MURDER IN A TRAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 445, 10 July 1922, Page 5

MURDER IN A TRAIN.

BANK MANAGER THE VICTIM

ROBBERY PLAN FAILS,

SYDNEY, Julv 7.

Mr Frank Cecil Kernmis, manager of tho Hornsby branch oi the Post Office Savings Bank, was assaulted ic a train between Hornsby and Wahronnga on the way home from the bank and robbed of his keys. He was discovered in a semi-conscious state by another passenger, to whom he was only able to state that be bad been assaulted and his keys stolen, lie was removed to hospital, where he died on the following day. After the assault mi attempt was made to rob (he bank, where there was £SOOO in the sale, but the attempt was unsuccessful as two keys were required to open it. The rule of ilie bunk is that one key is curried by tlie manager and tlie other by another officer.

The bank was open for depositors on Friday night and apparently the criminals watched the officials close tho premises about 10 o’clock and followed Mr Kernmis to his train. The plans for the robbery had evidently been maturing for some time as a few days ago Mr Kemmis’s house at Wuhroonga was burgled and a hunch of keys stolen, but owing to the number of suburban robberies, its significance was not apparent. Tho police discovered a heavy blacksmith’s hammer near the railwaystation at W'ahroonga. It was this that was apparently used on Mr Kernmis.— Press Association.