THE FEILDING ROBBERY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8943, 8 October 1907, Page 2

THE FEILDING ROBBERY.

This morning William J. Lowe and John O. Robinson were brought before the Tending Court, on remand, charged with having, on the night of Saturday, September 37th, robbed Frederick Noffke, of £B. The occurrence, as related by the victim, a young man of about IS years of age, seems to indicate to have been the most impudent crime of the kind over committed in the town. On cashing a cheque at an hotel during the night, Noffke had noticed a man eyeing him rather earnestly. Afterwards when coming out of a'fish shop the same man again appeared to be interested in him. On starting for home, a little before ten, from Manchester Square, he was accosted by a stranger in a familiar manner,- who asked where he was going. Noffke replied that he was going to Makiuo, and the stranger immediately said he was going the same way and they would go together. Noffke had no reason to be suspicious of this new acquaintance and they went on together keeping to the middle of the road. Passing through Fitzroy street, which has only a few houses on one side and is nnlighted, the stranger suddenly forced Noffke through the fence of a section on the upper side and threatened to kill him if he did not allow himself to be robbed quietly. Having obtained Noffke’s pocket book, which for a moment th,e robber thought was a purse ho relaxed his hold,” and Noffke tried to escape across the section, hut was caught after a short run, when the thief tore a great rent in Noffke’s trousers in order to get at his pocket. Then he heard a man call out from the road ‘ ‘ Have you got him, Bill’ ’ and the aggressor replied in the affirmative Having taken Noffke's money and ordered him not to° move for a quarter of an hour the’thief made off. Noffke then went to the Police Station and gave information. -Ser geant Bowden accompanied the youth to the scene of the robbery, where he picked up a large black handkerchief, which it is supposed was torn from the neck of the thief : n the first scuffle on the road, also the youth’s hat and pocket book. On the following morning Lowe and Robinson were arrested. On Monday morning the prisoners were placed in a row with several other men in the Courthouse, and Noffke was asked whether he could recognise among them the man who had robbed him. Without a moment’s hesitation he picked out Lowe as the one, and Robinson as the person lie had seen in the hotel. Accused were defended by Messrs Ongley and Kelly, the prosecution being conducted by Sergeant Bowden. The case had not concluded when we went to press,