ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8340, 29 January 1913, Page 8

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

firemen charged and com-

MITTED,

Ptess Association

AUCKLAND, January 28. Two firemen off the Star of India who had been arrested in Wellington a week ago were charged in the Police Court this morning with having assaulted and robbed a visitor to the city on the Railway Wharf on the night of Wednesday three weeks ago." The two accused were Thomas William Adams (aged twenty-five) and Herbert Wallace (aged forty-four), and they were charged with having assaulted George A. Farmer, and with having robbed him of a rolled gold watch valued at £3 and about £2 in money. In submitting the case Chief-Detec-tive McMahon stated that on the date in question the two accused were employed on the Star of India, then lying at Auckland Wharf, but having little to do that day they spent most of their time'at the Waitemata Hotel corner in Queen street. They met Mr Farmer, a visitor from the country, who had been drinking a little, and he “shouted” for them .several times. He was then accompanied by one of the two men to a secluded place on the Railway Wharf, and was suddenly knocked down by a blow on the head. Another man then appeared, and struck Farmer when ho was down, knocking him out. His pockets were then rifled, and the men ran awqj^

When Parrnpr went to stay at tho Waitemata Hotel he was given the key of his room on a ring. He had that in his pocket when he was assaulted, and when Wallace was arrested that key was in his possession. Adams pleaded “ guilty,” and was committed for sentence at the Supreme Court. Wallace, pleading ” not guilty,” was committed for trial.