WILD BANK RAID.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14375, 21 May 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

WILD BANK RAID.

"■— - - » - — "..'/ J EIGHT MEN SHOT. ~ j MASKED ROBBERS' DARING THEFT. Two men were killed and 6ix others wounded by masked robbers who made a daring raid in broad daylight on the Victor Banking Company's offices at McKee's Rocks, just outside Pittsburg. During a quiet period in the afternoon four men rode up to the bank, and dismounting, calmly entered the door, donned masks, and, whilst two marched up to. the cashier's desk, the others remained to guard the entrance. Air. Schwartz, the cashier, and three clerks jumped to their feet in alarm, for the masked faces of the intruders and the four revolvers carried by them left no doubt as to the meaning of their visit. The cashier made a hasty movement towards his desk, presumably in search ol a weapon, but was promptly shot down by one of the bandits, whilst the other covered the clerks, and threatened them with the same fate if they made the slightest outcry. The manager, Mr. Samuel Friedman, rushed out of his private office at the sound of the revolver shot, but before he could offer any resistance he received a bullet through the brain and fell dead on the spot. The robbers turned their attention to the safe, but by this time the alarm had been given by some passers-by, and their confederates at the door shouted to them that the police were coming, so they were compelled to seize the first bags of money and notes that they could lay their hands on and then make a dash for their horses. They had hardly got into their saddles before the police were upon them, and a desperate melee followed, in which two citizens were shot down and seriously wounded, whilst one policeman and three or four bystanders received minor hurts. The bandits made their escape in a perfect fusillade of bullets, and they succeeded in gaining a good start by pouring several volleys into the midst of their pursuers. It was at first thought that the miscreants had made a good haul, but investigation of the safe proved that they had only got away with between, £80 and £100. " The robbery had evidently been most carefully planned, for the police discovered two dynamite bombs under a bridge near by, indicating clearly that the robbers had intended dynamiting the bank if they could not force an entrance by any other means. Seven men have been arrested on suspicion, and it is believed the police have secured the right men.