WAHINE MAIL ROBBERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 612, 14 March 1929, Page 1

WAHINE MAIL ROBBERY

FOUR STAND TRIAL SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. Charges in connection with the mail robbery on the Wahine were preferred in the Police Court yesterday against Thomas Gordon, taxi-driver, aged 21; Arthur Henry William Bevan, plumber, aged 20; Richard Ryan, motor mechanic, aged 31; and George Wilfred Ryan, taxi-driver, aged 24. Accused were charged that, between February 9 and 10, at Lyttelton and at Wellington, they stole postal packets and sums of money amounting in all to about £l7l, and also a gold watch, pen and a ring to the total value of £lB4 5s sd, the property of the Postmaster-General. Reginald J. Day, night watchman on the Wahine, said that on February S he saw Richard Ryan, whom he knew by sight, sitting beside the mail hatch of the Wahine at Wellington. This was between 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. There was another man with Ryan, but witness could not say who he was. He looked to be about 26 years of age. At that time the mail was being loaded into the hold and Ryan and his companions could see this. “On February 9, at Lyttelton,” continued witness. “I again saw Ryan by the hatch. It would be about 6 p.m. and he was then talking to one of the sailors. This was the night we left for Wellington. So far as I know the mails were not being loaded at 6 p.m., but they were due to be.”

Witness said that on Wednesday, February 6. while he was walking along the wharf on the way to the Wahine at Wellington, between 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.. he saw Richard Ryan and another man sitting in the bay of a window. Roughly speaking this would be about 50 yards from the mail hatch. From this position Ryan could see the mails being loaded. The hearing was adjourned until this afternoon.