WOMAN MURDERED

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1932, Page 8

WOMAN MURDERED

HUSBAND ROBBED OF £75.

BRISBANE, January 31. Two armed and masked men bailed up Mr Richard Stephens and his wife and son, at the door of the garage at their home in Pope Street, Dutton P&rk, shortly . after 11 o’clock last night. in a struggle, Mrs Stephens was mortally wounded, and died a few minutes later. The men escaped with £75 which Mr Stephens had been carrying home. Mr Richard Stephens, who is the manager or Pop’s Picture Palace, Paddington, was returning home in his car with his wife and son shortly after 11 o’clock. He had a bag containing £75, which was the theatre takings tor the night. At the entrance to the drive they spoke to two friends and, after bidding them goodnight, drove down the drive to the garage, the doors of which were open. As they got out of the car they were confronted by two masked men, whose faces were masked with handkerchiefs, and who stepped from a biding place behind one of the doors. One robber —a tall man —who was armed with a revolver and an object .hat appeared to be a loaded sanding, threatened Mr Steuhens, who vas carrying the bag of money, while he other man threatened Mrs Stephens with a revolver. With a threatening movement the :aller man said: “Stick ’em up; stick em up,” and demanded the money. Mr Stephens hesitated and replied: Go on; that’s only a popgun; clear out or I’ll get my revolver to work.” The robber replied: “Come on; hand it over, Dick,” and struck Mr Stephens over the head with the sandbag, momentarily stunning him. Mr Stephens then handed over the bag of money, exclaiming: “Take it and get out.” As he handed it over it was snatched from his hand by the second man. Impulsively Mrs Stephens, who was a light, active woman, closed with the man and threw her arms round him in an effort to pin his arms. Verdun, he son, also seized the man’s arms, but the man wrenched himself free and, deliberately pointing his revolver, at Mrs Stephens, shot her through the chest at close range. With a piercing scream she fell to the ground. In the meantime, the taller man, who had been attacked by Mr Stephens, freed himself, and the two men ran along the drive to the gates. Verdun, however, picked up a bottle of lemonade and threw it, striking one of the robbers on the neck. The man stumbled but continued to run, with the father and son in hot pursuit. As they ran into another street the robbers, fired six shots, all of which went wide except one, which narrowly missed Mr As they turned into another street the robbers jumped into a motor car which had been waiting for them with the engine running. The car set off at great speed.

As the chase was .then hopeless, Mr Stephens and his son returned home expecting to see Mrs Stephens ringing up the police, but when they were told by the maid that she had not returned, Verdun rushed to the garage nf \i° U ? d IUS mother tying in a pool f blood. They were unaware that her injuries vtere so serious, and "? ad ® attempts t 0 revive her, but soon Tht i ü b , ack dead in ller s °n’s arms, her right lu ! U8 S . Sa,d ' P “ SSed tl "'° UEh i^Ti Wre , is every evi <lence that the hold-up had been premeditated. There was a record house at the picture making ° f n or S ? Urd r y night ’ and when forgot tn J -A 01116 Mr ste Phens ba? nf f ke Wlth him tlle dummy carries/ St ° nes whlch he usually H™ CC ° lding to resi dents the bandits drew up near the corner of Gladstone n “ n a °'LT O i‘r Street sllortly beE ° re I .m., but it is a mystery how the “or .o'l'on?'?, °° nceal “selves ow„e d ° ij” «hont made their . a PPearance Ifter ?he have awar^ 1 mUSt