THE CHRISTCHURCH ROBBERIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2195, 20 May 1908, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH ROBBERIES.

STOLEN PROPERTY RECOVERED INEXPERIENCED HIGHWAYMEN. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 19. The names of the men who wove arrested at Suiunor on Sunday tUtornon in connection with the highway robbery cases arc James Keegan, Joseph Egan, and Frank Brennan, alias Bolton. All the particulars regarding thorn are not yet available, but it is understood that ono of thorn is from Auckland and another of them from AA’ellington. The necessary enquiries are being made into tho antecedents of each. For several days past they have been occupying a house at Suiunor, and something in tlieir appearanco or their habits aroused questions in tho mind of Constable Hampton, .who is in charge at iSmnner, and lie lcopt them under a certain amount of surveillance. On learning of what had occurred in the city early on Sunday morning, Constable Hampton communicated with head-quarters curly that morning, with tho result that Detective AVard was despatched to Sunnier, and ultimately effected the arrest of tho three men. It is understood that tlie greater portion of tho property of which tlie persons who we.ro stuck up on Sunday morning wero forcibly deprived, has been recovered. From tlio manner in which' tho offences of Sunday morning were committed, especially the ostentatious way in which the assailants produced and flourished their revolvers, it is surmised that they arc not practical hands at highway robbery. ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. Josepii Egan, , J as. Keegan, ami Frank lioiton, with several aliases, wore charged at tho Magistrate's Court to-uav with having, on May iltli and loth, broken and entered the shop of A. T. McHnrg,, at Wooiston, and stolen .CIS worth 0 f goods, the same men were charged with virtual highway robbery under arms, having assaulted and robbed Clias. Marshall, and stolen from tlie person a gold ring, two keys, a purse, and £-1 os money, of an aggregate value of £5 17s. These men are alleged to be the men concerned in the assaults and robberies in Fitzgerald Avenue on Saturday night and Sunday morning. A great crowd of people attended the Court to have a look at them. They were remanded to May 27. Should the offence bo sheeted home, the men will be liable under the Act to imprisonment, with hard labor, for life, and according to age to bo flogged once, twice, or thrice.

FURTHER BURGLARIES REPORTED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 19. A “Truth” reporter heard a circumstantial report of another “stickingup” case, which is supposed to have happened on Sunday night. Tho details were given to a local nurseryman by the man who alleged lie was ■ the victim of the affair. The man stated that lie was going to meet his wife coming from Christchurch oil Sunday evening, between 8 and 9 o’clock. In tlie vicinity of the South Belt and Lincoln road lie was bailed up by a man, who asked him for a match. The stranger followed up this request with another for a “bob.” The man replied that lie had not got one, and just about this juncture two more men appeared on the scene (one of them holding -a revolver), and tho three of them proceeded to “hustle” him into the park. They then made him stand up against a tree, and one held his hands behind his back while the others searched his pockets. The search was unremunerative, for the victim of the outrage had no money in his possession, and he was allowed to proceed on his way, the men hurriedly decamping. The police are unusually vigilant, and are patrolling the city at night in places out of their ordinary beats. One of the most impudent and successful robberies recorded in Christchurch in recent years was accomplished early on Saturday evening.

Burglars entered the house, situated in AVcbb street, off Papanui road, occupid by Air. H. H. Jackson, locomotive engineer at Addington, and secured a haul in cash and jewellery valued at £IOO. It is -believed that the house was entered shortly before 7 o’clock when Air. and Airs. Jackson and .members of their family wero at dinner. The -jewellery- was contained in a sandalwood Jjox, which was lying on Mrs. Jackson’s dressing table, in a large bedroom situated in the upper part of tho house. The burglars must kavo worked with remarkable expedition, and probably with a knowledge of the place in which the jewellery was to be found. -Airs. Jackson visited tbe room, in which a child was sleeping, at about 6.40, and at that time nothing had

been disturbed. Ten minutes lator, •whon she again went to tlie room, the place had been ransacked. The missing jewellery consists of chains, brooches, pendants, rings, etc.