STRANGE ROBBERY IN MEL BOURNE.

Woodville Examiner, Volume V, Issue 398, 5 October 1888, Page 2

STRANGE ROBBERY IN MEL BOURNE.

A PLUCKY CLERK

Melbourne, Sep. 25

Shortly after 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon a moat daring robbery was committed in Leieester-streot Carlton, when a Gladstone bag, containing .£‘l7s, was stolen from a young man n uned Henry Forster, who is employed as a clerk at Messrs W. H. Rock and Co.’s furniture warehouse [in Collins-streel. F irster is 15 years of age, and has been in the employment of the firm for about ten m onths. Amongst his duties ho has had all the banking business to transact. Yesterday afternoon, as usual, he cashed a cheque for the wages, which are always paid on Mondays. Leaving the amount necessary for the Colllns-street warehouse, ho started for the factory, which is situated in Leieesler-street, Carlton, taking the £T7S for the wages there in a black Gladstone bag. At the north end of Eliza-beth-street he fancied that a man was following, and, when he became satisfi id that such was the case, he hurried oa towards the factory. Just as he cnteiod Leicester-street, the man m tde a rush at him and attempted to snatch the bag from him, but he held on and called loudly for help. The man dragged him to a buggy which was standing in the street with another man in it. Forster continued his hold on the bag, and was dragged half into the bugy by the first, while the driver urged the horse forward. In this position, half in and half out of the buggy, he was driven through Berke-loy-streot into Queensbury-street, the man in the meantime endeavouring to make him loose his hold on the bag. Finding that he still could not succeed in making Forster let go he drew a revolver, and, presenting it, threatened to shoot him if he not did give up the bag. Even this did not intimidate Forster, who continued to hold on and call lustily for assistance all the lime, but at last the superior strength of the man told, and the lad was hurled heavily on to the road. The hind wheel of the buggy passed over his back, bruising him severely. His lip was cut, and his wrist torn. A crowd collected, but no one seems to have paid any attention to the buggy, which was last seen going rapidly up Queens! ury-street in the direction of Hotham. A lad named Hewitt saw the whole occurrence, and ran after the buggy till Forster was thrown out. A shopkeeper in the street named Rood heard cries for assistace, and saw the struggle in the buggy when the buggy was passing up the street. He did not interfere because he had once been fined in the District Court tor stopping in the street the horse of a man who owed him an account. Several other persons heard the calls for “ Police,” but they apparently did not realise what was actually taking place, and took no heed of the matter. The robbers must have made themselves thoroughly acquainted with the particulars as to the day on which the wages were paid, and the manner in which the money was brought from the bank. The buggy in which they were was a stylish covered American one, drawn by a bay horse. It was noticed by residents in the street standing opposite Messrs Rock’s factory for some time before 5 o’clock, but there was nothing in its appearance to excite suspicion. The police have not yet succeded in tracing the robbers.