GIRL HELD-UP IN SYDNEY CITY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12801, 24 July 1939, Page 7

GIRL HELD-UP IN SYDNEY CITY

SCREAMS BRING POLICE AID Sydney, July 15. Struggling and screaming. Miss Joyce Turvey, an employee of Realty Realisations, Ltd., Elizabeth Stxeet, attempted to beat off a hold-up man in Castlereagh Street, city, to-day, and, by her plucky fight, aided in saving her employers’ money. Miss Turvey had been to a bank, and, after placing £2O in her handbag, was returning to her office along Castlereagh Street, when the holdup man launched his attack. It is believed that the man, after seeing the girl leave the bank with the money, hurried ahead along Castlereagh Street to take up the best vantage-point from whiph to make his assault.

Lurking out of sight in a laneway off Castlereagh Street, which he knew his victim, would have to pass to reach her office, he waited until the girl drew abreast befoie he jumped out at her. Struggling desperately and screaming for help, Miss Turvey put up ,a plucky desistance, but, after a sharp struggle, the thief snatched the handbag, and, before any of the surprised crowd could interfere, ran swiftly down Castlereagh Street. The girl’s screams, however, had attracted Constable B. O. Ferrier who was on traffic patrol, between Park and Market streets, and he raced towards the struggling pair.

Before he could reach them, the hold-up man had broken free with the bag.

In her struggles Miss Turvey had pushed the thief into the laneway. When he broke free he dashed into the street and, fortunately, ran in the direction from which the constable was approaching. He ran almost into the policeman’s arms. The man fought desperately for a time but, after a sharp struggle, was overpowered and led away. Miss Turvey was not injured in her struggle to retain the bag and quickly recovered from the shock of her experience. After being interviewed by the police, she returned home, but was so little affected that she would not remain in doors and went out for the afternoon.

Later, a man was charged at the Central Police Station.