A series of armed robberies, one of them resulting in murder, has engaged the serious attention of the police during the week-end.
Shortly after 6 o'clock on Sunday evening four Chinese, two "f them armed with daggers and one carrying a revolver, visited a house in East Yuhang Road Knocking at the back door, one ci them called out '"'postman," and the door was consequently opened by an amah. Two of the robbers then entered to conduct the usual "hold up," one remained on guar at the foot of the stairs, and the fourth stood pu watch at the back door. A Sikh watchman who was informed by a servant as to what was taking police, called a Sikh policeman to assist him, and together they arrested the man standing on guard at the back door. Leaving this man under arrest, the watchman then went after another of the robbers whom Lo saw leaving the house, and took him in charge also. At this moment, he heard a cry from the Sikh policeman and, releasing his man, ran back to the house, where he found that the constable had been stabbed in both hands by the robber. The latter had not then escaped, and a struggle ensued, in the course of which the watchman' received serious knife wounds about' the head. He died shortly afterwards. The wounded constable had to be taken to hospital, where he was detained, and all four robbers escaped.
An inquest on the body of the watchman was opened on Monday at the public mortuary by Mr. 4. Covey, acting H. M. Coroner, and after formal evidence had been given, was adjourned until Thursday morning.
A MASKED GANG, Four men also were concerned in an armed robbery which took place in Burkill Road about 9 o'clock on Saturday night. In this case also, one man carried a pistol and another a knife. The revolver was pointed through the kitchen windc¢w at the cook, who promptly opened the door and allowed the four to enter. The.man with the revolver stood on guard over the inmates of the house, five men and three women, whilst his companions searched the premises and collected money, jewellery and clothing to the value of $707, an operation which is said to have occupied 25 minutes. An unusual feature in this case was that the four men, one wearing a foreign overcoat and grey felt hat, had white handkerchiefs over their faces. Not a sound was made during the visit, and an armed constable on duty a few yards away from the alleyway heard nothing of the matter.
At about 7 o'clock on Sunday night, three armed robbers visited in the brief space of three minutes relieved the cash box of its contents—$62. This affair wag also quietly conducted, one of the men standing at the door with a revolver pointed at the assistants, and people residing next door -heard nothing and no alarm was raised.
Three armed loafers were responsible for a highway robbery which took place in Tongshan Road, at the corner of Paoting Road, about 11 o'clock on Sunday might. They held up a Chinese on lis way home, slapped his face, and then took away his overcoat, jacket and long gown, and also $103 in notes, immediately retreating hastily across country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.