BANK CASHIER WOUNDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 279, 25 November 1931, Page 10

BANK CASHIER WOUNDED

BRAVE FIGHT WITH GUNMAN. RAID ON BANK FRUSTRATED. In a brave attempt to grajiplo with an armed stranger, who entered the branch of Barclay’s Bank in Beckenham Lane, Shortlands, Kent, during a quiet period in the lunch hour, Mr. Kenneth Raymond Bryant, aged 29, the cashier, was shot and gravely wounded in tho chest. The unknown assailant, who wore a dark cap and a light raincoat, represented himself as a Post Office official, and told Mr. Bryant that he had come to look at tho telephone. This was apparently a ruse to ascertain whether the cashier was alone. After examining the telephone, the stranger suddenly turned round, and, approaching the counter, demanded money and grabbed at some papers which he mistook for Treasury notes. Mr. Bryant refused, and pluckily leaned over in an attempt to grasp the intruder. Tho latter thereupon whipped out a revolver and fired two shots point-blank at the cashier. The first wounded him, and the second crashed through a glas. partition. Despite his grievous injury Mr. Bry-

ini’ was able to star the alarm bells, nd then, dashing to the end of the ounter and through the flap to the ront, he came to grips with the assailiit, and a fierce struggle began. The ashier’s injuries, however, handiupped him, and the man flung him off nd escaped. Air. Bryant just managed to stagger o tho doorway, and there, half in the oauk and half on the pavement, he colapsed. Thanks to his gallantry, no money was taken. At that moment ’here was scarcely anyone about save children, on their way to school, and tho stranger was able to dart away unimpeded. A number of passers-by who heara the shots rushed to the spot and joined with tho police n the chase, but the raider had had too big a start. It is believed that he had a motor-car down a side-turning. One of the first persons on the scene

was Afiss Williams, who is employed al a baker’s shop near by. VI had just got back to the shop after lunch,” she related, “when I heard a shot and almost immediately after the noise of the alarm bell. I dashed out of my shop, followed by a policeman, who was seeing children across the road. Before I could get to the bank 1 saw a welldressed man come out of the doo're rather quickly. He wore a light coat and trousers, and had a muffler round his neck. He had fair, curly hair, and was rather short.” Detectives found at the bank a new leather bag with white metal fittings and a brown mixture cap, the tab of which, bearing the maker’s name, had been torn out. The light raincoat and muffler worn by the man were found thrown over a fence, a short distance from Beckenham Lane. As the raider was believed to be still armed Flying Squad detectives engaged in the hunt were also armed in case of emergency. It is obvious that the raider had had the bank under observation for some time, as he chose early-losing day and a moment when it was likely that no customers would be there. Mr. Bryant, who worked on the premises alone, is a bachelor. He has been with Barclays Bank for several years and was given charge of the Shortlands branch about 18 months ago.