BANK HOLD-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1925, Page 1

BANK HOLD-UP.

BV TKLKGItATII —I'ItKSS ASSN., COrVIUGIIT AT'CK LAND, December At the Police Court George Joseph Marshall was charged that oil the night of November Cth he being armed with a loaded revolver, did assault .Robert. Gilmore, manager of the Newmarket Branch of the Auckland Savings Bank, with intent to rob him. The accused pleaded guilty and was commited for sentence. The accused, in a statement, said he used to work in a hank and had to leave owing to neuritis in the arm. He got married and had domestic troubles and his wile left him. Being out of employment and knowing something about hanks ho decided to get some money in that direction. Piohert Gilmore, manager of the Auckland Savings Bank at Newmarket, said he resided above the hank with his wife and family. He knew the accused, who left the employ of Hie Savings Bank in December. 11)20. On Friday night, November Oth. witness was on duty at the bank from 7 to t) p.m. A clerk was also on duty at 3.55 p.m. Mr Waters, the clerk, left the office to post the mail, leaving witness alone in the hank. At 0 p.m. witness left his desk and walked through the chamber, in order to Joel, the front floor of the hank. As he was about to pass through the double spring doors, witness saw a man standing behind the partly-closed front door. The man had a black cloth tied round his face in the form of a mask, and he held a revolver in his right hand. The revolver was held at tho level ol accused's shoulder and pointed in witness's direction. Witness immediately rushed at the accused who ran along (he street. He overtook him about 50 yards from, the hank, and grabbed his two arms from the hack. .Tust as he caught hold of the accused tho revolver was fired, ft was not fired at witness. Accused struggled violently, and endeavoured to free himself, hut, with assistance he was overpowered. The revolver had to he wrenched from his grasp. At the time that the accused pointed the revolver at witness, there was a considerable sum of money in the bank. Tl io accused was arrested by a constable. A leather hag, about I I inches long and G inches wide, was found on the floor, where Marshall was standing. Mr Ready: Immediately you grabbed Marshall the revolver went. off. •‘Yes.” “You know Marshall personally?” “ Yes.” “ You relieved him when ho was manager at Onehunga?” “ Yes.” “ He resigned from, the hank on account of sickness and the disability to his arm?” “I understand so.”

Before* witness left the lw\ lie was congratulated by Magistrate Poynton for Ins bravery in rushing a masked and armed man with a revolver.