Suspect In Bank Hold-up Arrested Late Yesterday

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1948, Page 2

Suspect In Bank Hold-up Arrested Late Yesterday

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. At 4.30 p.m. yesterday detectives visited a house at Milford and arrested a young English immigrant. He was charged with armed robbery and will appear in the Police Court this morning. This was the sequel to an armed hold-up at a Bank of New Zealand agency in Parnell road shortly before noon yesterday, when a robber took more than £3OO in cash. He attempted to gag a teller, Mr C. AV. McCorkindale, who grabbed the pistol, and twice struck the robber about the face. Mr McCorkindale won a struggle for possession of the pistol, but was unable to stop the robber from escaping. After grabbing a bag containing 200 £1 notes and a number of £5 notes, totalling about £3OO, the thief took the money out of the bag and stuffed it in his pockets. He then told Mr McCorkindale to turn his face to the wall. Realising that the pistol was still pointed at him, Mr McCorkindale obeyed. The robber tried to tie Mr McCorkindald’s thumbs together behind his back. Finding the operation difficult while holding the pistol, he placed the weapon on the counter. Mr McCorkindale was waiting for such a chance. He picked up the pistol and struck the hold-up man several heavy blows on the temple and sides of his face. The blows opened up a wound on the robber’s temple which bled profusely. The men began a struggle, both fighting for the pistol. Then the man ran out of the bank. Blood was streaming down his face. He was closely followed by Mr McCorkindale.

A trail of blood led from the bank and along the footpath into Heather street. The thief ran along Heather street, which leads to a railway line immediately above Carlaw Park. Mr McCorkindale gave up the chase and returned to the bank. From there, he reported to the police and his head office.

After running along the railway line a short distance, the robber, still bleeding from his wounds, got a lift in a plumber’s truck. He left the truck in Lower Symonds street.