DARING HOLD-UP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21764, 2 April 1934, Page 8

DARING HOLD-UP

MASKED MEN IN GAT?AGE NIGHT ATTENDANT WOUNDED YOUTH BOUND AND GAGGED MONEY STOLEN FROM TILL Two masked men, who appeared suddenly in the. garage of Mr. W. S. Miller in Khyber Pass Road at 3.30 yesterday morning, escaped with about £25 after one of them had wounded a night attendant with a bullot from a light rifle. Every available member of the detective force was assigned to the ease, but no arrest had been made up to an early hour this morning. The victim of the attack is Mr. Bernard Walter dc Lauricr, aged 20, of Park Road, Grafton. He was shot in the upper part of the right, arm, the bullet passing through the flesh. The injury was not serious, and Mr. de Lauricr was able to go borne after being treated at the Auckland Hospital. A graphic account of the hold-up, which is one of the most daring committed in Auckland for some time, was given yesterday by Mr. fie Lauricr. He said he was alone in the garage at the time, his shift being from 2 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Another member of the start was due to join him at five o'clock. Constable Taylor, of Mount Eden, had called at the garage at three o'clock, but was not in the immediate vicinity when Ihe crime was committed. Challenged With Rifle "I was about 12 yards from the entrance, sweeping up, wdien I happened to glance toward the doorway and saw two men about five yards away," Mr. de Laurier said. "They were walking toward me silently, and both were masked. The shorter man was carrying a .22 light sporting rifle in his hands, with the barrel pointed at me.

"As soon as they saw mc turn round the man with the gun said, Tut them up.' There was no mistaking what they meant, and as they continued to walk toward me I put up my hands. The armed man motioned with the rifle, and also with his head, toward a fairly dark alley between a line of parked cars and the offices, out of sight of the main part of the station. The taller man, who had taken no active part in the proceedings up to that stage, stood behind me and gagged rae."

Mr. do Laurier said while he was being gagged he realised that if he was to escape he would have to act quickly. Just then the taller man moved to his side, and the attendant caught hold of the man's arm and tried to pull him forward in the way of the man with the gun. The bigger man was too qjjick and too strong, however, and tripped the attendant, who fell on his left side, partly between two parked motor-cars. Left Lying Helpless "It was as I was attempting to scramble to my feet that the smaller man 'let fly' with the rifle at close range," he said. "'I felt a violent blow and a burning sensation at the top of my right arm, and dropped back to the floor, from which 1 had risen only a few inches. I do not know whether both or only one of the two assailants proceeded to tie me up. I was turned on my face, my wrists were bound behind me, and my ankles also were bound. My feet were then drawn up behind my back, and tied to my wrists, so that I could scarcely move."

Lying helpless between the two cars, the attendant heard the bells ringing that indicated the drawers of the cash register were being opened. He saw nothing more of the two assailants.

"A short time after the two men had left, only about a minute, a motorcar pulled in to the station, Mr. de Laurier added. "The driver sounded the horn several times, and I also heard somebody walking round the garage, apparently looking for an attendant. With the gag in my mouth, I was unable to do anything but grunt, and could not move sufficiently to attract attention. After about two minutes had elapsed the car left." Released by Fellow Employee There were no other visitors to the garage until about four o clock, when another motor-car arrived. Fortunately a member of the staff was among the passengers, and he immediately missed the attendant. A search was commenced and one of the party found Mr. de Laurier. The injured man was released from his bonds and carried into the office. A St. John ambulance was summoned, and he was taken to the Auckland Hospital, where his wound was dressed.

The gag used by the two robbers was roughly made from a piece of wadding, which was stuffed in the attendant's mouth and held in place with a strip of cloth. So tightly was he gagged that at times he had difficulty in breathing. The cords that were used to tie his wrists and ankles were also drawn particularly tight, being red weals on the young man's flesh to indicate the severity of the treatment he had received. Although he had suffered ' considerable pain, he seemed little the worse last evening. Mr. de Laurier had been employed at the garage for about niue months. Search by Police The police were immediately communicated with, and all the available officers were engaged on the case throughout the day. A wide field was covered in the course of inquiries, police cars being, in almost constant use. In some cases motorists were stopped and questioned in outlying districts, but without result. It was hoped that the motorists who called at the garage shortly after tho thieves had left would be able to provide valuable clues, and a message was broadcast requesting the party to communicate with the police. The motorists concerned were eventually located, but they had seen no trace of the two men, and did not know that anything was amiss until some hours later. It was stated yesterday that tho money stolen was in notes, silver and copper, there being no cheques included in the amount.

If, is a coincidence that a similar crime was committed last Easter, almost a year ago. On the night, of Good Friday last year, April 14, Mr. James Pennington Bates, then proprietor of a. garage at Mercer, was wounded seriously by a motorist who fired two'shots from a revolver, after stating that he had no money to pay for some petrol with which he had been served. The man was later caught,