AT PISTOL POINT

Evening Star, Issue 22723, 10 August 1937, Page 1

AT PISTOL POINT

FOUR MOTORISTS ROMEO MASKED BANDITS IN MELBOURNE Using a powerful sedan, from which tho back window had been removed in order that pursuers might be, fired on. by a man in the back seat, two desperate bandits robbed four mbtorjats m the . St. Kilda, South Yarra, and Moonee Ponds districts last week. ;Soon afterward, while travelling in a singleseater car, they attempted to rob another motorist at Richmond, but ( ho drove off and escaped. - •" •- r In most of the 'thefts the ; thieves concealed their features by puilihg blue stockings with eye-holes , over - their heads. In each case they drove up beside a parked car and threatened the * occupants with pistols. The victims gave similar descriptions of the thieve* —two young men—and the sedan. The car, which had been stolen i from outside th© Palais Picture Theatre, the Esplanade, St. Kilda, was later found abandoned. The whole of the hack window had, been removed to enable a fusillade of shots to be fired at pursuers, the police believe. Investigating detectives consider it fortunate that none of the victims attempted to follow the car. When the car was recovered’ by detectives from Flemington, th® number-plates had been.removed.. ,

“GIVE ME YOUR MONEY!” The number-plates covered by wind* iug cloth, a large blue sedan was used in the first four robberies. Mr Albert Fletcher was sitting with a woman coin* panion in his car at St. Kilda, about 12.30 a.in., when the blue sedan drew up and two armed men jumped out. Flourishing two pistols, one man approached the driver’s side of the car, while the other bandit, who ‘had one pistol, appeared at the other side. “ Gime me your money, quick and lively!” said the thief with the two pistols, l and, after Mr Fletcher had handed him £2 10s, he placed one pistol in his pocket and searched his victim’s pocket with hip-free hand.- The men then entered their car and drove away at a high speed. Mr Fletcher informed the detectives' that they were wearing grey overcoats and blue stockings, ' with eye-holes, over their heads. The blue sedan was next seen at 1.5 a.m. in' South Yarra, where _Mr _ Noel James Easthroofc was sitting in his car with a woman companion. Two ..armed and masked men alighted and, while they threatened the cacupanta with their pistols, one of them ordered Mr Easthrook from the car, and mid, “Give us what you have, got.”, Mr Eastbrook gave the thief 10s, After searching his pockets, tho thieves took 4s from tho woman, whom, they ordered from the car, also, and drove away. When the, sedan appeared 10 minute*, later at South, Yarra, one-bandit was sitting' in the biJvk scat -while his accomplice drove. Wearing dark macks over the lower parts of their faces, and with their hats pulled' down over their eyes, the thieves ordered a man from ms motor car and demanded his money. The man gave them 10s, and then they searched his pockets; -A 1 woman companion was robbed of £2 6s, city tram tickets, and private papers. RETURNED KEEPSAKE. A pistol was held at the heaJ-iand another at the chest Of Mr . Leonard Matthew Mulavin ‘ when 1 the bandits* car drew up at 1.40 a.tn. beside a car in which Mr Mulavin ■ was sitting with i a friend. Two armed and masked men. ‘ alighted from the car, ;and one of them at pistol point ordered Mr Mulavin to the roadway. One-of the men held a pistol at his head .while the other held a pistol at his chest. Searching ( his pockets, they took £3 10s, a pair of horn-rimmed glasses f and a gold wrist watch. The watch is a keepsake, and when Mr Mulavin told them, the men returned it. They warned his companion not to move, but they did not rob her. c- , , / ... , In the last case, which took place at Richmond at 2.15 a.m., the thieves used a yellow or brown roadster. Still wearing masks, they alighted from tha car and walked to a car in whi<S Mr Henry Chambers was sitting .with- » companion. When the robbers .produced pistols, Mr . Chambers drove his car away at a fast speed-and escaped. Three police wireless patrols’ made « systematic search.’ of the city area, and later widespread inquiries were made by the central and- suburban division* of the Criminal Investigation Branchs