BANDITS IN BANK

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20718, 31 January 1939, Page 10

BANDITS IN BANK

HOLD-UP PAILS SCARED OFF WITH GUN (From a Correspondent) SYDNEY, January 9 An attempt to hold up a bank manager at Ultimo to-day was defeated when the official snatched a revolver from beneath a counter and scared off the armed bandit. The attempt occurred at 1.15 p.m. at the Ultimo branch of the Commonwealth Savings Bank, at the corner of William llenry and Harris Streets. The bandit, who was about 25, shabbily dressed, with a dirty face, and armed with an automatic, turned and fled when the manager, Mr R. J. B. Christy, produced his revolver. ‘T am very sorry that he got away unharmed,” Mr Christy said afterwards. At the time of the hold-up he was working in the main office. A young clerk was working behind a partition a few feet away. Seemed Nervous Mr Christy had moved from a grille to an open counter when the bandit walked in. Asked his business, the man quickly pulled an automatic from a coat pocket and said quietly: ‘‘Come on, hand over!” For a few moments Mr Christy stared at the stranger, who appeared nervous. He then snatched a revolver from beneath the counter and levelled it. Thus the two faced each other in dramatic silence for a matter of seconds. Then the bandit ducked, turned and fled through the door, with the pistol still in his hand. Mr Christy ran from behind the counter to the front of the building and saw his visitor disappearing over a rise in the street. To-day's hold-up was the second made at the bank. Police in charge of inquiries are Detective-Inspector Bowie, and De-tective-Sergeants McCarthy, Arnold and Yates.