POLICE CLOSE IN ON MAIN ROADS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21980, 26 March 1946, Page 6

POLICE CLOSE IN ON MAIN ROADS

The teller, Mr. Allen, who received a hit over the head with a revolver, had his injuries attended io by Dr. F. ,J. Wilson, bu.t it was not necessary to remove him to hospital. Although it was stock sale day in Bulls and there were a fairly large number of country people in town, nothing untoward was noticed about the bank, and it was not until the bank officials gave the alarm that it was realised .that a hold-up on lines similar to many that occur in Chicago had taken place in a quiet, peaceful country centre. The alarm resulted in one of the greatest man-hunts in recent years being set in motion. Police from Palmerston North closed in on the main roads, but it was not possible for them to get to the likely routes of the escaping car in time to take advantage of the delay caused to it by north-bound traffic on the long one-way bridge over the Rangitikei River. The fact that the bandits transferred themselves quickly .to another car, also

without number plates, suggests that the hold-up was well planned with a view to making the robbery, then a short dash in one car over the bridge, which is a quarter of a mile south of the town, and then continue the journey in another car all ready and waiting. I.t was thought likely that that car, too. would be abandoned fairly quickly, perhaps to take another vehicle, made ready beforehand, or convert a car to their own use. The police on the Wanganui side of Bulls blocked off all routes northward. Police in Wellington. Wairarapa and southern Hawke’s Bay have been brought into the hunt, which was handicapped right at the start by the quickness with which the bandits carried out their plan. As contact with the men was lost the hunt rapidly resolved itself into a matter of keeping a close watch on roads and railways and to the checking of suspects. The man-hunt late yesterday was narrowing down.