THE BUNK HOLD-UP

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 2

THE BUNK HOLD-UP

BANKER’S RUSE TO SECURE REVOLVER [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 24. A young man, whoso identity is at present- unknown, was shot dead at itcinueni shortly alter noon to-day after ho had attacked Mr i i '. W. T. Youngs, agency officer at the Remuera branch of the Bank of New Zealand, with a sandbag. Although dazed and injured from a heavy blow on the head, Youngs grabbed a revolver and fired at his assailant. The latter bolted out of the bank, and, calling “ Stop thief,” the manager followed. On reaching the hank door ho fired again. The pursued man crumpled up on the footpath, and ho died within a minute.

There were a number of people in the vicinity of the hank at the time. They heard the shots, and saw the man lying on the footpath. The whole thing had happened with dramatic suddenness.

One of the few persons who saw the robber fall was Mr A. Watson, shoemaker, whoso shop is almost opposite the scene of the shooting. “I was in my workshop at the rear of the shop when I heard a report,” ho said. “ I knew it was not the noise of a tyre blowing out, and I rushed to the shop. As 1 came from behind the counter to a position where I could see across to the other side of the road, 1 saw Mr Youngs leaning against the entrance to the bank. 1 saw the manager fire another shot, which narrowly missed a woman, and then the robber, who had boon staggering, collapsed in a heap.

“I ran across to Youngs. Ho was as white as a sheet, ami had a smoking revolver in his hand,” continued Mr Watson. “1 told him to sit down while 1 put a phone call through to the head office of the bank, but he remained leaning on the counter. At this time Dr M'Grcgor Grant, who had been standing speaking to the postmaster on tho other side of the street, came across and took the revolver from Youngs.”

During the time between tho shooting and tho arrival of tho police, Youngs, although suffering from the effects of tho blow on the head,, told his story to Mr Watson. “This man has been in here before,” Youngs said. “Ho came in a few minutes ago, and I went to tho counter. Tho man handed mo a letter, and said ‘Head this.’ I took the letter, and as I had my head down reading it, holding it with my two hands, tho man hit mo over tho head. Although 1 was badly dazed. I pretended to bo all out, and sank oelow the counter; but I had tho presence of mind to grab a loaded revolver which I. always keep on tho shelf behind tho counter. When the man saw the revolver he made to run out of tho bank, and I shot him in the back.” Watson said that ho noticed that the letter which the robber bad given Youngs to read was still lying on the bank counter. It was covered 'with dirt, indicating that tho heavy bug with w.dch tho robber hud sought to stun Youngs had broken tlr-ough tho force of tho impact. It has been ascertained that the dead man called at tho bank one day last week, when ho inquired about a bank draft, and said that ho was expecting one from Montreal. This morning, on going into tho bank, he handed Youngs a document bearing a signature. When tho latter loaned over to read it ho was struck on the head. At the time there was about £3OO or £4OO in cash and notes, on the table. When struck Youngs reeled backwards and immediately grasped a loaded revolver that was handy. Evidently the man realised at that moment that tho attempted holdup had failed, and ho turned and tried to get a way. The dead man was a stranger in Ilemuera. Ho was apparently about twenty-eight years of age, and was comparatively well dressed. The police searched his clothing, but all they found was a tin of tobacco, cigarette papers, a watch and chain, and a small mirror, but no letters or papers of any kind. *

IDENTITY OF DEAD ROBBER HOT DISCOVERED

FURTHER DETAILS

The object with which Youngs was struck wits u hard-backed brush or bottle, and sand was thrown iu his faco. Youngs says that the young man entered and handed him a letter. Youngs placed the letter on the counter and started to read it, when the man raised a long-shaped parcel and struck Youngs on tno head, tiro banker being .stunned When Youngs recovered, he saw the man go to tno door of ■ the bank chamber, and shut it. Then, coming back to the counter the man went straight toward Youngs, who drew his revolver. The man dropped, but Youngs fired over the counter. “ I don’t know how many times I fired. It was all rather confused,” said Youngs. Only one bullet was round in the hodj, and another had lodged in the door, so that apparently Youngs's first shot was fatal.

VARYING STORIES

[Special to the ' Star.’]

AUCKLAND, November 24

There seems to bo a conflict of opinion concerning the number of shots fired. Mr A. Watson, tbo .shoemaker, said he saw Youngs, lire from the entrance of the bank, but tins afternoon a bank official stated that Youngs had fired only two shots, both in tho bank. Youngs told the other bank officials that when the man hit him on the head, ho bout down and picked up the revolver and fired at the man at close range. Although wounded in the back, tho man attempted to close the door. Youngs fired again, missing the man, and the bullet penetrated tho .motion jamb of tho door. Tho man Sben opened the door, and walked along tbo footpath. Meanwhile Mr Youngs •vent to the door and cried out: “ Stop thief.” Tho man then collapsed, fifteen cet away. A hank official added that Votings had said that ho did not fire a shot in the street.

Mr F. W. T. Youngs is the agency officer at the Hemuora branch of tho Bank of New Zealand. Ho goes out there daily from Auckland at 11 a.m., returning in the afternoon. Ho was on the London staff for many years, hut four years ago was transferred to Now Zealand, lie is fifty-one years of age. A friend of his says that he has been very nervous about being in solo charge of tbo agency, ns there was usually a lot of money on the premises. A few days ago a man came into tho bank while be was counting tho money on tho table behind the counter. The man asked him: “Are yon all alone, hcroP” hut he replied that bo bad an assistant in tbo back room. Votings told his friend afterwards (bat it bad given him a nasty fright.

IDENTITY OF ROBBER

[Per United Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, November 24.

Evidence has been secured that Mr Youngs’s assailant was waiting alone in the neighbourhood of the bank from an early hour this morning. The son of a shopkeeper near the bank says that a man was walking up and down outside the shop all morning. He was parrying a parcel. Others saw him idling in the street. Following the clue of a laundry mark on the collar of the dead robber, detectives were led to a laundry in Dominion road. From there they were referred to the receiving depot at a hairdresser’s shop in Park road. The oecnpici of the simp, Mr It. M'Gregor, was taken to the morgue, and lie identified the body as that of a customer whoso hair he had cut on occasions, and who left his laundry at his shop. Ho understood that his name was Coulton or Colton, and that ho lived in a hoarding house or apartment house in Grafton road. Detectives thoroughly combed the Grafton road area in an endeavour to find the house in which the man had been staying. They were not successful, hut it is thought that something definite will be hoard in the morning. An inquest on the dead man will he opened, and it is expected that evidence of identification will ho forthcoming.

AM EXPERT SHOT

SHIPER DURING THE WAR Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 21. (Deceived November 25, at 10 a.m.) “ I know my son would always give a good account of himself in any emergency,” said Mr F. W. Youngs, the father of the Remuera banker. “He has always been courageous and determined. He is a crack shot. As a boy he was an export with an air rifle. Yon can see the marks on tho kitchen wall to-day. He was an expert sniper during the war, and refused a commission.” Mr Robert Mill, manager of tho London branch of the Rank of New Zealand. described Mr Youngs as a clever, steady man, and one likely to take risks in defending the interests of tho bank.