The Bank Hold-up

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18534, 14 January 1932, Page 8

The Bank Hold-up

DESPERATE CRIMINALS TWO PEOPLE ASSAULTED. WITH RIFLE AND sandbag. (By Telegrapb.—Press Association.) EDEN'DALE, Thursday. Further Inquiries regarding the hold-up at the Edendale branch of the Bank of New South Wales reveal not fresh developments. The manager, Mr Archibald, said his wlfo are both suffering from shock. The latter received bruises jto thq forehead and 1 a out on the oheek from the effects of an Improvised sandbag. The Intruders gained entry by an open window In the sitting room In the front of the and walked down the lighted hallway to the kitchen where Mr Archibald and his wife were reading. Hearing footsteps, the latter got up from her chair, and when she opened the door the assailant rushed and hit her, knocking off iicr glasses, and a second hit was received on the cheek. Rushed to Wife’s Assistance. i The husband rushed .to his wife’s assistance, and pushed her past him, enabling her with great presence of mind to rush out of ;the back door and call for help. • She was followed by a man armed with a rifle, which was loaded. Meanwhile the husband struggled with the second man, who hit out with a sandbag, -which burst as it struck Air Archibald’s head. He then followed outside to help his wife, who meanwhile had rushed out, running to a° next-door neigh«*bour. The husband proceeded down the street, and called further assistance, but on returning found no trace of the intruders, who had decamped. The bank premises are attached to the manager’s residence. ; Attempted Arson. > On the night• previous to the holdup a blacksmith’s premises, a few doors away from the bank, were bur-, glariously entered and an attempt was made to set lira ito . the premises, which failed owing to early detection by a passer-by.. - The general opinion is that the incidents involve somebody with ,an intimate knowledge of local conditions, as the hold-up was attempted after i the closing of the telephone exchange, when means of communication were restricted.