ASSAULT AND ROBBERY IN THE STREET.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 91, 19 April 1911, Page 8

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY IN THE STREET.

YOUNG MAN CHARGED. A young man named Norman Manson, alias Williams, appeared on -remand atthe Magistrate's Court, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., to-day, charged with assaulting Jas. Wm. Richardson on the 10th of April, and robbing him of £44. Chief Detective Broberg prosecuted. Jas;-Wm. Richardson, piano tuner, of Grant-road, <#ated that on the morning <>f- the>4oth of April he cashed a cheque "at Feilding for £44 12s 6d. He had a drink, bought a bottle of beer, and then caught the train for Wellington, where he arrived at 4.10 p.m. He met accused and a man named Couzens on the Etation, and with them adjourned to the Railway Hotel, where he paid for two rounds of drinks. He left these men at the corner of the Hotel Cecil, went inside the hotel and' had another drink. Subsequently he made some purchases in Molesworth-street, and then started homewards. When near the organ factory in Sydney-street a coat was thrown over his head, and he received a severe blow on the right temple, which felled him to the pavement. While on the pavement he felt a hand being inserted in his coat pocket, and he afterwards discovered that a bag containing £40 had been stolen. A coat (produced in court) was lying on the pavement when he picked himself up. He fixed the time of the assault at about 6 p.m. Ernest Rupert Couzens, butcher's assistant, of Bidwill-stoeet, stated that he was with Manson at the Tailway station, when Richardson arrived from Feilding on the 10th inst. With Richardson they had drinks at the Railway Hotel, and afterwards, parted from him at the Hcbel Cecil corner. Richardeon lent him 2s 6d before leaving. He went into the hotel with Manson, had a drink and' then proceeded to the Wellington Hotel, where they had another drink. He left accused aboub . 5.50 o'clock, and caught a" car for Winder's corner. He was with Manson when the latter was arrested on the following afternoon. Detective Cameron, w.ho made the arrest, stated that he found a receipt fo* a parcel on accused. The parcel, which I was addressed to a man. in Chrisstehurch, was subsequently obtained from the postal authorities, and on being was found to contain a coat and vest and a pair of gloves. Pinned £t> the lining of the coat were three five-pound notes. He identified the coat as belonging to Manson. Accused handed him a statement denying the assault. Detective Hammond also gave evidence. Manson pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.