RAILWAY ROBBERY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 514, 22 May 1909, Page 5

RAILWAY ROBBERY.

—.■ 9 . AN ACCUSED OFFICER DISCHABQED. Ist TBt,fictt»rii—Prir.ss as{ioci jflox—corrnioHT.) (Roc. May 22,. 0.45 a.m.) ' Sydney, May 21. J. R. Korr, 1 railway night offldw, 'charged with 'stealing £30, tho proporty of the Railway Commissioners, at'Marriokville railway station, on May 6, was discharged, tho Magistrate holding that fcheroY'w&s a lack; of tangible Evidence against . KERR'S STATEMENT. .<• ' In the early- morning of May 5 J. K.- Kerr, night officer, was found btiund and Rapstod in the Mnrriokyille.railway station. Kerr's state-, ment to the polieo-is a sensational one. He i says that about 3T45 a.bi. ho was in tho office,; the door of whioli was locked.■ Hcai'lnf! a| knock and thinking it was a cbnstablft \VjiO is! usually thoro about that hour he opened the ; door, and ht on6B received a blow ort tho tomple from eoine heavy weapon. , He was. knocked tight across the room, and fell in a\ .corner,, but,, gottins .up, he closed with liis, assailant. . A lively struggle .oneued,' but a„ second iijnn appeared on tho scenb, nild the pair of thtnvquickly had fort down and were* on. top of him; Olio next Trent into the lug-gaite-room and. removed'a small olotlies line whieh was aroulid a bei. With this tho men ' first tied Kerr's hands,behind his baoki .-.Then thoy placod tho rope round his heck,: tying thb other end to a leg or tho counter, to- allother of which his legs wore also fastened. "TOtii the officer, thiis eecni'ed, hie assailants tobk the keys from his l pocket, opened a small jrbn safe in tho cortier, and extracted .£2B Ds. ill llotes, gold, and silver. _They then directed ' their attention again to Korr, and after relieving, him of a gold watch and chain, a lady's Open-faced gold watih, and Bs. Cd. in. cash, left the room, locking tho, door behind them. Subsequently tlio policb bfficers had a long interview mill Kerr in tho luggftge-room. in which all the bosos weM ftarefutl'yscrutinised': with a view to tho possible diSioVeit bf fingerprints. Itowevet, none were found,' the robbers Apparently havine left no clue hs to tlifir identity. Later on Kerr himself was arrested and charged. ■. ;