PLUCKY GIRL CASHIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23213, 10 June 1937, Page 14

PLUCKY GIRL CASHIER

"GANGSTERS" PUT TO FLIGHT "This habit by young men of pointing pistols at defenceless people is becoming too common," commented Mr Justice Humphreys in the Criminal Appeal Court, London, recently, in emphasising that severe punishment would be meted out to those who flourished firearms, whether lethal or imitation. When George Austin Norris Banks appealed against a term •of three years 1 in a Borstal institution ordered him at Manchester Assizes, his Lordship recalled that Banks, who had " knocked about" with another youth, bought a pistol which fired slugs. Armed with that weapon he entered a Liverpool shop, and pointing the pistol at the girl in charge, exclaimed: " We stick at nothing! " The lads then tried to rob the till, but the girl with great courage, got hold of the pistol, and so frightened were the " gangsters " that they ran away, soon to be arrested. The Judge at the assizes look a merciful view by not ordering Banks a whipping, said Mr Justice Humphreys, and his appeal would be dismissed. The court arrived at a similar decision concerning George Thomas Knight, who was sentenced to 20 months' hard labour at Ruthin Assizes. Knight, stated Mr Justice Humphreys, posed as a policeman investigating cheque frauds, and persuaded a woman at Colwyn Bay to sign a cheque for £SO. She would not, however, pay over any money, leaving that matter to her solicitor. When Knight was faced with the latter, he "bluffed." and presented what appeared to be loaded pistol, and threatened to shoot if he was not allowed to go. The solicitor, however, was unafraid, and escorted Knight to the police station.