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Fri 11 Apr 1930 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)
Page 11 - TRAIN ROBBERY.
TRAIN ROBBER^ ;
Black Tracker at Work.
STRONG POLICE THEORY.
Although no fresh clues in the Mudgee moil
train robbery were secured by detectives yes-
terday they advanced their theory a further
stage.
As already reported they have as yet only
one slender clue. The manner in'which they
have followed this has been extremely
Interesting.
At one stage yesterday It appeared to lead
them into a cul-de-sac, but during the late
afternoon they became more hopeful again.
One of the best black trackers in Australia
yesterday visited the scene with detectives
and patrolled the line and adjacent country
with them.
To-day, probably, the crime will be re
enacted and a bullion box similar to the one
stolen, and containing about the same weight,
will be pushed from a train while it is travel-
ling at between 25 and 30 miles an hour near
the Glenbrook tunnel.
The guard, Mr. A. E. Squires, and the young
porter, who was entrusted with escorting such
valuable property, Mr. K. A. Allen, were again
closely questioned.
CHECKING OVER CLUES.
Early yesterday morning the Commissioner
of Police, Mr. Childs, the Metropolitan Super-
intendent, Mr. Leary, the acting-chief of the
C.I.B., Inspector Pattinson, with Detective
sergeants Quinn and Walsh conferred. The
whole circumstances of the crime were again
retold, every small phase was discussed, and
the evidence so far obtained was checked over
carefully.
At the end of that conference the police
were still inclined to believe that the theory
they adopted the previous night-their first
theory-was correct.
It was agreed that this theory should be
pursued indefatlgably, and that in the mean-
time efforts should be made to prevent the
money-£4600-being sent from the State. In
the meantime detectives carried out an ex-
haustive search of the locality adjacent to the
Glenbrook tunnel, even patrolling the line for
miles on either side.
BLACK TRACKER AT WORK.
It was interesting to follow the work of the
black tracker. Bending low, sometimes with
his hands touching the ground, he moved for-
ward with elastic steps. His head moved
from side to side, almost monotonously, and
he traversed even the very rough ground with-
out apparent effort.
Sometimes he would drop on his hands and
knees peering at the short grass or the under-
growth or looking Intently through half-closed
eyes, at some loose earth or a footmark. Then
his nose would be almost touching the ground.
A broken twig, a small stone dislodged and
leaving a little dent in the earth, a lew
crushed blades of grass, a green leaf fallen
from a stunted tree-all these things meant
something to him.
He travelled along like this for great dis-
tances, so concentrated that he appeared
oblivious of the presence of the detectives ac-
companying him. Once or twice he was al-
most excited. "Ah, goodl" he would ejacu-
late and crouch forward.
It was a disappointing day, however, and
he found little of value. He carefully ex-
plained the meaning of the things he did see,
but there have been many people who have
traversed that country since the crime was
committed, and this fact had to be taken
carefully into consideration.
His keen investigation, it was reported last
night, might prove of considerable assistance.
STRANGE FEATURES.
Several strange aspects of the case are be-
ing investigated. It Is considered likely that
a wooden box, weighing probably a hundred-
weight. In view of the silver it contained,
thrown from a train moving at approximately
30 miles an hour, on to the rough metal on
the permanent way, would have left some
trace. Detectives believu that splinters from
the damaged box may have been left be-
hind. The party at Glenbrook will make
another minute examination to-day, In an
effort to find some such traces.
It is not improbable, moreover, that men
leaping from the train under such conditions,
would be injured at least to a minor extent,
and would leave bloodstains or other traces
behind them. Railway men, consulted by In-
spector Pattinson, said that considerable risk
was Involved in such a leap.
They stated that experienced railway men,
In Jumping from fast moving trains, endeav-
oured to land with their bodies at an angle
of at least 45 degrees to the ground. This
was done to recover from the momentum. They
also pointed out that It was much more diffi-
cult to land at this angle ."/hen Jumping from
a height, than when leaping to a platform on
a level with the train floor.
The fact that there was rough metal where
they Jumped, and that the train was round-
ing a bend, added to the risk the bandits
took. Even an experienced man might fall
heavily and roll over and over on the metal.
The detectives will make a search to find
traces of any Injured men.
Police records contain references to ex-rall
way men, but It Is considered, In view of es-
tablished facts, that ordinary criminals would
be even more likely to take such big risks,
than men who had had some railway ex-
perience. ____^________