THE BANK ROBBERY

Southland Times, Issue 19311, 1 August 1924, Page 5

THE BANK ROBBERY

SENSATIONAL DETA ITS A WELL-PLANNED RAID. (By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE ,July 31. In connection with the robbery at the Canterbury branch of the Commercial Bank, it has been ascertained that the robber secured £568. It transpires that the telephone wires :iad been cut inside the bank, apparently by someone with an intimate knowledge of the premises. After Chittick fired the first shot, the intruder with him, and a desperate struggle followed. The furniture was upset and smashed. Eventually the revolver was wrenched from the teller’s hand. The man fired two shots, wounding Chittick in the left hand and left foot, compelling him to release his hold. The robber then rushed to the counter and secured the notes, escaping over a fence. He dropped 28 singles, which were found later.

The manager, who had gone out to try to get into telephone touch with the head office, returned after the struggle was over, and found Chittick wounded. The police were called quickly to the scene, but failed to discover any clue. Chittick, who is a returned soldier, was conveyed to the hospital. His wounds are not serious. Neighbouring shopkeepers heard shots, but thought that the bank employees were indulging in a little practice.

It is evident from the qianner in which the telephone wires were cut, and the alacrity with w’hich the robber seized the teller’s revolver that he had a knowledge of the banking premises. An interesting fact is that it was at the Commercial Bank in the neighbouring suburb of Glenferrie that the manager, Mr Berriman, was killed in somewhat similar circumstances last year. The scene of the robbery is in the centre of the business premises of Canterbury.