INTRUDER IN BANK

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 5 September 1932, Page 4

INTRUDER IN BANK

Sensational Patea Arrest MANAGER’S PLUCKY ACTION Man With Chloroform Pad CAPTURE IN BOOT CUPBOARD Bailed up at revolver point after a tense vigil, an intruder in the Patea branch of the Bank of New Zealand was arrested at 10.45 on Saturday night under sensational circumstances and through prompt and plucky action on the part of the hank manager. When searched at the police station Hie man was found to be in possession of a pad of cotton wool soaked in chloroform, a three-ounce bottle partly filled with chloroform, and a long length of stout cord, la a bag was a novel entitled "The Cat Burglar,” a diamond glass cutter, and a packet of .22 revolver bullets, but no firearm was found.

This morning Albert Jeffery, aged 24 years, was charged with breaking and entering the bank with intent to commit theft. He was remanded to appear at Patea on September 14, when, it is understood, charges of breaking and entering and theft at Wanganui will be preferred against him. Jeffery is believed to have an intimate knowledge of the interior lay-out of the bank, and for three months last season was employed on a farm at Whenuakura. It is thought that Jeffery, who arrived in -Patea from Wellington by the mail train on Saturday, hid in the bank premises before 9 o’clock when the manager, Air A. C. Thompson, locked up for the night. Mrs Thompson had retired a little earlier. When her husband came upstairs she asked him whether he had heard any unusual noises, remarking that there were rustling sounds for which she could -not aeco.unt. . Air Thompson, whose suspicions had been aroused, located slight movements in the room which indicated that someone was in hiding under the bed. He made no comment, -but quietly opened a drawer and secured his revolver. Air Thompson’s movement was apparently observed by the intruder, who whipped from under the bed and plunged downstairs in the darkness. Air Thompson raced after him and threatened to shoot unless he stopped, but in the gloom he could not sight the man.

The man at first tried to go into the bank, but found the doo-r locked, so he ■doubled back towards a -side door and the kitchen. He found the side door leading outside to the lawn also locked, as well as the back doo-r leading from the kitchen-. Air Thompson', who was close on his heels, switched on the light in tlie passage, and made a swift search of the downstairs rooms, knowing that the outside doors were securely fastened and that to unbolt them would delay the intruder as well as betray his presence. Each room was thoroughly searched in turn and Air Thompson became confident that the man was located in a small boot cupboard under the stairs. Threats to shoot through the door brought no response and (Mr Thompson waited, with revolver ready, for a betraying movement. Air Thompson then- shot the bolt of the cupboard door, locking the man in and went into the main street and obtained the assistance of Afessrs G. Maeken, C. Hunger and R. Watt, who happened to be talking together. They stood by an'd watched that the_ma.n -did; not break out of the -cupboard while Air Thompson rang up for the police. When Constable Kelly arrived the door was wrenched open and Jeffery was found crouched in the cupboard. 'On seeing Constable Kelly with Mr Thompson standing by with a revolver in his hand, Jeffery mistook 'Constable Kelly for Air Thompson and asked him if he were the bank manager, adding: "I was trying my brains against yours; yours are too clever for mine. I give in; you can take me.”

The man’s hat and overcoat were found at the rear of the bank premises, and in the poyket of the overcoat was a fountain- 'pen-, and a torch with the battery exhausted.