by seeing three men answering the description of the robbers walking leisurely along the line some distance away. Fearing that he would alarm tho meu, Driver Polgaso ran the train several hundred yaids ahead of them, and then stopped suddenly, and made a point of examining the engine, as if ah accident had bappehed. When the me.i came tip, as they did in a few minutes, one of their number, with fatal incjuisitiveness, inqhitctl the Cause of the stoppage. Tills led td ari interesting conversation, which ended in, the robbe'fs bolng invited by G-uard Wright to have a fieS ride in the van as fnr as Seymour, and the offer was cheerf nlly and boisterously accepted. When the party had been safely placed in tbo guard's tain, and the doors securely locked, thfe train nw+efldn, but it had not proceeded mdre tlian fflJOyds oi' so when the fourth man tvaa overtaken, and immediately afterwards the train 1 was again pulled up as if something had gone wrong with the engine, and in due course ho was taken on board, and unconsciously locked up with his companions. The telegraph was set working at Wallan station, and on the arrival of the goods ti'alll at WfiPdolig (i Bmull posse of police put in an appearance, anil ijuletly conducted the four men to the lock-up, whe/fi they were., formally charged with the robbery. The quartet joked and, langhe 1 and poked fuu at the Railway Commissioner aH, through the apparently cheap jburiiey th'dy werk, fenioyirig, cmitp un6ou r seiousof the net that was closing fU'cimcl them. When theofficionsconstableputhis head in at the carriage window at Wandong, one of the gang said, " Oh, we ain't takin' any this side of Seymour," at which the others laughed loudly, but the laugh was quickly aud sadly changed to language of a stronger turn when the police hauled them out and, searching them, found the proceeds of the robbery upon them. They had nothing to say, and doclined to answer any questions.