MURDERED FOR HIS KEYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 161, 10 July 1922, Page 5

MURDERED FOR HIS KEYS.

ATTACK ON BANK MANAGER. j ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY FAILS. SYDNKY. July !1. Frank I ceil Kcminis. manager of the Hornsby brunch of the Government Savings Bank, was assaulted in a train between Hornsby and AYahroonga on bis way home from the bank on Friday night, and was robbed of his keys. He was discovered in a semi-conscious condition by another passenger, and was only able to state that he had been assaulted and the keys taken. He was removed to the hospital, where he died the following day. | After the assault an attempt was made to rob the bank, where there was £5000 in the safe, but the would-be I thieves were unsuccessful, as two keys were required to open the safe. Tt is the rule of the bank that one key shall be carried by the manager and the other by another officer. Tho bank was open for depositors on Friday night, and apJparently the criminals watched Hip officials close the premises about 10 o'clock and followed Kemmis to the train. Plans for the robbery had evidently been maturing for some time, as a few days burgled and a bunch of keys stolen, but owing t<. the number of suburban robheries recently the significance of the. iburnlary was >io( apparent. The police discovered a heavy blacksmith's hammer near the railway station :*i Wahroongii which had anuarpntly been used on Kemmis.-■■■(A. and X.Z.I