OUTRAGE AT HAMILTON

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1928, Page 4

OUTRAGE AT HAMILTON

CARETAKER ATTACKED AND ROBBED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 11. Richard Gainlort, caretaker ol I lie Strand Theatre, Hamilton, was brutally attacked at 10.39 hist night, lie was gagged and then hound to his bed. 11 is cries for help were heard by a passer-by, who informed the police. The manager of the theatre was summoned, and Gainlort was liberated from his room, where he had been imprisoned for about two hours. The keys of the strongroom, in which over £7)00 had boon placed, had been taken from the caretaker, together with a sum of money. The thieves did not know the whereabouts of the safe.

After last night's audience had lell the theatre, the caretaker went up the landing stage to hi:, quarters at 10.30 o’clock. Before entering, he stood at the entranei of the dress circle to take a final look round ami assure himself t hat, everything in Ihe theatre was in order. He had barely Hashed his torch round when he was fiercely attacked hv two men. He was roughly handled, gagged and hound to l,js he’d, lie cried for help, and the silence of the night was disturbed hv his cries ami Ihe loud hanging iff a tin.

The passer-by who heard the noise rushed down Victoria street. and meeting Constable Naylor, informed him of the occurrence. 4he constable returned with llie man to the theatre. but they found the front door locked. Mr S. Tombs, the manager of the Strand, was awakened at 12.15 o’clock and he immediately hastened to the theatre. Mr Gainfort was not to he seem, and the searchers went to his room, which was locked. On entering it they found that he had managed to escape from 1 1 is bonds. He had been lobbed of £ls'in cash and his watch and chain. The men took with them a number of keys, including the keys of the safe and others that would give them access to any part of the' theatre.

No time was lost by Air Tombs in removing the money in the safe, which is situated in another part oi the building, and depositing it for the night in the safe of a hotel. Owing to the hanks being closed from Thursday. a large sum of money, totalling over £509. was stowed in the safe, and there is little doubt that this was the objective of the thieves.

It is believed that the men attendeel the picture*, and as the other patrons were leaving the theatre they T»id themselves. It is evident that they were aware of the caretaker’s habits, as they waited for him at the entrance of the circle, tt is Air Gainfort’s usual practice to take a final survey of the building from this point. On regaining consciousness after the attack upon him, Afr Gainfort, realised that a large sum of money was at the mercy of his assailants, made hurried efforts to free himself. His bruised and swollen wrists hear testimony to tho efforts he made. Air Gainfort is G 5 years of age and a married man with a family. His wife, however, is at present in Sydney and last night he was alone in liis quarters.