A COOGEE SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1922, Page 4

A COOGEE SENSATION

ARMED MAN ARRESTED

“LASIUONABLE” COUPLE’S AD-

VENTURES

SYDNEY, March 29

Wliat is alleged by the police to be a sensational attempt to bold up the Rank of Commerce at Coogee has re- _ suited in the arrest of Cameron Beau, ■ who has been charged with attempting j to steal the money in the hank. . ft is alleged that Bean and his wife j occupied a fashionable suite of rooms at the Grosvenor Hotel, for which they j paid £2O a week. He is a dark man, with a “Charlie” Chaplin moustache, and both dressed most expensively. He had been at the hotel for two weeks, having arrived by the Niagara from America, and had made many friends, but bad been daily informing the manager of liis intention to leave. The police ascertained that some- j thing was doing, and police ears were j ready at an early hour. Police women | watched the suite at the hotel, and | one morning it was . seen that Bean j 'left by tram for Coogee. A posse of six detectives then boarded a ear and shadowed him to Coogee, where a well-known wrestler and Detective M’iekham were posted inside the lniildi„,r to grapple with the man should lie"enter. After taking several walks up and down the street, Bean suddenly entered the bank, was tackled by M’ickliam, and after a terrific struggle was handcuffed. He was found to be armed with a revolver loaded in one chamber. Another man, a confrere 0 f Bean, who had come with him to Coogee, ran away, but was caught. A new sling shot encased in soft leather whs in his possession. He turning with their cupiuies to headquarters, the detectives found that

at: the hold extensive arrangements Pad been made for a lightning-like departure. Changes of iasliionahlo clothes were laid out on the beds for immediate use, and a motor ear. with its engine running, had been ordered to he in readiness near the ho 4 el. Elio wile was dressed to travel when taken into custody, but sue was afterwards released, sobbing bitterly. The police are in communication, with America and Canada bv cable regarding the trio. There was about £U>9O in a safe at the bank, it is alleged that In lei v the arrested men had been making inquiries at tin* institution as to exchange rates with tlie I nited States. When taken to headquarters; the man gave the name of Clillord. Beimel t, and said he was 29 years ol age and a civil engineer by profession. He added ne came from New Brunswick, ( auada. He subsequently said bis name was Ream and that he was a school teacher lrom Manitoba. Il lias transpired that: after

arriving from ( anada R nnett went to the Grosvenor Hotel as stated, but shortly afterwards transferred bis residence to Coofloi Bay Hotel, where h.* stayed for a few days before going back to the Grosvenor. Ever since the early part of the week the couple bad been under surveillance. Every time they left the hotel they were followed night and day. The espionage work was very finely arranged, and if anything happened to the couple in the street the information was at once telephoned to police headquarters.

There wns ii sensation in the street when the men were grabbed, and shortly after the event about 5000 people were present. Among the possessions of the couple were found a passport, a Bible, plenty of good clothing, some of which had been purchased in San Kraneisco. and a pawn ticket, which showed that ti Canadian gold coin had been pawned for 15s. The bag in which the sand had been put was made of chamois leather. The revolver wns ultimately found to he loaded in every chamber, and not one alone, as at first supposed.