A STRANGE CASE.

Evening Star, Issue 4314, 23 December 1876, Page 4

A STRANGE CASE.

At Tokomairiro on Thursday, before Mr Maitland, R.M., tharles Hilgendorf, John Macdonald, and John Hollebon were charged, on the information of James Thomas Wilson, with having, on the 14th of December, at Waihola, robbed him of Ll7 ,16s 6d in bank notes, gold, and silver, Macdonald did not appear, but the police received information during the day of his arrest on board the Arawata at the Bluff, The prosecutor’s evidence is thus reported in the ‘ Bruce Herald :—“ I am a laborer, living at Tokomairiro. On Thursday, the 14th of December, I proceeded by train from Milton to Waihola to receive a sum of money from the Chairman of the Waihola Road Board. I arrived at Waihola at about half-past one o’clock, and saw the Chairman of the Board, Mr T. Hughan, who said I would be paid at Mr Hilgendorf's. He told me to go there in about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. I went there at the tame stated, and waited for about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes in the bar. Mr Hughan came to the door of a small room off the bar, and called me inside. I went in, and received Ll7 16s 8d due to me. The money was in three L 5 notes, two LI notes, half a sovereign, and some silver. I put the money into my trousers pockets. Directly I opened the door of the small room to go into the bar Hilgendorf caught hold of me, and ran me outside the bar door into the road towards his store. He got me nearly np to the store, when I began to struggle with him. I struggled with him for some time—for twenty minutes or half an hour. He got me into the store once, and I got out again, I fell once. He tore all my clothes. At last he got me inside the store and locked the door, took the key out and put it in his pocket. He then commenced to spit in my face, and asked me whether I would not pay him that money. I made no answer. He said he would have the money out of me. The accused, Hollebon, then knocked at the door and window, and Hil feijdorf let him in. Two or three minutes afterwards Macdonald came, and Hilgendorf opened the door and let him in. Both those men had been present when Hilgendorf assaulted me outside. When Hollebon and Macdonald came in I was sitting on a box. Hollebon asked me why I did not pay Hilgendorf. I asked him what he had to do with it. I remained in the store until about half-past five o’clock. Hilgendorf, Hollebon, and Macdonald went out and in, but I could not get out, though I tried, for the door was locked outside. Previous to this Macdonald threatened to tie me up. At about five o’clock Macdonald eota rppe frora a beam and made a slip knot. 'He cahae -behind me and put it rOupd my , neck. Hilgendorf and Hollebon were pre- i «eni He drew the knot rather tight, and 1 ■

put my left hand up to my neck. Hilgendorf said, “ Don’t make it too tight.” Macdonald tightened the rope a bit, and Hollebon pulled my left hand from my neck and tied both my hands in front of me. Hilgendorf helped him to do that, and then asked me again if I would pay him the money. X made no answer, and he said he would have the money out of me. They kept me in the same position for five or six minutes, or perhaps a little more. Daring the time r was tied, Hilgendorf said to the other two men, “Will you take the money out of his pocket ? I know he has got it.” They did not answer him, and did not attempt to take the money. They kept me there a few minutes more and then Hilgendorf said, “ I will do it myself.” He came up to me and said “These trousers are mine, and what’s in them belongs to me.” With that he unbuttoned my trousers in front and pulled them down below my knees. He took all themonty out of my pockets, and went round the counter with it m his hand, 'i he other two men then let me loose. Hilgendorf then brought me what appeared to be some notes, and said, “Jemmy, here’s the ba lance,” and put them in my pockets. My trousers were down, for I htd not pulled them up. He then buttoned up my trousers and opened the door, saying I could go. He went outside before me, I waited a few moments, and then left the store. Hollebon asked me to have a drink, but I refused. Hilgendorf came back and said “ I will give you a receipt.” He did not give me one, and I went away. He came after me into the road and held up a bit of paper in his hand, saying “That’s a receipt,” but I knocked his hand up and said I would not take it. He ran after me two or three steps and put it in my coat pocket. 1 took it out of my pocket and threw it back at him. I never looked at it. I then went down the road. When I got to Mr Pater son’s hotel I felt in my pocket and found 1,2 5s 6d. I came up to - Milton by the train that evening, and gave information to the police immediately. I had to get my clothes pinned up at Paterson’s before I could come home. The back of the waistcoat was tom down, and the sleeve of the coat torn nearly out. When Hilgendorf was taking the money out of my pockets I told him he had better be careful, as he was doing wrong. I owed Hilgendorf the money he took for a just debt. Mr Maitland was of opinion that there was not sufficient evidence to maintain the information laid. No doubt an offence of some kind had been committed ; but, from the evidence, he did not think there had been a robbery accompanied bj violence as set forth in the information. The defendant had no doubt acted foolishly, but the conduct of the prosecutor seemed to have been of the most extraordinary description. It was almost inconceivable to suppose that he was subjected to violence, for he appeared not to have made the slightest resistance or attempt to escape, or to have taken any steps to defend himself. The information was accordingly dismissed.