BANK HOLD-UP

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1932, Page 6

BANK HOLD-UP

TWO MEN INVOLVED. MANAGER AND WIFE ASSAULTED. INTRUDERS DECAMP. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) EDENDALE, January 14. Further inquiries regarding the holdup of Ednedale branch of the Bank oi New South Wales have revealed no fresh developments. The manager, Archibald, and bis wife, are both suffering from shock. The latter received bruises on tbe forehead and a cut on the cheek from the effects of an improvised sand bag. The intruders gained entry by an open window of a sitting room in the house, and walked down a lighted hallway to the kitchen, where Archibald and his wife were reading.

Hearing footsteps the latter got up from a chair and, opening the door, the assailant rushed and hit her knocking off her glasses, and a second hit was received on the cheek. The husband -rushed to his wife’s assistance and pushed her past him, enabling her, with great presence of min-d to rush out of the back door and call for help. She was followed by a man armed with a rifle which was loaded.

Meanwhile the husband struggled with the second man who hit out with a sand bag, which burst as lie struck Archibald on the head. He then followed outside to* help his wife, who meanwhile had rushed out, running to a next door neighbour.

The husband proceeded down the street and called for further assistance, hut on returning found no trace of the intruders who had decamped, The incident has created a good deal of interest locally and the general opinion is that though a determined attempt, the would-be robbers, once the alarm was given were afraid to carry it through to obtain the keys. i

The bank premises are attached to the manager’s' residence.

On the night' previous to the hold-up a blacksmith’s premises a few doors away from the bank was biirglarously entered, and an attempt was made to set fire to tbe premises, which failed, owing to early detection by a passer-by. 'Phe general opinion is that the incidents involved somebody with an intimate knowledge of' local conditions as the hold-up was attempted after the closing of the telephone exchange, when the means of communication was restricted.