P.O. ROBBERY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1932, Page 5

P.O. ROBBERY

THIEF CAUGHT REMANDED FOR SENTENCE. (Australian Press Association.) (Received 10.35 a.m.) - SYDNEY, December 16. Paul Grierson, aged thirty-tAvo, was found guilty of the William Street postal hold-up. He was also found guilty bf : . cqUsing grievous bodily harm to Alfred Johnson, and Avas remanded Tor sentence. "' Detective Walker described Grierson as one of the most cunning, clever, calleous, and dangerous criminals in the State.

A Sydney message on September 29, states:—While Francis Seckold, Postmaster at the William Street Post Office, was carrying a bag containing £530, to a neighbouring office for the payment of old age and invalid pensions, robbers secured the money by an apparently carefully-akranged coup, Seckold Avas accompanied by an assistant, Alfred Johnson, AA'ho Avas armed. When the pair had gone one hundred yards through • a. croAvded thoroughfare, tAvo men, dressed in overalls, arid pretending to be Avorking as cleaners, tlireAV the contents of a bucket of liquid in the postal men’s faces, The * postal men were Jilipded, and were choking, apparently from fumes of some sort, ■ ••• /' ■ Johnson Avas knocked dowy and disarmed, arid then Seckold was felled. His bap Avas seized; and the attackers made off. The man carrying the shag." however, collided with a motor-car, and fell to the ground, but he recovered himself, and eluded hs pursuers in the hurrying traffic. He rushed through a shop in a nearby, street and then .escaped in a car that AA - as apparently Avaiting in readiness for him.

A similar robbery ‘ took place last December, Avhen the same officials were held up, pepper being thrpAvn in their faces and nine hundred pounds taken a r ter a shot Avas fired at Seckold. The robbers escaped and AA-cre never recaptured. - ■ " , - ■-/'