FIERCE STRUGGLE IN BANK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 13

FIERCE STRUGGLE IN BANK

Intruder With Lead Pipe OFFICIAL STRUCK A SEVERE BLOW Phickily Overpowers Assailant MAN TO BE CHARGED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auoldand, May 11. Surprised by an intruder who struck him a vicious blow on the head with a lead pipe, Mr. J. G. Worboys, officer in charge of the Point Chevalier branch of the Auckland Savings Bank, was engaged in a fierce struggle in his room at the bank this afternoon before lie managed to overpower and disarm his assailant. A revolver prominently displayed by Mr. Worboys had the effect of dissuading the man from further violence, lie was taken into custody by a party of detectives hastily summoned, from headquarters. A large lump on Mr. Worboys’ forehead and a ent near his left eye bore testimony to the severity of the blow. He was brought to the city by motorcar and was attended by a chemist before going to his home in Remuera. The arrested man, who was unhurt, was lodged in the cells for the night. He will appear in the Magistrate’s Court in the morning. A modest account of his singlehanded arrest was given by Mr. Worhoys. Although taken completely unawares and struck so violently that he almost fell, lie rallied quickly and was able to avoid a second blow from a heavy lead pipe about 18 inches long. “I was coming out of my room about 4 o’clock and was alone on the premises at the time, when a man wearing an overcoat and slouch hat, who was in a passageway’leading to the banking chamber, attacked me,” Mr. Worboys said. "The first thing I knew was a blow on the head. I staggered back into a corner of my room and realised that the man was an assailant and grappled with him. In one hand he had a length of lead pipe and was brandishing it, apparently intending to strike me again. I closed with the man and sent him sprawling once or twice and managed to get the pipe from him. “I think that took the wind out of his sails. He just stood there and I went out to the front door. There was a young man standing in the doorway, and I asked him to come inside, explaining that there had been some trouble. At my request he telephoned head office, while I displayed the office revolver for good measure to show the prisoner I was armed and to stop any further trouble.” The incident provided an exciting few moments for several small boys who were in front of the bank, and their only regret was that the front door of the bank was closed when assistance arrived. It was a message from one of them that resulted in Constable Spellman, who happened to be in the vicinity, being summoned. Mr. Worboys is a strongly-built young married man. He joined the staff of the savings bank in 11)20 and has remained in the bank’s service continuously. He has served in various branches in the city and suburbs and was appointed officer in charge at Point Chevalier about two years ago. The arrested man is James Billing, aged 40, a bushman