The Navua Robbery.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43065, 5 March 1907, Page 3

The Navua Robbery.

CHRISTIE CONFESSES. (By Telegraph—'Press' Association.) •AUCKLAND, This DayThe two men, Lawrence Christie And Patrick Manning, - who were recently arrested in Sydney in connection ■ with the robbery of £IOOO which took the B.s. NavUa during her trip between Sydney and Tonga,' in November last arrived by the , 8;S. Manuka, which j reached Auckland from Sydney yester j day afternoon, and on landing they were. ! immediately re-arrested *by Chief-Detective Marsack and DeMStive McMahon, on a warrant chargingthem i with the theft of £I,OOO, the property of j Messrs'Lever Brothers. | Christie, one of those accused, has made a full confession. He stated that of the thousand: pounds stolen, some

£558 was spent on jewellery, part of which) is nowintbepossesdon of ,the police. Mannihg; another accused, m in, has been shown the confession and con. firmedit. At first they intended to plead guilty, bnt Manning altered his mind and counsel announced that he would for the present plead not guilty. Two men, named Pepper and Howlett. are at present in custody in Auckland on the same charge. Christie was third officer on the Navua, and Manning was an able seaman They are both residents of Auckland. Christie’s description of the way in which the robbery was accomplished, was tDat he stole the captain’s keys, unlocked the bullion' room and took away the box in the dark. Manning and he concealed it and afterwards*pufc the contents which were sovereigns, into hags and hid them in. the holdymd threw the box overboard. At Auckland Manning took the money ashore. No. one else had anything to do with it. Manning said about £2OO would be found in his house at Monnt lioskill.