Attempted Highway Robbery

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 237, 15 October 1901, Page 3

Attempted Highway Robbery

i’ATIUOU LARS OF THE MANGANOHO AF FA 18.

Os the occasion of Iho extraordinary sticking-up occurrence between Manganohu unci llmitervillc last week, Mr Barnes, the bank manager in question, was carrying more money than usual, as the employees of the trunk railway received several thousand pounds the previous day for the month’s wages. While passing through Baillic s Hush a shot was lifted from the side of the road, and the horse ill the trap sprang forward. Mr Barnes was thrown off the seat. Bccovcring liis position he looked round, and saw a man kneeling behind a log less than ten paces away. He had his gun at the shoulder, and was evidently again taking aim. Mr Barnes instantly ducked in front of tlie seat, licit no second shot was tired. Tlie driver urged his horse on with whip and rein, and the animal went at a good speed though fatally wounded. The man was about oft Bin in height, and robust in build, lie was dressed in grey clothes, and wore a slouch hat. Mr Barnes does not think he could identify the highwayman, his observation being necessarily of a burned nature. The driver did not notice that the horse had been shot until he had proceeded two miles, when the animal flagged, and blood was seen oozing from a wound in the hindquarters. The horse died a few hours after reaching Jlunterville. Mr Barnes generally has company, but yesterday travelled alone. The scene of the attempted robbery is seven miles from jlunterville, about sixty chains from the Manganoho school road. It is not unfrequented, and there is an unobscured view along it for two miles. Hetcetives Bishop and Ward, of Wanganui, arrived the following morning to investigate the affair. Every month several thousand pounds is taken from llunterville up the line to pay the railway hands. It is all itc notes and coin, but three well-armed officers of the Public Works Department arc always in charge. A stupid attempt was made to keep the affair secret. If immediate publicity had been given, two or three hundred men could have been scouring tlie country, and the culprit could not have crossed the Bangitikei river, as there cliffs 200 ft high on tlie opposite side, while with a railway line and well-settled district on the east, and the Makohine workshops about two miles distant, every avenue of escape could have been guarded.