SYDNEY BANK ROBBERY

Evening Star, Issue 20655, 1 December 1930, Page 13

SYDNEY BANK ROBBERY

THIEF SEIZES £4OO TELLER INJURED IN EYES USE OF AMMONIA SPRAT. Using a powerful water pistol to squirt liquid ammonia into the face of a teller at the State Government Savings Bank in Martin place, Sydney, a daring thief seized £4OO in £5 notes and escaped whilst his victim wjs temporarily minded. ' . t ■Clerks and other tellers, summoned by the injured teller’s cries of pain, chased the criminal as he rushed down the steps into Castlereagh street. • Reaching the street, he mingled with ' the crowds on the footpaths, and was lost to sight, Mr Robert Reginald Dargan, the ‘ teller, was bending over the .little stack of £5 notes when the crime was committed. Beside him was an open ' drawer containing more than £I,OOO, but the robber, though he apparently > tried to, could not reach this money. The entrance of the robber, the blinding of the teller, the actual theft of the bundle of bank notes, and then the ' ’ flight and disappearance of the man, all occurred so swiftly that there is no very clear description of him available to the detectives inquiring into the case. However, the numbers of the hank notes are known. This, it is expected, will assist in tracing the stolen money) and possibly the thief. Mr Dargan was taken to Sydney Hospital, and was treated for severe ammonia burns to the face and eyes. His pain was so intense and such a quantity of the liquid had been sprayed over him that it was at first thought that he would b® permanently blinded. The quick medical treatment he received, however, eased his pain and mitigated his injuries. Later he returned to the hank, but was sent home to rest. His ■' .eyes, it is thought, may bo slightly affcctcdt Appearance of the robber. ■ No one paid particular attention to the tall, thin, respectably-dressed man Who followed the bank officials through the Castlereagh street door of the bank about 10 o’clock. Each man went to his department, and for a few moments there was no one standing in the publio spaefl before the tellers poxes, Ihen • the man jna-do up his irund to act quickly. He placed his hand in his pocket and sidled up to the grille in front of the teller’s compartment. _ _ Mr Dargan looked up from checKing the bank notes. As he did so the robber jerked his hand from his pocket, producing some dark instrument, like w: an automatic pistol, with a short, thick . barrel. Immediately a stream of blinding liquid, smelling strongly of amrao- „ nia, shot into Mr Dargan’s eyes, fhe ' 1 pain, was so terrible that the injured i rain could hardly remain on his feet, fir His desperate cries for assistance ' ! echoed through the budding, and I alarmed dozens of his companions. Tho robber swept his hand under the ■lower L;;r of the.grille and- seized the

bundle of bank notes, but could not reach the greater portion. Then he ran desperately for the stairs, which lead to the Castlereagh street. door. Mr Kenneth Breakspear jumped over his counte.- with several of his associates and chased the fugitive. However, the man had too good a start, and when they reached the street ho had disappeared. A few minutes after the robbery De-tective-sergeants Garlick and Matthews, Detectiyes Almond and Geldart, and other police arrived at the bank. They were hopeful that the description of the man, though meagre, might enable them to make an early arrest, MR DAR6AN TELLS HIS STORY. Seen shortly after the attempt, Mr Dafgan was too affected by his experience to recall what had happened. “It all occurred so swiftly that I hardly know any more than anyone else,” ho said. “ I was checking the money which had been given out by the head teller. It was too early for the morning customers, so I was surprised when a shadow fell across the glass. I looked up and saw a tall man with something in his hand. As soori as he saw me looking at him he squeezed it and a liquid shot into my eyes. • “ The pain was so dreadful that I cried out at the top of my voice and staggered back from the counter. A minute afterwards some of my friends reached me and I was taken to hospital.” As soon as the hue and cry had been raised a hasty summons was sent to the Criminal Investigation Branch and its efficiency was quickly tested. The police telephony operator immediately set the alarm bells clanging in the corridors, and the great iron gates wore swung open. . A briefly informed the driver of what is known as the “ hold-up car ” of his destination, arid detectives, some of whom had not had time to snatch up their hats, sprang on the footboards of the car and tumbled inside as it began to race down into George street. “DIDN’T KNOW THERE WAS ONE.” Showing tho police sign, it raced down George street, disregarding all .traffic rules, while the driver shouted to those behind, for they did not know where they were going: “ Big hold-up at the Government Bank. . % . Teller has been attacked.” The car rushed down Martin place and before it had come to a standstill the detectives were vaulting out. Some sprinted to tho Martin place and Elizabeth street entrances, while others blocked the Castlereagh street doors. Nobody was to enter or leave tho building.. “ Where was the hold-up?” inquired a breathless detective of ono of tho commissionaires. “Eh?” was the answer. “Where was the hold-up? I am from the police.” “ Didn’t know there was ono,” replied the commissionaire with perfect composure. < . .