WELLINGTON HOLD-UPS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1931, Page 6

WELLINGTON HOLD-UPS

i YOUNG COUPLE ARRESTED. i __ i (By Teleyraph—Per Press Assuciation) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 10. What may lead to an explanation of the recent robberies under arms at Wellington, has occurred in the arrest, at the Terminus Hotel, New Plymouth, by Sergeant McGregor and Detective Meiklejolin, on Saturday morning, of Jack and Florence Winstone. The accused, who are both Australians, gave their ages as 20 years and 22 years respectively, but they look about three or four years older. The search of the accuseds’ room at the hotel at the time of their arrest disclosed a fully-loaded five-chamber revolver, and a powerful air pistol, capable of firing lead slugs with considerable force. Included in the accused’,s effects was a sock containing a quantity of 32 calibre bullets and two boxes of lead slugs, one box the size of which fitted the air pistol the other being too small.

The astuteness of the management of the Terminus Hotel was largely, responsible for the arrest of the two people. Last Wednesday night, a constable on his beat was accosted by a m'an who said that he had booked in the Arcadia Hotel, hut was unable to gain admittance at that late hour. The constable suggested that he would be able to secure accommodation at the Terminus Hotel, where there was a night porter. The man acted on the suggestion, and he was booked in by the night porter at the Terminus, be giving the name fo Winstone. The new lodger explained that bis wife would be joining him about midday on Thursday, and the woman duly arrived for lunch. The management of the hotel became suspicious, however, owing to mysterious movements on the part of the new lodgers. The domestic staff of the hotel was instructed to keep a careful watch on the movements of Mr and Mrs Winstone, and one young lady, staying at the hotel, was advised to lodge her money and valuables with the management.

Winstone seldom had his meals in the dining room, preferring them in his bedroom. Other little incidents, and the movements generally, of the new arrivals, strengthened the suspicions of the managements that they had some connection with the Wellington highway robberies. The police were accordingly notified, with the result stated.

The accused are at present charged with being armed with an offensive weapon, namely, a fivc-cliambored revolver, at Miramar, Wellington, on Aij|ggg)> 7 J)! a.ncl, I with 1 robing one, (j»,(ith;, eries of one cheque book, and also of being unlawfully in the possession of a fi.ve-cliambered revolver and a coinpressed air pistol, both of them dangerous weapons, at New Pymouth on August 15. It is understood that when the accused come before the Court on Monday morning, further charges in connection with the recent holding-up and searching episodes at Miramar and Days Bay will be preferred, and that the police will ask for a remand to Wellington.

REMANDED TO WELLINGTON. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 17. This morning before a J.P., Jack Winstone and Florence Winstone were charged with being armed with a revolver and robbing one Guthrie at Miramar, Welington, on August 7 of a cheque book. They were also charged with being unlawfully in possession or a revolver and compressed air pistol. They were remanded till Thursday at Wellington.