MOTOR BANDITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 231, 29 September 1928, Page 12

MOTOR BANDITS.

MT. EDEN SENSATION.

ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.

MAN AND WIFE ATTACKED.

THREAT WITH REVOLVER.

• JET OFF, OR I'LL SIIOOT YOU."

Mount Eden Road, in the vicinity of the Mpunt Eden railway station, was 'he secnc of a sensational hold-up by two motor bandits about 10 o'clock last evening. They made their escape in a motor car after brandishing a revolver and threatening to shoot Mr. George T. Pearce, clothier and merccr, of Pitt .Street, who, in company with his wife, was oil his way to his home at 81, Mount Eden Road.

Near the Mount Eden railway station* ■where it was fairly dark, a man suddenly appeared and wrenched an attache rase out of Mrs. Pearcc's hands. Almost immediately another man attacked Mr. Pearco and struck him. Mr. Pearce pulled himself together in time to see i lie two men running across the road to whore an unlit motor car was waiting. Following quickly, Mr. Pearce jumped •in to the running board. At that moment one of the other men was feverishly working to get the car going. His companion whipped out a revolver, pointed it at Mr. Pearce's head and (irmly said: '"Get off, or I'll shoot you." When Mr. Pearce stepped back the car •lashed away at a high speed.

This morning the car was found abandoned near Farmer's Hill at Green Lane. It had been stolen. Attacked in Dark. When seen T>y a "Stat " reporter at his .-hop in Pitt Street this morning, Mr. Pearce had his left hand bandaged, while liia face was cut, and bruised, as the result of his struggle with the two men.

"With Mrs. Pearce, who assists me at Ihe shop, >ve left Pitt Street about 9.30 last night to Afalk to our home," said 3lr. Pearcc. "Mrs. Pearce was carrying an attache case and her handbag. We walked all the way, and reached Mount Eden Road at about 10 o'clock. When Shaddock Street I saw a motor car pull up on the opposite side of the street, but did not take much notice of it. Although 1 did not see the men leave the ca*, they must have crept up behind us, for I heard Mrs. Pearce scream. On looking round, I saw that one of the men had grabbed her handbag, which he placed under his arm. I was about to tackle the man who had hold of Mrs. Pearce when the other man upon mo from behind in the dark, pushed me, and then tripped me up on the footpath. Both men then ran swiftly across the road to the waiting motor car. I gave chase, and reached the car just as they had sat in the front seat. As I jumped on the running-board the driver started the car. The man sitting beside the driver tried to push me off, but I clung on in an endeavour to prevent them from leaving. This man then drew a revolver, which he pointed at my lace. "Get off, or I'll —— well shoot you." I could plainly see the muzzle of the revolver, which was a small onef continued Mr. Pearce. "It was not a dummy revolver; I'm sure about tbat.•Tust at this time a man came out of a house nearby and stood in front of the ear to try and stop its progress, but the driver quickly drove off at a fast speed in the direction of the Mount Eden terminus, forcing me to loose my grip and fall on the roadway.".

Mr. Pearce stated that the handbag which the thieves took from his wife contained £5 in cash,' a number of papers, and a bunch of keys. At the time of the hold-up there were very few people about, and Mr. Pearce was unable to get a motor car in time to chase the men. • ' Mr. Pearce believes the men followed him from the shop because they thought ho was carrying his Friday night's takings in the attache, cade. Stolen Car Used. There is no doubt that the motor car used by the bandits was one belonging to Cavanagh's Garage .in Symonds Street, near Grafton Bridge, which was .stolen from there about 11 a.m. yesterday. It was a five-seater Talbot car, and is used by various travellers and members of the firm. It was not missred until late in the day, when the police were informed. At 10 o'clock last night an employee of the firm saw the car in Burleigh Street, Mount Eden, and examined it closely. He did not inform the police or his principals, as, at the time, he thought that the car had been recovered.

At 7 a.m. to-day the stolen car was discovered by another member of the firm outside Mr. Joll's grocery shop at Farmer's Hill, on the Great South Road. Mr. Joll states that it was there at 0 a.m. In the car was found a "Star" subscription card with Mrs. Pea roe's address or. it. This card had been in her handbag, which was snatched from her. Hie car had evidently travelled a good distance after it had been stolen, as the petrol supply had been exhausted and the thieves had broken open a two-gal-lon tin which was carried on the car as an extra supply. The carrier on the rear of the car was broken off, indicating that the thieves had been towing something heavy. The cover was taken off the magneto to start the engine, while tlie contact breaker had been broken off. ; is they could not get at the switch. Otherwise the car was not damaged.