CLUB RAIDED

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1933, Page 7

CLUB RAIDED

HAN BOUND AND GAGGED. NIUHTWATOHMAN ASSAULTED. The nightwatehmun at a West End clulb in London recently told how he was bound and gagged by three men who raided the club early on the-morn-ing of April 10, He is Mr F, G. Slater, and the club is the, Blanford Club, ‘Soho Square. . . -• • “Just before one o'clock someone knocked on the' front door,” said Mr Slater. “When I opened it I saw three young men. One of them asked for a member by name. I replied that he wag never there at that hour. He then asked'me whether he could write a message to the member on ia piece l of paper, and unsuspectingly I said ‘Yes.’ As I turned to re-enter the club for a piece of paper . One of them { placed an automatic pistol against my I back and said, ‘Put your hands up.’

“I turned round and tried to make a fight of it ; hut three of them attacked me. After they had got me down on the floor they tied my hand s and put one cloth in my mouth and a noth round my eyes. They fchen put me in a chair and one ma n sat near me, resting what appeared to he a 'pistol on my arms. H© said : ‘lt will be better ■for* fyou if you do not try to make a (noise. We shan’t do much harm.’ I could hear them pulling over the automatic machines and opening them. For two hours I sat there helpless while they went over the 'premises. “Just before they left the man who was sitting near me went through my pockets and took my cigarettes anu some loose change. Another man came over and said: ‘I suppose we ought to give him a drink before we go.’ They then opened a Ibottle of cider poured some down my throat.

“Then followed a discussion between the men about where they should leave ipe. Finaflly they pushed me into a collar. It seemed hours before I cou’d attract any attention, but eventually I got the cloth away from my mouth and was able to shout for. help.’ Detectives who were rushed to the club began inquiries for a car in which the men are slid to have escaped.