SOLICITOR ROBBED

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1931, Page 6

SOLICITOR ROBBED

TWO MEN TELL STORY

SUCCESSFUL PICK-POCKETS.

SYDNEY; November 19. The unusual story told to Mr Frank Davenport, the well-known city solicitor, had a dramatic and exciting climax in George Sreet, oity, yesterday.

In the afternoon Mr Davenport was glancing over the goods displayed in a shop window in George Street, * near King Street, when two rather welldressed, but excited, men commenced to tell him a disjointed story dealing with members of the police force and their rights of arrest. It was a jumbled story, hut Mr Davenport was led to believe that a constable had arrested a man in rather unusual and perhaps, unwarranted circumstances. “It was down there!” spluttered one of the men, pointing down the street. Mr Davenport looked in the direction indicated, hut could not see any signs of trouble. The other stranger could not restrain himself. He caught hold of the lapels of the solicitor’s coat and commenced to show him how the constable had exceeded his duty. “The big ‘cop’,’ said ’the stranger, caught hold of the ‘feller’ like This ” “There he is,” said the second man. Mr Davenport looked, hut again the constable eluded his glance. “Yes,” resumed the second stranger quickly, “he had hold of him, and lie was just going to shake him like this when. . . .”

“Hey,” said Mr Davenport calmly, ‘ ‘compose yourself. ’ ’

The fact that their listener would not share their excitement appeared to irritate them, for they turned and hurried away.

AVI ien Mr Davenport found that his wallet, containing about £9, had been picked from his inside coat pocket, he chased the pair along Geroge Street, shouting, “Stop thief, .stop thief!” But, although several passers by made a rather half-hearted attempt to assist him in the chase, the men disappeared.