SYDNEY BURGLARIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 72, 20 March 1912, Page 2

SYDNEY BURGLARIES.

RAID BY ARMED AND MASKED MEN DESCRIBED. A JOCKEY VICTIMISED. For some time past the residents in Sydney suburbs have been terrorised by a gang of midnight burglars. The following is an "account of one of the gang’s latest exploits:— One of the most daring and startling robberies recorded in the police annals of the State occurred in the Paddington division on the morning of the 11th of March, when six armed and masked men entered the residence of George Russell, a jockey, and terrorised [the inmates at the revolver’s point into handing over the whole of their money and jewellery. The residence was that of Mr George Russell, the well-known jockey, residing at “Melvaville,” Dowling Street, Kensington, near the Victoria Park racecourse. The first room visited was that of Mr Bertie Turner, a brother-in-law of Mr Russell. At about 3 a.m. he was awakened by a tap on the forehead, and on opening his eyes, was half blinded by the flash of an electric torch, and startled by the sight of three armed and masked men standing in his room. The gang ransacked the room, and then they said, “Now we’re going to waken the boss, and if you make any noise you know what to expect.” Whereupon jthe leader left the room, and two men remained, still covering Mr and Mrs Turner .with their revolvers. Mr, Russell, when interviewed, continued the story by saying: .“Shortly after 3 o’clock I was awakened by hearing a noise, and the first thing I did was to look out of the window, when I saw the form of a man who I thought was on the outside trying to get in. I fle wstraight at the window to close it, Unit instead ran right into the arms of a man who flashed an electric torch into my eyes, and pointed a revolver at my temple, saying : ‘Too late; we are all in, and want your money and jewellery.” Judging from his voice I would take him to be a newly-arrived Englishman. It was a superior kind of voice. Ho next said, Ilfs all up,’ so I said, ‘All right,’ and got back into bed. There was nothing else for me to do. He then said, ‘Come on, give us all your money and jewellery. I know you have some valuable stuff here.’ To which I replied, ‘Very well, light the gas, and we will see what we are doing.’ “After Fumuling about for a while, looking for matches and the gas bracket, they fit the gas. I then ’showed , them,, where the money was planted behind a washstand drawer, some £35 or, £lO in gold and notes, the result of Uj.win I had yesterday. The loader camp, on the, bounce, ! and wanted dia- ; monels and; jewellery, : saving/' ‘Cppio ? n i> n( > funny business. I know

rou have some diamonds and good jewellery.M '.replied, ‘You have all . got.; All this time I was walking about the room with them. They then seached the room thoroughly. Drawers were emptied, hut nothing further of any .valuer was found. They ■dill came on tjid nbounce, ’ and again T assured them; that there would bo no funny_ business},■ and that they had' got the lot. Perhaps I forgot to tell v ou iat h r^en tlie .y first came in my wife screamed, which, of course, upset me, and J asked them to go quietly and not upset the wife, as she was 'll, and that I would give them tin lot, to which the leader replied, ‘Very well lad, I have a sister of my own and wouldn’t frighten her for worlds.’ After saying this he sent one of the'men for a glass of water for her. “Having exhaustively searched the room, they prepared to leave, saying. ‘Well, we are going to leave yon now, and if you make a move to soek assistance before wo got awav von know what to expect.’ They then ? a, d ‘Good-night,’ and after departing V the window, locked us in, leaving a man on guard ouside the winlow. He remained there for about five minutes after they had driven off. We heard them drive off in some vehicle or other, but, the window being locked, we could not make out what it exactly was. There were three men in the room, and one on guard outside the window. The man on the outside every now and then hurried ■ns mates up, saying, ‘Hurry up, lads, ,9 car is here.’ When they wanted to .take the wife’s wedding ring the man excitedly called out, ‘Don’t touch the lady’s wedding ring; leave it alone.’ He got very excited over it. They stayed about a quarter of an mur in our room, and I understand , °m My brother-in-law about half an hour in his.”

In describing the men, Mr Russell smd they all wore largo black masks, which completely covered their faces ind came down on to their chests. Hiey also wore gloves and slouch hats. Koch, man carried a nickel-plated revolver and an electric torch, whilst two had children’s dresses over their shoulders, probably to hide the contour of their figures. One man had evidently been deputed to act as leaden, as he did most of the talking, one ether man, however, joining in the conversation to some slight extent. They also wore rubber boots in order to deaden their footsteps. Mr Rus sell’s impression is that several of the men probably knew him, and for that reason did not speak, fearing to reveal their identity.