DARING GOLD ROBBERY AT COAL CREEK PLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 246, 17 October 1872, Page 7

DARING GOLD ROBBERY AT COAL CREEK PLAT.

Considerable excitement has been aroused by the most daring gold robberies of which it has beon the scene during the last few days. The sufferers by these audacious acts are diggers who reside upon the Flat, and whose claims border upon the Molyneux. The practice of the thief has been to be well posted up in regard to the progress of operations in the respective claims, and, when the workings were so far advanced as to be brought to an easy completion, to make a nocturnal irruption and relieve the boxes of their gold. The first who suffered from this unwelcome aggressor was Anderson, Snell and Co.'s party, whose boxes were found cleaned out, an 1 nearly 2cwt. of auriferons sand carried off. Last. Friday night the »sw claim <>f Mr. Joseph Tamblyn, which had been prepared for a wash-up on the next day, was found, when Saturday morning came, to have already undergone that operation. Noways dannted, however, by the suspicion which it mnst have been evident to himself he had aroused, the thief pursued his nefarious course, and, on Tuesday nierht, came upon the claim of Mr Richard Bennetts, which was ready for a washup on the next day. There he c >olly turned on the water, cleaned out the boxes, and left things in such an orderly and workmanlike manner as not only to indicate considerable skill, but to point suspicion towards one who has a complete knowledge of the claims, their owners, and tmSir working arrangements.

Since writing the above, the nocturnal depredator has been captured, convicted, and sentenced. This very satisfactory result was brought about through the vij/ilance of Sergeant Daly. *who, on Friday last, apprehended near his rockcave residence, fourteen mile* on the road to Alexandra, the well-known offender Geong Ah Fat. On Saturday -he was brought before Mr. Warden Borfcon. The past notorious character of Ah Fat —his having spent some time in gaol — and the stronjj circumstantial evidence- having left clear marks of his peculiarly nailed boots on the ground — and having on his person some gold answering to that which the claim of Mr. Bennetts yields, an easy conviction was obtained. Mr. Ah Fat will serve six months for vagrancy, .and three months for stealing gold from Mr. Bennetts.