ATTEMPTED ROBBERY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 126, 23 May 1932, Page 3

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY

Bravely Frustrated BY COUNTRY STOREKEEPER OF TWO MEN ONE CAPTURED (Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, Saturday. A daring attempt to rob the Alfriston Post Office and store early this morning was frustrated by the timely appearance of the owner, Mr S. E. Gregory, who surprised two men as they were making an entry into the post office from a grain room adjoining. After a desperate struggle extending over 20 minutes, Mr Gregory, ,/ith the assistance of his wife, overpowered one man, who was taken into custody by <he police.

Mr Gregory’s timely appearance was due to the installation of an alarn> system which, ho had recently completed following two previous attempts to enter his premises. Describing his exciting experience Mr Gregory, who '“.omplaincd of many bruises, said that he was awakened shortly after midnight by the gong of his alarm system. <l I seized an unloaded shot gun and quietly entered the store by the roar door,’’ ho said. “Observing a streak of light under tho doorway connecting the store with the grain room I took up a position with tho gun pointing directly at the closed door. I heard stealthy movements and tn-d light streak brightened. There Were sounds of the door being forced, and I signalled my wife, who had followed me, to stand aside. Two Muffled Figures “As the door slowly opened tho store electric lights were automatically switched on and revealed two muffled figures standing in tho doorway. They wore overcoats with mufflers drawn up to their faces and hats down over their eyes. They were stunned by the sight of the gun and myself, and I called on them to put. up their hands. They ducked quickly back into the grain room and bolted to the roadway. “I dashed after them, caught hold of one man as ho was running 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. 1 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 Uiis I had locked on entering. Trapp 1 there we again got into grips, and he desperately resisted all my efforts to pin him. Attack with. Slasher-Handle “He broke away and grabbed 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 the 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 tho time but could not get a chance to grip the man, so violent was our struggle. Mrs Gregory Takes A Hand “Mrs Gregory seized a chopper, a long bladed steel instrument, and struck at the man. The first blow hit his hand and the second struck the man’s head and caused a slight wound. Ho immediately sank to the floor and surrendered. ” Mr Gregory said that ho stood guard over the man while his wife telephoned Constable Maloney, of Papatoetoe, who arrived in a short time and took the man into custody. “During the struggle the man kept his head bent as if anxious to avoid recognition,” said Mr Gregory. “I understood this fully when, after capture, I recognised the man as a former resident of the district.” Desperate Situation Mr Gregory’s clothing bore signs of the desperate struggle. His pyjama coat was practically in ribbons. Airs Gregory, who pluckny rendered valuable assistance in securing the intruder, said that she had no alternative but to hit him. Tho situation was getting desperate and knocking the man out was the only thing to do. “He was struggling fiercely with my husband, who was handicapped in trying to overpower him without injury,’ ’ said Mrs Gregory. Mr Gregory has been owner of the Alfriston store and postmaster there for the past five years. He served in the Indian Army.