BANK MURDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 April 1924, Page 5

BANK MURDER

THE BORDER CRIME

NO TRACE OF MURDERERS

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian and iN.Z. Liable Association.)

LONDON, April 4

Tho outstanding feature ol the Border Bank crime is too secrecy with which it was carried out. i\lr Hall, the submanager, had been dead probably two hours before discovered. Ino police had leave stopped at the adjoining military camp, but all soldiers and weapons were accounted for. Four large calibre bullets were tired. Apparently the desperadoes fired a fusillade through the open doqr of the bank,' which is a small wooden war hut. They carefully discarded blood stained notes. The numbers ot some notes are known. The key of the main door lias not been iound.

Mr Hall recently told the postmaster that lie had a presentment that something was going to happen. He also told a friend when mentioning the foreboding that he would put up a great fight before he would part with cash. Deceased was of (striking physique, and the thieves obviously took him by surprise. An armed sentry and patrols in the environs of Aldershot saw nothing unusual and heard no shots. LONDON, April 5

The police believe the Border murder was carried out by experts who arrived in a motor car after bank hours, that Mr. Hall unlocked the door and admitted them, and returned behind the counter. Apparently one of the visitors talked business with Mr. Hall and the other suddenly whipped out a revolver and fired three shots and killed Mr. Hall as lie stood counting treasury notes. The murderers carefully left these, which were bloodstained, and relocked the door as they went out. Mr Hall’s loaded revolver" was found untouched in the counter drawer.

Hie banjk is offering £SOO reward for information regarding the murderers. Mr. Hall and his wife both had premonitions of tragedy. The wife recalls that her husband, when leaving home on Thursdey morning, returned and embraced her again. Twice on Wednesday night she dreamt that she. was at hei parents’ home, with everyone weeping owing to some calamity.