GUNMEN RAID HOME FOR THE AGED

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 15 (Supplement)

GUNMEN RAID HOME FOR THE AGED

Watchman Of 68 Battles With Robbers In Vain BOUND AND GAGGED, AND STRUCK OVER HEAD ipwo EMPLOYEES of the dormitory A and shop of the Good Will Industries of Brooklyn, Inc., 369 De Kalb Avenue, Brooklyn,! were unsuccessful in their efforts to save $3OO of the organisation’s funds from two armed thugs early on a recent morning. Seventy-five aged men, being cared for by the organisation, were sleeping on the floor above the office where the hold-up occurred. The two robbers entered the basement of the building and overpowered the night watchman, Max Forth, 68 years old. When Forth ontinued to fight after his legs had

been tied and adhesive tape placed against his mouth, one of the thugs struck him on the head, inflicting bruises which required treatment by an ambulance surgeon from the Cumberland Hospital. Leaving Forth moaning on the floor, the robbers went upstairs to the cashier’s office on the first fl? or * Here they ran into George Van Eps, 82 years old, of 329 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn. Warning Van Eps to make no move or outcry, one of the pair announced their, intention of robbing the office. "We’re here to get money,” he said. "You can’t take this money,” said Van Eps. “It is all for the old and needy. /- "We can’t help that,” said the gunman.' “We both have families and we are not going to let them starve.” . While one man covered Van Eps,: the other gathered up the $3OO from, the cashier’s box. , Both . then ran out of the building and headed down De Kalb Avenue. When the police arrived no trace of the robbers could be found. They were described as middle-aged. ?