SAVINGS BANK AFFRAY

Southland Times, Issue 22948, 22 July 1936, Page 12

SAVINGS BANK AFFRAY

Bushman Appears In Court ALLEGED ASSAULT ON MANAGER SEVERAL CHARGES (United Press Association.) Auckland, July 21. An affray that took place in the Point Chevalier branch of the Auckland Savings Bank late on the afternoon of May 14 was recalled in the Supreme Court, before Mr Justice Fair, when James Billing, a bushman, aged 39, was charged that, with intent to facilitate the commission of the crime of theft, he did, by violent means, attempt to make James Godfrey Worboys incapable of resistance. There were alternative charges of assault so as to cause actual bodily harm and of simple assault. The accused, who was defended by Mr Sullivan, pleaded not guilty. The Crown Piosecutor (Mr V. R. Meredith) said that the bank at Point Chevalier was a “one man bank.” Worboys was in charge and was the only person on the premises at the time of the assault. He was about to close the front door for the day. Without seeing anything, he felt a blow on the back of his head that knocked him back into the manager’s office. The accused and he went down together and struggled on the floor. Worboys took a piece of piping away from the accused, went to the door and called a young man named Holden to his assistance. The accused approached him and Worboys had to fire a shot in the floor to keep the accused off. When the police came they found new gloves and a leather thong. Planned Affair Suspected.

It would appear quite likely, said Mr Meredith, that this was not a “one man job,” but that others were implicated. It was fairly carefully planned by someone who knew the habits of Worboys and his practice at the bank. If the pipe had hit him fairly and squarely, if it had not killed him it would have made him unconscious. No alarm would have been given until Worboys did not return home. Late in the evening, after several witnesses had been heard, the case was adjourned.