BAG SNATCHER

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1937, Page 2

BAG SNATCHER

OWNER BLINDED. SYDNEY, April 14. Thieves threw pepper in the eyes of the manageress of tue Royal Hyde Earle Hotel, Elizabeth Street, shortly after •5 pan. yesterday;and nibbed her of £oo. Not 20 feet away the drone of c.ovvded bars came through the swing doors, but the pepper-tiirowers escaped unnoticed.’ The manageress. Miss Violet Hardy, had placed the money, notes and silver, in a canvas bag to take round to the bar tills for change. As she opened the office door, sho caught a glimpse of two men, but was immediately blinded with the pepper thrown in her eyes. “I half-turned and instinctively shut my eyes as I saw the man’s arm move,” said Miss Hardy. “Consequently, most of the pepper fell on my face and hair, but sufficient went into my eyes to cause me great pain. Had Been Watched “I flopped into a chair, and at the same time a hand wrenched the money from me. “I wiped my eyes>with a handkerchief,' and ran upstairs to’’give the alarm.” Afterwards she received medical treatment. | Jt is Miss Hardy’s custom to take change to the. tills about ’the same time every evening, "and defectives believe that her movements had been watched over a period. Detective-Inspector Wickham, Det.Sergeants Eaton and Swasbrick, Detectives McDermott, Caiman, Gray, Dunn, Aldridge, and others were called to the hotel. They collected about half..a. pound of pepper from tlio window-sill and floor. > Previous Attempt An attempt .to ;s rpb the hotel wag made 12 months ago. On that occasion Miss Hardy defeated the thieves, . . , They had secreted themselves in the build’ng after closing time, and smashed the office window with la chair at 7.31 p.rn. Fnkiiovyn to them, Miss Hardy was still in the office, and as they appeared at the window she brandished a chair, and they took fright. On that occasion there was £IOO in the office.