HOSPITAL HOLD UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOSPITAL HOLD UP.

GUNMEN POSE AS PATIENTS. ESCAPE THROUGH CORRIDORS. After posing as patients in the reception room oi the Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital, 420, East Fifty-ninth Street, New York, three armed robbers Jumped to their feet, snatched a package containing 6000 dollars (£1200) from Miss Elsie Ingalls, cashier of the hospital, and escaped in a waiting automobile while doctors and nurses walked unsuspectingly through the corridors. Miss Ingalls, who has been an employee of the institution for fifteen years, returned to the hospital through the private pavilion at 419, East Fifty-eighth Street shortly after 9 o'clock from the Sutton Place branch of the Corn Exchange Bank where she had drawn the hospitals semimonthly payroll. Dismisses Police Guard. When she reached the door she turned to Patrolman Robert Stewart, who _ had served as bodyguard on the walk irom the bank, and dismissed him, saying, "All right, officer.*' Carrying the package of currency, most of which was in 20-aollar bills. Miss Ingalls walked through the corridor toward her office on the Fifty-ninth Street side. As she passed the reception room in the centre of the building the '"patients," who had entered about live minutes before, one of them limping as his companions assisted him in walking, suddenly awoke to the presence of their objective. Two of them flourished revolvers_on each side of the woman, the third, obviously the leader of the gang, whispered. "I'll take this." With smooth precision he accomplished his mission. In a flash the robbers were out of the Futy-ninth Street door and in their car. a coupe with a New j Jersey license. Driving rapidly away, they were lost to view when they turned north in the next street. Police Call Hold-up Inside Job. The police were inclined to believe that the hold-up was "an inside job. pure and simple." but beyond that theory they were unable to discuss the case. Hospital j attaches were reticent about giving any information, but the comment that tne hold-up was "smoothly done' was elicited from one member of the staff. The hospital has a capacity or 02 patients, but how many were in the bunding or whether there was any disturbance among them as a result ot the roooery could not be learned. 11 is understood that two-thirds of the patients are boys and girls under 16 years ot age.