BANK HOLD-UP.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10726, 25 October 1928, Page 5

BANK HOLD-UP.

SENSATIONAL, SCENES IN ... . . . COLOGNE. RUNNING FIRE IN STREETS. SEVERAL POLICE SHOT DEAD. ONE BANDIT STILL AT LARGE. Onited Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.) • COLOGNE, Oct. 23. Scenes unequalled in the annals of crime were associated with the hunt for live bandits suspected of a bank hold-up at Gladbach. Th© first round-up' was on Saturday .when a. house in Cologne,, was besieged and three persons arrested. /Two brothers named Heidden made a thrilling escape after fatally shooting a'constable and motorist, in whose ear they escaped. A long running fight took place till the bandits succeeded in eluding a fleet of pursuing cars. They were not seen again till yesterday, when they tried to escape on a motor cycle and again shot two policemen keeping up a running fire m alleyways. The bandits then hoarded a tramcar and cleared out the crews and passengers at the point of the revolver. The fugitives went full in the tram as far as 'the Rhine" bank, where they alighted, with police in fast cars hot on their heel 3. The fight was resumed, two constables being shot dead and several civilians wounded before ‘ one bandit scaled the garden wall of a country house, which was surrounded by police. Searchlights were played on it, and bloodhounds and torehbeaiers searched for six hours fruitThe siege', however, is continuing.

FURTHER DETAILS'. DESPERATE FIGHT IN TRAMCAR. ONE ROBBER SHOT DEAD. Onited Pee at Asen. by El. Tel. Covyrigh) (Australian Press Assn.} COLOGNE, Oct. 23. Later details of the chase of the bandits show that Heidden was first recognised by a young gardener as he was entering a “Cologne house. .He gave the alarm and the brothers immediately shot him in the stomach and dashed into the streets, ona carrying a suitcase filled with ammunition.

A motor-ear was standing outside a cafe below, but they were unable to enter it- so entered the cafe, pointing revolvers, and demanded the motor car’s owner to unlock the car. None moved. Meanwhile the police appeared ,and the brothers raced down the street, clearing the tram as already cabled.

The elder brother drove the tramcar madly, the younger taking cover on the rear platform, from which he poured a shower of bullets into police pursuers aboard motor-cars. Heidden left the tram-car, which continued its mad career, two policemen leaping into it, and pulling it up just- in time to avoid a collision. In the meantime 50' armed police continued the pursuit. The younger brother was wounded in the leg, and was about to be carried off when - he snatched a revolver like lightning from his pocket. A policeman, seeing the action, shot him dead. Meanwhile, the elder brother dashed into the house. Four' hundred police threw a cordon round it. using ■searchlights and keeping an indiscriminate fire up all night Jong. At daybreak the police were four deep; Carrying a blazing torch in one hand an a revolver in the other, some entered the house, but found it empty. It is since reported that Heidden made for open country, where he robbed two old women of a few pence under a threat of shooting. He then returned to Cologne. The city is now in a fever of excitement, many fearing to venture into the streets until he is arrested.

SeVen hundred police continue the sea fell.