DASTARDLY CRIME.

Western Star, 28 October 1932, Page 2

DASTARDLY CRIME.

During the past eighteen months several sensational robberies liaA’e been perpetrated in the Dominion in a mostdastardly manner., the desperadoes effecting their purpose by first throwing a highly injurious liquid into the faces of their victims, Avliieh either partially or totally blinded them. This seems to be a common mode of proceedurc with a certain class of evilly-disposed persons, and it i s time the criminal laAv of every State dealt with this class of crime in a more severe manner in order to act as a deterrent. Robbery is bad enough but to first blind and then rob is in our opinion, as bad as murder. To suddenly deprive a healthy person of sight j s a deprivation for which there can be no compensation, and the villains avliq make use of deadly poisons or irritants to effect their purposes should be made to feel how society vieAvs their fiendish act. Quite recently a cablegram from Sydney stated that Avliile Francis Seckold, postmaster at the William Street Post Office. Sydney, was carrying a bag containing £530 to a neighbouring office for tlie payment of old age and invalid pensions robbers secured the money bv an apparently carefully-arranged coup. Seckold AA'as accompanied by an assistant, Alfred Jolinston. avlio Avas armed. When tbe pair bad gone 100 .vards through a crowded thoroughfare two men dressed in overalls and pretending to Avork as cleaners threw the contents of a bucket of liquid in tlie faces of the postal men, who Avere blinded and choking, apparently from fumes of some sort-. Johnston was knocked down and disarmed, and then Seckold was felled and his bag seized, and the attackers made off. At the end of last week came the further information that Afred Johnston has become totally blind, the chemical used being ammonia. Doctor s strenuously stro\-© to save his sight. Only by the severest punishment can this class of crime be reduced. People must be protected. It is the duty of society to see fo that.