PLEA OF GUILTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 8

PLEA OF GUILTY.

BANK SENSATION.

MECHANIC FOR SENTENCE,

OTHER CHARGES PREFERRED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

PALMERSTON N., this day.

• Arising out of the sensational incident which occurred in a local bank last Friiav, William Murn Macdonald, mechanic, * aged lj), appeared before justices of the peace to-day charged with that, being armed with an oflensive weapon, namely, a loaded revolver, he attempted to rob William Loudon, teller, in the Union Bank of Australia. Other charges were preferred as follow- —Breaking and entering the dwelling of Henry Morgan on August 1 with inherit to commit a crime; stealing from Milson aerodrome on August 3 a cheque for £4 0/6 and 2/6 in cash; at Pahiatua on August 10, with intent to defraud by means of a valueless cheque obtained goods to the value of 9/6 and £4 0/6 in cash; and at Masterton on August 8 breaking and entering 'oy night a dwelling house and stealing several articles and cheque forms of a total value of £3 17/.

Constable Compton stated in evidence regarding the Union Bank affair that he" arrested accused and found in his possession a seven-chambered revolver, full cocked, with five live cartridges. Subsequently accused made a statement to the effect that he had made up his mind to get some money from the bank, and that, after waiting about the premises for some time, he entered and presented a note, later dashing away.

The teller, W. C. Loudon, gave evidence of receiving a note presented by accused, which demanded £200 "in singles," with the warning "I have you covered. If you attempt, to give an alarm I will shoot you. . I'm desperate. Don't hesitate."

Witness said he fired shots to give an alarm.

After further evidence had been heard accused pleaded guilty to the first four charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

He was remanded to appear at Masterton on the fifth charge.

The sensational incident described in the evidence occurred shortly .before'll o'clock oii Friday morning last. When confronted by the written demand the bank teller dropped down under cover of his counter, and, grabbing a revolver, fired live shots in quick succession into the woodwork of the counter and sen* a sixth shot after the fugitive. One of the bullets smashed a glass panel a foot or two above the head of a passing telegraph messenger. Half an hour later the accused man was taken into custody on the stairway of a boardinghouse on the corner of the Square and Fitzherbevt Avenue.