EXTRADITION GRANTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 133, 26 August 1927, Page 16

EXTRADITION GRANTED

CARDIFF £IO,OOO MAIL ROBBERY (Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A N extradition order against Joseph Foster, aged 44, who is wanted in England in connection with the £IO,OOO mailbag robbery between Cardiff and London on February 2, was made by Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Police Court to-day. Foster, who is now a traveller, is a son of a pastor who was stationed for some years at Hamilton and Waihi. He came to the Dominion from England in March, and was arrested at Hamilton by a constable who recognised him, having known him as a boy. Mr. Macassey, for the Crown, produced depositions in support of the application for extradition. Mr. Wilford, who appeared for the accused, consented to the application, remarking that the defence open to Foster was only available in England. He did not admit the eight charges preferred against him, or that he had anything to do with the robbery, but would be able to clear himself. Depositions were read showing that accused was practically penniless on the day prior to the robbery; that he was on the train near the guard’s van in which the packages were; and that on the day following the robbery he opened an account with Barclay’s Bank, in London, paying in £I,OOO in notes, the account being in the name of “William Roberts.” Some of the notes, it was said, were received bv the accused from William Chandler, a commission agent, who had exchanged for him currency notes to the value of £SOO or £6OO. Moneys drawn by “Roberts” had been traced to Foster. With regard to the happenings on the train. Francis George Rowley, a passenger guard, said that at Cardiff on Febrsary 2 he took charge of the express train from Swansea to Paddington. During the journey he left the van once, between Newport and Swindon, for the purpose of seeing how much luggage was in the middle van. On the way there he saw two men. one of whom was Foster, sitting in the end compartment of his coach. They asked if they could get a drink, and when he said that, they would have to wait for a while Foster said that he had some whisky, and would like some soda. He gave witness 2s 6d to get the soda, and witness went away. On his return Foster was in the same place, and they had a couple of drinks together. Chandler, the commission agent already referred to, said he, had known a man named “Roberts” for two years, and had occasionally changed notes for him. He remembered having changed between £SOO and £6OO in Treasury notes early this year. This concluded the evidence “How is it that there is not a tittle of evidence to show that one of the currency notes mentioned was stolen?” asked Mr. Wilford. “It is not a crime to be in possession of currency notes.” Mr. Macassey: The evidence shows i clearly that the accused was on the ' train, that he was penniless the day before the bag was stolen, and that . he opened an account for £I.OOO next 1 day. Mr. Wilford: The only evidence of his having been on the train is that of the guard, who on his own admission was half-full of whisky. It is a very thin case indeed, and a jury i would have to discharge the prisoner. The magistrate: It seems to me that r the evidence is such that the accused 5 must be committed to prison to await r his return to England. 5 An order for extradition was accordingly granted