DAYLIGHT HOLD-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1922, Page 1

DAYLIGHT HOLD-UP.

BANDITS SECURE PAYROLL.

In November last at S»n Francisco three automobile bandits held up the automobile of George Beban and Walter Mayers, paying auditors" of the Ant. ercan Can Company, robbed them of the compiuiy’s payroll of S9OOO and drove off in the stolen machine. The robbery took place at Seventeenth and Howard streets, within plain view of the Mission police station just a block away at Seventeenth and Folsom streets.

The bandits worked so fast that they got away before either Beban or Mayers, both of whom were armed with revolvers, could make any move to frustrate the aet. GIRL COOLLY TELLS POLICE OF ROBBERY.

The hold up was witnessed by Sis Bachman, daughter of a merchant at Seventeenth and Howard streets, who was attracted by the loud squeaking of the brakes of both cars as they stopped short. When she saw what was happening she coolly went to the telephone and called the police. Before she had notified them, however, the hold up men had the money and were speeding away and their victims drove to the Mission Station to report the case themselves Beban and Mayers were returning to the American Gan Company’s plant at Nineteenth and Harrison streets' from the Bank of California with the payroll when the bandit car, which evidently had been following them,

drove and crowded their car to the curb, forcing them to stop. All three bandits wore masks made of white handkerchiefs, and two of them armed with revolvers, leaped to the running board of the payroll car. commanding Beban and Mayers to hold up their hands. BANDITS HIT MAN WHO HESITATED.

Mayers hesitated, and one of the bandits struck him a sharp blow on the knuckles with liis revolver, warning him to be obedient. The other robber reached to the floor of the car and picked up the leather satchel containing the money. Both then jumped back into their car, and the third bandit, who had remained at the wheel started off at a high rate of speed ; turning the corner of Mission street, headed east. AUTO POSSE PURSUES.

Beban and Mayers went at once to the Mission station and reported the affair and a body of police with shotguns, led by Sergeant William Cavanaugh, started in pursuit, and despite the fact that only a, few seconds had been lost ,the posse could find no trace of the bandits’ car.

A few minutes later, after the central bureau had been notified, Detectives Fred Bohr, James Gregson, Phillip Lindecker, George Andrus and George Stollard arrived oni the scene of the hold-up. Tn automobile posse, armed and made a wide search throughout the Mission district, but failed to pick up th 0 trail of the bandits. Beban and Mayers told the police that the license on the bandit car was the dealer’s license “B 1203,” which the police later learned belonged to Don Lee, a. Van Ness avenue automobile dealer. The car had been stolen at noon from in front of the Stewart Speedometer Compay at Van Ness avenue and Pine street, where it had been taken by an employee to have the speedometer repaired. Two hours’ later the police at the Harbor station were advised that the bandit car or a< car closely resembling it and hearing a, dealer’s license boarded an Oakland bound ferry boat at 2.30 o’clock. The Oakland police were notified at once, but the 2.30 o’clock ferry had reached is destination long before they were notified. Beban and Mayers told the police that the bandits appeared to be about 20 or 21 years of age and fashionably dressed in dark clothing. They used good language the victims say, and although they worked speedily, did not appear to he at ease or experienced in crime. PAYROLL GUARDS DAZED.

Behan and Mayers declared that the hold-up happened so quickly that they did not have a chance to attempt to use the weapons they carried. Behan, who was driving, said he did not suspect a hold-up when the bandits’ car crowded his machine to the curb, believing at first that it was a reckless driver.

Behan in a statement made shortly after the robbery, said that he has carried the payroll for the American Can Company for the past twenty years and that , this is the first time that he has ever been held np or that an attempt had been made to do so. He pointed out that h e always took a different route from; the bank to the factory and was extremely careful in making his way with the money. He believes that the bandits followed them from the Bank, a route taken out from Market and Valencia and on to Seventeenth toward Howard, where the hold-up occurred. Behan lives at 764 San Jose avenue. The police did not learn Mayers’ address. Both men have been in the employ of the American Can Company for some time. _ ~ The police are convinced that tne bandits wore acquainted with the practices of the company, possibly former employees. r Mr George Beban, referred to above, is a member of the well-known Groldsborough family, and is a brother of Mrs H. Fitzgerald of Hokitika, Mr D. Beban of Stafford, and Mr A. Beban of Greymouth.] ____