BOUND AND GAGGED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 326, 11 April 1928, Page 1

BOUND AND GAGGED

Savage Attack on Caretaker PLUCKY ACTION SAVES £6OO Thieves Hide in Picture Theatre (Special to THE SUN) HAMILTON, To-day, A SENSATIONAL attack was made by thieves upon the elderly caretaker of the Strand Theatre, Hamilton, Mr. Richard Gainsford, last night. He was bound and gagged, and robbed of £l2 and a safe-key and his watch and chain, but freed himself in time to give the alarm before the thieves could return to steal the theatre’s takings of £6OO.

THHE thieves hid in the dress circle A after the audience had left last evening’s performance. Mr. Gainsford, who is 65 years of age, was making a final survey of the circle with an electric torch. Suddenly he was struck with a blunt instrument and rendered unconscious. When he recovered an hour later ne found himself bound and gagged, and lying face down on his own bed, and with his room door locked. Despite the severe pain he was still suffering from a severe wound on the right temple, with pluck and tenacity he managed to secure a knife and by rubbing his bonds between it and the bedpost gained his freedom. Staggering to the open window, which is on the top floor, and beating a kerosene tin and frantically calling

“Police/’ he attracted the attention of a passer-by, who promptly brought Constable Naylor to the scene. A search was made of the theatre, but no trace was found of thieves. As the safe key was stolen, apparently it was the thieves’ intention to return at 12.30 p.m., when the number of police on. street duty is reduced, and to attack the theatre safe, which is situated in offices over the theatre, but is approached from a separate entrance. The safe contained £6OO, the accumulated takings of the three Hamilton Theatres during the holidays, and had it not been for Gainsford’s timely warning it is certain this money would have been stolen. As it was the only money taken was £l2, Gainsford’s own personal savings.