MELBOURNE ROBBERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15274, 26 June 1923, Page 5

MELBOURNE ROBBERY.

TAXI-DRIVER ACQUITTED. \ United Press Association. Received June 26, 12.30 pjm. ' MELBOURNE, June 26. Daniels, the taxi driver, who was charged in connection with the sensational robbery at Spencer Street railway station was found not guiKy and discharged. Daniels, who drove the car in which the thieves escaped, stated that he acted throughout under compulsion at the revolver point. A daring robbery, involving the loss of £27sCfin notes and silver, was committed at the Spencer Street railway offices, Melbourne, during a busy period of the morning. The money, which was intended to pay the em-‘ ; ployees, was carried in a bag by two clerks'from the basement to the office and placed on the counter in charge of one clerk while the other left for a few minutes- A man, with a revolver in’ his hand, who was among- the crowd in the office, darted forward, flung pepper in the clerk’s face, seized . the bag, and ran along the passage, followed by a confederate. A porter at the main door and another employee • attempted to stop them, but the man : with the bag levelled his revolver and ■ threatened to shoot both men. The . two thieves jumped into a motor car and disappeared at high speed after •' nearly overturning through colliding with an electric light standard and a team of horses. Daniels, the driver of the car, stated that be motored one man to the Spencer Street Station, which he entered. While waiting, another man appeared, and said “Keeip your engines going, and \yheh the man comes out go for your life, or you will get your brains blown out I The man returned with a bag, jumped in, and said, pointing a revolver -at Daniels, “Go for your life! After being driven a cnsiderable distance the! man left the car, which he. then drove home.