AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9167, Issue 9167, 16 March 1910, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

DARING BANK ROBBERY

An exciting incident occurred in the Albion branch of the Queensland National Bank on Thursday afternoon, February 24, when a man, of shabby appearance and wearing goggles, entered the bank, edged his way towards the counter, and with a heavy revolver opened fire upon the teller at point-black range, in the confusion which ensued the mail seized a portion of a lira}) of sovereigns, and, leaping the counter, escaped. The criminal investigation men were quickly on the scene, but the alleged bank robber is still at large. The thief got away with about £/0 iin gold. In the scramble for the door I he dropped some loot on the flo^f, and did not stop to recovor it. -xue 1 police, who have very little to work , on, are of opinion that the robbery ! was planned and carried out by an i export i "When the teller, Mr S. H. Green, saw the man leap the counter and 1 snatch up a handful of gold, he rush- : ed towards the safe, about a dozen ! yards away, to secure his revolver, I Whereupon' the thief pointed a- re- | volver at him and fired,, and then ' fled. The range was so short that the man could hardly have missed Green. if the revolver had been loaded with ball cartridge. No traces of a bullet could be found, and it is- surmised I that only a blank cartridge was used. The report of the firearm was heard . by residents in the neighbourhood of ! the bank, who shortly afterwards saw a man leave the bank and make l off towards the Albion railway staI tion. At the time the robbery tooK ! place the manager, Mr Davey, was ; at lunch at the back of the building.

STATIONMASTER FOUND SHOT

On Thursday afternoon February 24 the officials at the Ariiclifte Railway Station, Sydney, were alarmed bv"the report of a firearm in the statioumaster's office. They rushed into the room, and found the stationmaster, Mr Moss Samuel Browne, lying seriously wounded, with a smoking revolver by his side. He was taken to the St. George Cottage Hospital, and admitted in a serious condition. Mr Browne, who is about 5b years of age, is a bachelor. His health had not been good of late, and he was considerably worried on that account. He is widely known by suburban travellers, and during his 3o years of active railway duty has enjoyed great popularity, both from "within and without the service. *or the past 28 vears he has been a stationmaster. "having been in charge at Petersham, Ashfield, and Arnclifte. Inquiry at the'hospital elicited the information that he was in a low state and not likely to recover.