FIGHT IN A LIFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17145, 26 April 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIGHT IN A LIFT.

NEW YORK SENSATION. ARMED ROBBERS OUTWITTED. A revolver duel between three robbers and two cashiers in ft rapidly moving lift for the possession of £460, contained in pay-envelopes, took place in a " skyscraper " in Lafayette Street, Now York. Mr. Frederick Pabst, the cashier for a I famous New York clothing firm, and his assistant, Mr. Charles RaffJer, entered the skyscraper just before 11 a.m., Mr. Rattler carrying a cardboard box wrapped in newspapers to conceal a sheaf of envelopes with .the weekly pay for the tailors in the i building. | The two men stepped into the front lift of the building, and the action started with the entrance into the same lift, at the last moment, of tin*) stocky gentelmon, wearing caps. The lift door slammed, and the ascent began. The , stocky gentlemen edced near Mr. Baffler and his box, and Mr. Pabst, a man of fifty-four, became uneasy. i As the fifth floor was being passed the three, at a mutual signal, drew and

The wedding of Princow Patricia of Oonnaught to Commander* the Hon. Alexander Ramsay, D.5.0., R.N., took place at Westminster Abbey at noon on Thursday, February 27. The bride, who is now known as Lady Patricia Ramsay, is the younger daughter of the Duke of Connaught. The bridegroom is a son of the thirteenth Earl of Dalhousie, and brother of the present paer. Prom left t o right the figures in tho photograph are :—Back row: Lady Victoria Cambridge, elder daughter of the Marquess of Cambridge; Princess Mary, the King's daughter; the Bride; the Bridegroom; Lady Ida Ramsay, elder daughter of the E&ri of Dalhousie and niece of the bridegroom; Lady Helena Cambridge, younger daughter of the Marquess of Cambridge; and Princess Maud of Fife,* younger daughter of the Princess Royal and sister of Princess Arthur of Connaught Front row: Lady Jean Ramsay, younger daughter of the Earl of Dalnoueie; (tie Hon. Simon Ramsay, hie younger son; Princess Ingrid of Sweden, daughter of the Crown Prince of Sweden, and niece of the bride; the Earl of Macduff, son of Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaugbt; and Lady May Cambridge, daughter of the Earl of Athlone. —Central News, photo.

Several houses are vacant at Warkwortu owing t.) the fact that a number of cement-workers have left to take up sen-ice at the cement works at Whangaroi. The*" btrildings are therefore being removed to the soldiers' settlement at Stroamlande. —W. Dennis, photo.

'levelled revolvers at the two cashiers, the leader shouting: " Up go your hands, or we'll put a bullet though you." For ' answer Mr. Baffler, crouched into a corner, land only hugged his precious box tho ; tighter, shielding it with his body. i Mr. Pabst threw up his hands, but 1 with the samo motion pulled out au i automatic revolver and firod point-blank at the nearest of the band. One of the ! robbers fired back, then, leaping on him, : beat him into unconsciousness. ! At tho eight floor Abe Blackberg, the | lift man, took a hand in the) game, and I during an especially sharp exchange of shot?, gripped the control of the lift, ! stopped the cage, and flung open the doors. I The robbers, thoroughly alarmed and | surprised at the resistance offered, took I advantage of tho opportunity to dash out : of tho lift, and with their weapons forced lan exit through the offices of a printing ;firm. and so down a rear flight of stairs j to the third-floor offices of a patent coincounting concern. I There Miss Josephine Rhuby, a girl of 'twenty, bravely c> tifrontod tho mon. One of them picked her up and flung her aside. ! The robbers, however, were now faced by 'a locked fire-escape door of steel, but at the point of their revolvers they forced an employee to open it, and dashed down tho escape to the street and freedom. | While the trio wore going down the fire ' escapes employees dropped ink bottles jaad Boveral chairs, but tho missiles missed their aim. : Through the whole affray RaflleT tightly held to the pay-roll money, which was found to bo intact. Hi? attempted robbery took place within two blocks of police headquarters, and was tho most audacious committed in New .York for many months.