MASKED ROBBERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1932, Page 12

MASKED ROBBERS

ANOTHER BANK EFFORT

EXCITING STRUGGLE

GUN AND SANDBAG

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

INVEKCARGILL, This Day

On Tuesday night the Inspector of Police at Invereargill received word from. Edendalo that two masked men, one carrying a rifle, entered the premises of the Bank of JSTew South Wales on a hold-up. A detachment of police was sent immediately.

The manager, Mr. Archibald, and his wife arc both suffering from shock. The latter received bruises on the forehead and a cut on the cheek from the effects of an improvised sandbag.

The intruders gained entry through the opeai window of the sittiug-room in the front of the house and walked down the lighted hallway to. the kitchen, ■where Mr. Archibald and his wife were reading. Hearing footsteps, the latter got up from the chair and on opening the door the assailant rushed and hit her, knocking off her glasses, and a second hit was received on her.check. Her husband Tushed to- his wife's assistance, and pushed her past him, enabling her, in great presence of mind, to rush out the back door and call for. help. She was followed by a man armed with a rifle, which was loaded. Meanwhile -the husband struggled with the second man, who hit out with a sandbag, which burst as it struck Mr. Archibald's head. He then followed outside to the help of his wife, who had run to the next door neighbour. The husband proceeded down, the street and called further assistance, but cm returning found no trace of the intruders, who had decamped. The general opinion is that though it was a determined attempt, tl;e wouldbe robbers once the alarm was given were afraid to carry out their object of obtaining the keys of the bank premises. .-,.'■

On the night previous to the hold-up a blacksmith's premises a few doors away from the bank were burglariously entered-and an attempt made to set them on fire. The attempt failed owing to early detection by a passerby.