Bandit Who Chattered

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 768, 14 September 1929, Page 20

Bandit Who Chattered

tVTjjftFpMASKED and armed bandit entered a Rozelle (Sydney) wine saloon on a recent fm ' inTßr evening, and announcing that he was the “Grey Shadow," told two men and a woman that he was itching to kill someone. He said there was not a detective in Australia clever enough to catch him. The gunman who, with a white handkerchief masking the lower portion of his face, entered the wine saloon of William Arthur Hunt, in Rozelle, at 6.30 and rob\>ed him of his day's takings at the point of a pistol, was a man fond of talking. He was full of apologies (says the Sydney “Guardian"). He told, with almost a catch in his voice, how stern necessity had forced him to outlawry, but he did not give back a £5 note, which he had taken, when Mr. Hunt asked for it . . . Instead, he tossed over four shillings. He apologised again, waved his gun at the occupants of the saloon, and left by the back door. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were tidying up the saloon after the day’s work. Hunt was behind the counter, and Mrs. Hunt, with a friend named Mr. Duggan, was in the public portioii of the saloon. Without warning, according to Hunt, a masked man, about sft lOin in height, entered by the back door. In his hand he held a large pistol or revolver The intruder, though, he showed that

Sydney Gunman Assures His Victims That He is “Itching to Kill’’ . . . Courtesy Demands Return of Tram-Fare ! he meant business, was the essence of politeness throughout. He dug the muzzle of his guu into Mr. Hunt’s ribs, and bade him stand iu the middle of the room, next to Mrs. Hunt and Mr. Duggan. He went through the till, from which he took about £?. All the time he engaged in a breezy monologue. “This is a pretty dud shop,” he said, “only £9 in the till—” Then he searched Hunt and took some notes and silver amounting to about £5 from him. From Duggan he tool: a gold watch and chain, and four s tillings. “I am known as the Grey Shadow, he said, “and *you can tell the muf ‘demons’ of Australia that not one ot them is clever enough to catch me Don’t forget to deliver that message “You must not move,” he said pleasantly. “In two minutes I will be gone.” “A Lady” "I am very sorry to do this," ho said to Mrs. Hunt, “because my wile is a lady. You must have a bit 01 sense, because most of the wo®** scream.” He pointed his gun at them all this time. „ sp “I don’t want to shoot you, “ went on. “But lam itching to Ku ! someone. . “I have killed more people than have fingers and toes.” Again he apologised, and Mr. Hun | said: “Well, you have got a five-poun note. You could put that ™ *, table. I have not my tramfare home- “ Well,” he replied. “I will leave T® that,” and he put 4s down on ta I counter. Said He Was Striker Mr. Hunt said the man claimed to be a timber striker with a wife an four children. He said he would buy them dresses with the proceeds » the robbery. “The poor timber strikers —they f blamed for everything!” observed M • Hunt afterwards. , Mr. Hunt told bow. still fun “ apologies, the bandit went out of Jt door through which be had entertwe A ladder had been placed against fence at the bottom of the yard. the masked man climbed over anil appeared.