ROBBER SHOT DEAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 279, 25 November 1931, Page 7

ROBBER SHOT DEAD

AUCKLAND SENSATION THIEF ENTERS A BANK MANAGER USES REVOLVER [ Per Preiß Association. 1 AUCKLAND, Nov. 24. A young man, whose identity is at present unknown, was shot dead at Rcmuera shortly after noon to-day after ho had attacked Mr F. W. T. Youngs, agency officer at the Remuers branch of the Bank of New Zealand, with a sandbag. Although dazed and injured from a heavy blow on the head, Mr Young? grabbed a revolver and fired at hia assailant. The latter bolted out of the bank. Calling “Stop thief!” the manager followed. On reaching tho bank door he fired again and tho pursued man crumpled up on tho footpath. He died ithin a minute. There were a number of people in the vicinity of the bank at tho time. They heard ho shots and saw tho man lying on the footpath. The wholo thing had happened with dramatic suddenness. Ono of tho few persons who saw tho robber fall was Mr A. Watson, shoemaker, whose shop is almost opposite tho scene of the shooting. “J was in my workshop at the rear of the shop when I heard a report,” he said. “I knew it was not tho noise of a tyre blowing out, and I rushed to the shop. As I came from behind tho counter to a position where I could seo across to the other side of the road I saw Mr Youngs leaning against the entrance to the bank. I saw the manager fire another shot which narrowly missed a woman, and then the robber, who had been staggering, collapsed in a heap.” “I ran across to Mr Youngs. He was as white as a sheet, and had a smoking revolver in his hand,” continued Mr Wa'-son. “I told him to sit down while I put a ’phone cull through to the head office of tho bank, but he remained loaning on tho counter. At this time Dr. McGregor Grant, who had been standing speaking to tho postmaster on tho other side of the street, came across and took the revolver from Mr Youngs.” During tho tiino between tho shooting and tho arrival of the police, Mr Youngs, although suffering from the effects of a blow on the head, told his story to Mr Watson. “This man has been in here before,” Mr Y’oungs said. “He came in a few minutes ago and I went to the counter. The man handed mo a letter and said, ‘Pead this.’ I took tho letter, and as I had my head down reading it, holding it with my two hands, tho man hit me o er the head. Although I was badly dazed I pretended to be all out and sink below the counter, but I had the presence of mind to grab a loaded revolver which I always keep on the shelf behind tho counter. When the man saw the revolver he made to run out of the bank and I shot him in the back.” Mr Watson said that he noticed that the letter which the robber had given Mr Youngs to road was still lying on the bank counter. It was covered with dirt, indicating that the heavy bag with which the robber had sought to stun Mr Youngs had broken through the force of tho impact. It had boon ascertained that tho dead man called at tho bank one day last week, when ho inquired about 8 bank draft and said that he was expecting one from Montreal. This morning, on going into tho bank, he handed Mr Youngs a document bear ing a signature. When tho lattei leaned over to lead it, he was struck on tho head. At tho time there wai about £3OO or £4OO in cash and notes on the table. When struck, Mr Youngs reeled backwards and immediately grasped the loaded revolver that was handy. Evidently the man realised at that moment that tho attempted hold up had failed, and he turned and tried to get away. The object with which Mr Youngs was struck was a hard backed brush or bottle, and sand was thrown in his face. Banker’s Statement Mr Youngs says that the young man entered and handed him a letter. Mi Youngs placed the letter on the countei and started to read it, when the man raised a long-shaped parcel and struck Air Youngs on the head. The banker was stunned, but on recovering he saw the man go to the door of the bank chamber and shut it. Then coming back to tho counter the man went straight toward Mr Youngs, who drew his revolver. The man dropped, but Mr Youngs fired over the counter. “I don’t know how many times I fired,” said Mr Youngs. “It was all rather confused. ” Only one bullet w; s found in tho body and another lodged in the door, so apparently Air Youngs’ first shot was fatal. Evidence has been secured that Air Youngs’ assailan. was waiting alono in the neighbourhood of the bank from an early hour this morning. The son of a shopkeeper near the bank says that the man vas walking up and down outside tho shop all the morning. He was carrying a parcel. Others saw him idling in tho street. It is only a few months since Mr Youngs was ppointed agency officer for the bank at Remuera. Ho is an Englishman, ind from 1900 to 1927 was i:. the London office of the bank. He arrived in New Zealand four years ago, being stationed at the Auckland office. Ho ha»l no assistant in th< branch. Air Youngs is over 50 yean of age. Body Identified Following the clue of a laundry mark on the collar of the dead robber, de tectives were led to a laundry ia Dominion Road. From there they were referred to the receiving depot at a hairdresser’s shop in Park Foad. The occupier of tho shop, Mr R. AfcGregor, was taken to the morgue, and he identified the body ns that of a customer whose hair he had cut on occasions and who left his laundry at his shop. He understood his name was Coulfon or Colton, and that ho lived in a boardinghouse > apartment house in Grafton Road. The detectives thoroughly combed tho Grafton Road area in an endeavour to find a house in which a man named Coulton hnd been staying. They were not successful, but it is thought that something definite will bo hoard in tho morning, when an inquest on the dead man will bo opened, and it is expected that cvidonee identifying him will bo ij»rthcoming.