ROBBERS FOILED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 119, 23 May 1932, Page 6

ROBBERS FOILED

ENTRY INTO STORE j OWNER WARNED BY ALARM DESPERATE FIGHT FOLLOWS ONE INTRLDER CAPTURED I Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 22. A daring attempt to rob the Alfrislon Bost Office am’ store early on Sunday morning was frustrated by tho tinnly appearance of the owner, Air. E. Giegury, who surprised two men as they were making an entry into tho post oflice from the grain room adjoin* ing. After a desperate struggle, extending over 20 minutes. Air. Gregory, with the assistance of his wife, over powered one man. who was taken into custody by the police. Mr. Gregory’s timely appearance was due to the installation of an alarm system which he Lad recently com plcted, following two previous attempts to enter Lis premises. Describing his exciting experiences, Mr. Gregory, who complained of many bruises, said he was awakened shortly after midnight by the gong of his alarm system. ‘‘l seized an unloaded diot-gun and quietly entered tho store by tho rear door,” said Mr. Gregory. “Observing a streak of light under the doorway connecting the store with the grain room, I took up my position with the gun pointing directly at the

closed door. I heard stealthy movements and the light streak brightened. There were sounds of the door being forced, and I signalled my wife, who had followed me, to stand aside. As the door slowly opened the store electric lights were automatically switched on and revealed two muffled figures .standing in the doorway. They

, wore overcoats with mufflers drawn up ; to their faces and hats down over their eyes. They were stunned by the sight ot the gun and myself, and I called on them to put up their hands. They ducked quickly back into the grain room ami bolted to the roadway. I dashed.after them and caught hold of one man as he was runring through the door and pulled him back. He apparently saw that escape was impossible without a fight, and he hit out at my head and body with his .fists. I tried to overpower him without recourse to direct violence and we struggled all over the grain room for about five minutes. Wrenching himself free, the man ran to the rear door, but this I had locked on entering. I’rapped there, we again got into grips and he desperately resisted all my efforts to pin him. He broke away and grabb< d a long-handled slasher standing in the store and came at me with it. He did not use the blade but tried to knock me with lhe wooden handle. Realising that I could not secure the man without knocking him out, I called to my wife to hit him. She had been present all the time but could not get a chance to grip the man, so violent was our struggle. Mrs. Gregory seized a chopper, a long bladed steel instrument, and struck at the man. The first blow hit him on the hand and the second struck the man’s head ami caused a slight wound. He immediately sank to the floor and surrendered. ” Air. Gregory said he stood guard over the man while his wife telephoned Const able Alaloney, of Papotoetoe, who arrived in a short time and took tho man into custody. “During tho struggle the man kept his head bent as if anxious to avoid recognition.” sni<* Air. Gregory. “I understood this fully when, after tho v capture, I recognised the man ns a former resident of the district.” Air. Gregory’s clothing bore signs nf the desperate struggle. His pyjama coat was practically in ribbons. AlrJs. Gregory, who pluckily rendered I valuable assistance in securing the in'truder, said she had no alternative hut Ito hit him. “The situation was getting desperate and knocking tho man 'out was the only thing to do.” she said. “Ho was struggling fiercely with my husband, who was handicapped in trying to overpower him without injury.’’ Air. Gregory has been owner of the Alfriston store and postmaster there for tho past five years. He served in tho Indian nrmv.