MAIL ROBBERY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 414, 24 December 1932, Page 5

MAIL ROBBERY

a Correspondent.)

POST OFFICE SQRTER AND ALLEGED STATION ATTACK STRUCK ON HEAD

(From

London, December 16. How he suddenly found himself enveloped in a black satin hag was desscribed by a post-oflW sorter at Clerkenwell when two men alleged to have been concerned in a mail-bag robhery at Euston Station, London, again appeared before the magistrate, Mr. Samuel Pope. Accused were Henry Peter Jacob Ilartman, 24, traveller, and Frederick Harris, 47, fruiterer. They were charged with being concerned with others in assaulting and robbing Zachariah" Woodward and Alfred Henry Jones of a mail-bag and postal paclcets valued at £6,000, and being concerned in stealing a motor-van and two driving licenses. Jones, a sorter attached to the Irish mail travelling post-office, related how he handed a mail-bag to Woodward. Crash. on the Head "I followed Woodward along the platform a few yards hehind him," Jones continued. "We had just turned the corner of No. 6 platform when I reeeived a crash on the head with a brown paper parcel. "Then 1 found myself enveloped in a black satin hag. was in complete darlcness, and it was two minutes before I could get out." Jones identified a hoop to which was fixed a long bag of black material as that which was flung over his head. "When I got out of the hag," proc'eeded Jones, "I saw Boodward lying on the ground. I looked around, hut I could see no one, and the mailbag had gone." Woodward told the Court that after he and another man had loaded a van with mail-abgs at Mount Pleasant Post Office they travelled with it to Euston. Later he reeeived a mail-bag from Jones, and went with it on his shoulder towards No. 14 platform. "We had just crossed the carriage way," Woodward stated, "and had turned round No. 6 platform when I heard a loud bang behind me. "I Gripped, Tighter." "I half-turned and saw Jones grappling with two or more men. Then I felt a tug at the mail-bag on my back. I gripped it tighter, and as I did so I saw a man coming at me from hehind with his hand raised. "There seemed to be something in his hand. He struclc at me; I dodged, and the blow struek the bag. "I reeeived a hard hlow on the back of the head and was thrown to the ground. I do not know what happened to the mail-bag. I was halfstunned. When I recovered I saw three men, one carrying the mail-bag, disappearing through' an archway." Woodward added that he could not recognise any of attackers. Evidence that he saw three men rush out of the station and drive away in a grey van was given hy Edwin Sleigh, .a newspaper seller.Hartman and Harris were again remanded in custody.