CRIME IN SYDNEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17801, 28 August 1929, Page 10

CRIME IN SYDNEY.

A HOLD-UP STORY. TWO MEN FOR TRIAL. William Wilton, 29, carpenter, and William Henry Nelson, 30, labourer, appeared at Rcdferu Court, Sydney, on remand on charges of having in company, assaulted Michael Briggs and robbed him of £ls. Nelson was further charged with having shot at Stanley Cecil Jackson with intent to murder him. Ttie charges were a sequel to the ‘ alleged sensational robbery of a Redl'ern butcher on August 5, and the equally sensational arrest of the two men. Inspector Duifell, of Redfern police, gave evidence that when the police went to the shop in Abercrombie Street it was brightly lighted. He tried to force an entrance, but was unable to do so. “On looking through the front window I saw' Michael Briggs stagger from a room into the shop with his hands tied behind him with rope," said Inspector Dul'fell. He then ran to the entrance of the place next door, and on the doorstep he saw r defendant Wilton, as the latter was about to leave. Witness asked him where he was going, and he replied: “Some fired a shot at me from the back yard; I’m off.” Handkerohlef Round Neck. The inspector said he saw' a blue and brown handkerchief tied loosely around Wilton’s neck, the double fold of the handkerchief resting under defendant's chin. “I forced him back into the shop, felt something bulky in his left-hand pocket, and pulled out some money wrapped in paper. “Accused commenced to struggle and 1 handcuffed him and sat him in a chair at the rear of the shop. Jle then said to me: ‘The game is up; you have got me. We went for a big haul and missed. We have been watching the old butcher for weeks; he has plenty of money; he has £6OOO in the bank.’ ” Loaded Revolver. Constable Crimston, after going into the adjoining yard, handed him a revolver loaded in five chambers, and also containing an empty shell. With Nelson, who was already m custody, Wilton was taken to the police station. When the. two men were searched Nelson was found to j have in his possession £2 12s 9d in j small change, and a red Wilton had £6 10s in silver in a packet and £3 in florins loose in his pocket. The inspector said that, w'hen questioned about this property, Wilton said: “We did the job. You got us fair. It is no use crying over spilt milk,” and that Nelson added: “That’s right. We went for a big haul and made a mess of it. We will have to take what’s coming to us.” “Shadow of Masked Man.” Cecil Stanley Jackson, a next-door neighbour of Briggs, said he saw the shadow of a masked man holding a

gun. “I sent my boy to ring up the police,” continued witness, “and, picking up a tomahawk, I climbed up on the fence to help Briggs. As I did so the door of Briggs’s kitchen opened, and a man came out with a red handkerchief over his face, pointing a revolver. As soon as I knew he had seen me I threw the tomahawk at him. “At the same time a shot was fired, and the bullet lodged in the wall just behind me.”

Nelson, when asked if he had anything to say, replied: “I did not intend to shoot anyone. I only meant to scare them.”

Mr McMahon, at the conclusion of the case, remarked that for the assistance Jackson rendered to the police and the community he was deserving of the highest praise. Inspector Duffell and the police were also deserving of the highest commendation for the manner in which they had carried out their duly. Both defendants were committed for trial.