HUE AND CRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 7

HUE AND CRY

GIRL CASHIER ROBBED. THIEF USES PEPPER. [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Sept. 27... Throwing pepper in the face of th# woman cashier who was counting Sat urday night’s takings at the Btraa Theatre, a man seized a pile of notci and before he could be stopped, rai swiftly across Queen Street. Theatr attendants set out in pursuit of the rob» ber, but he got clear away. The cashier, Miss Eileen Trotter, wt| checking the money taken during th evening when the man approached th# ticket box, which stands at tho ew trance of the vestibule. It was aboul 8.45 o’clock, and there was no one ii the theatre entrance at the time, whil very few people wore in the street. The man. who appeared to be aboul 40 years old. and was of medium heigh and thin build, stopped jp to the tickc box and asked: “Is it too late for thi show?” Miss Trotter told him he could sti] obtain admission, and the man said “Give me a shilling ticket.” “Miss Trotter handed the ticket t# the man, who fumbled in his pocket ftf if to obtain money, and then sudden!# whipped out a matchbox full of peppery which he swiftly opened and threw ii Miss Trotter’s eyes. Before the woman realise’] what haf happened the thief snatched at th< nearest pile of notes, totalling ovei £l6, which was lying just inside th# opening in tho glass front of the box* While Miss Trotter, blinded bv th# pepper, was calling for help and at* tempting to find her way out of th# door at the back of the box, the ma# dashed across the pavement and through the traffic in Queen Street. I# his haste ho dropped a £5 note. By the time an attendant had reached tho scene, tho thief was almost aeros# tho road, and there was no one about the footpath near tho theatre, except a newsvendor who did not realise what had occurred until the man had mad# good his escape. Although the thief had obtained # good start, attendants from the theatr# sot up a pursuit and followed him across the road and un °noen Street to the corner of Wolloslov Street. Tho man, who was gaining ground turned into Wellesley Street Fast, and by the time tho pursuers reached th( corner he had disappeared. Although tho search was continued for some time, no further trace of him could be seen. When she had recovered from tho effects of tho 'popnor. Miss Trotter wa# able to give further particulars of th# man. Ho appeared to be poorly dressed, she slated, and was wearing an old fawn overcoat and a grey feli hat which had boon drawn well down over his face. Ho was cloan-ahavea' and had short features and a sallo< complexion.