SHOT DEAD

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1931, Page 5

SHOT DEAD

ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF CASE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 24. .Regarding toe bank shooting, evidence h s now been secured that Ml’ Youngs’ assailant was .waiting alone in the neighbourhood of the bank from an early hour this morning. The son of a shopkeeper, near the bank says that a man was walking up and down outside of the shop all the morning. He was carrying parcels. Others also saw him idling in the street. 1

It is only a few mouths since •Mr Youngs was appointed Agency Officer for the bank at 'Remuera. He is an Englishman, and from 1900 to 1927 he was in the London Office of the Bank. .He arrived in New Zealand four years ago, being stationed in the Auckland office. He had no assistant in the branch. Youngs is over 50 years of age.

There were a number of people in the vicinity of the bank at the time. They heard the shots, and they saw the man lying on the footpath. The whole thing had happened with dramatic suddenness.

Oiie of the few persons who saw the robber fall was Mr A. Watson, shoemaker, whose shop is almost opposite the scene of tile shooting. "I was In my workshop, at the roar of the shop, when I heard a report,” he said. ,f I knew it was not the noise of a tyre blowing ouit, and I rushed to the shop. As I came from behind the counter to a position where I could see across to the other side of the road, I saw Mr Youngs, leaning against the entrance to the Bank. I saw the manager fire another shot, which narrowly missed a woman;' and then the robber who had been staggering, collapsed in a heap.” , , .“I ran across to Mr Youngs. He was as white as a Sheet, and he had a smoking revolver in .his hand,’ -continued Mr Watson.

“I told him to sit down while I put a phone call .through to the Head Office of the Bank, but he remained leaning on the counter. At this time, Dr McGregor Grant, . who had been etandtng speaking to the Postmaster on the other side of the street, came across and took -the revolver from Mr Youngs.” BANK MANAGER’S STORY. During the time between the shooting and the arrival of the police, ■Mr Youngs, although suffering from the effects of the brow on (the head, told his story to Mr Watson. . “This man has been in here before,” Mr Youngs said. "He caffie in a few minutes ago, and ■i went tb the counter. The man handed me a iettSr, and said, ‘Read this!’ I (took- the letter, and as 1 had my head down reading it, holding it with my two hands, the man hit me over the head. Although ’ I was badly dazed, I pretended -to be ‘all out’ and to sink below the counter, but I had the' presence of mind to grab a loaded revolver which I always keep on a shelf behind the counter. When the man saw the revolver, he made to run out of the bank, and I shot- him in the back.”

s AIr Watson said that he noticed that the letter which 'the robber had given Mr Youngs to read was still ly'-ng on the bank counter, it was covered with dust, indicating that the heavy bag with which the robber had sought to stun Mr Youngs had broken through the force of the impact. It has been ascertained that the dead man called at the bank one day Vast week, when he inquired about a bank draft, and said that he was expecting one from Montreal. This morning, cm going into fhe bank, he handed Mr Youngs a document bearing a signature. When the latter leaned over to read it, lie was struck on the head. At the time there was about £3OO or £4OO in cash and notes on the table. When struck, Mr Youngs reeled backwards, and immediately grasped the loaded revolver that was handy. Evidently the man realised at that moment that the attempted hold-up had failed, and he turned and tried to get away. The dead man was a stranger m Remuera. He was apparently about ■2B years of age, and was comparatively well dressed. The police searched h s clothing. All they found was a tin of tobacco, cigarette papers, a watch and chain, and a small mirror, but there were no letters or papers of any kind.

DEAD MAN’S IDENTITY. not yet established. AUCKLAND, November 24. Following on the clue of a laundry mark on the collar of the dead robber, detectives were led to a laundry in Dominion Road. From there they were referred to a receiving depot at a hairdresser’s shop in Park Road. The occupier of the shop, Mr McGiegoi, was taken to the morgue,' and he identified the body as being 'that of a 'customer whose hair he had cut on occasions, and who left his laundiy at his shop. He understood that his name was Coulton' or Colton, and that he lived in a boardinghouse or an apartments house in Grafton Roi.d. • The detectives thoroughly combed the Grafton Road area in an endeavour to find the house in which the man Coulton had been staying. They were not successful, but it is thought that something definite will be kernel in the

meaning. An inquest on the dead man will be opened,, and it is expected that evidence identifying him will be then forthcoming. ,

YOUNGS A CRACK SHOT

WAS A SNIPER, DURING THE WAR AUCKLAND, Nov. 25. ‘‘‘l knew that my son would always give a good account of himself in any emergency”, sa.id Mr F. W. Youngs, the father of the Remuera Banker. ‘‘He has always been courageous and determined. He is a crack shot, and a,s a bry he was! expert with an air rifle. You can see marks on the Ifitchen nail to-day. He was an expert sniper during the war and refused a commission.”

Robert : "Will, Manager of the London Branch of the Bank of New Zeal,ar.d, described Youngs as a clever, steady man, likely to take risk in defending the interests of his bank.

DEAD MAN IDENTIFIED

AUCKLAND, Nov. 25,

Tile man shot dead, at Remuera branch of the Bank of New Zealand at midday yesterday has been identified as Laurie Coulton.

A witness.at the inquest to-day said Coulton stayed at the same apartment house and had told him he came from Australia, and his people had a sheep station in Upper Hunter district of New South Wales. Cbulton wins 2-1 years old. He agreed to buy a used car from witness for £3OO, and wanted to take the car without paying a deposit, but witness refused. Coulton was to meet witness yesterday. Witness gave him the opportunity t-> cancel the purchase proposal. hut Coulton said he. was quite certain lie would have the money, a.s he excepted a. cheque. The inquest was adjourned, sine die.