ARM ED BANK ROBBER.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 September 1919, Page 5

ARM ED BAN K ROBBER.

TWO POLIUEMEN SHOT AT. 1 An attempt to rob a London bank, followed by the shooting of two policemen and the chase and capture of the supposed assailant, was ma-'-‘e at Belvedere, near Woolwich (England) recently. H Shortly before .3 o'clock one afternoon, just at closing time, a man entered the Belvedere branch or Lloyds Bank and presenting a rev'Blver at Mr Robert Leslie, the manager, ‘ordered him to hold ‘up his hands, at the same time demanding money. Without hesitating a moment, Mr Leslie, who was alone, caught hold of the intruder, and a struggle ensued, during wh»ic.h. the thief tried to his the manager on the-hear? with a sandbag. . '

For a time ‘Mr Leslie held the upper hand, but finally the robber disengaged himself and ran out of the bank in the direction of Erith.

P.C. Darke, who was near the bank, saw that something unusual had happened and gave chase_ Seeing that.’ . he Wflg followed, the thief turned ro1:n:l and tired at the constable. The bullet entered -his helmet. The mail" continued running and was eventually. ' lost sight of. l Meanwhile a telephone message was " sent to Erith police station, and P.Ca Moore, mounted on a bicycle, set out-st ir search of the man. ENCOUNTER IN A WOOD. Moore saw a man in ‘some woods between Belvedere and Erith and at once went to arrest him. The man; fired a revolver, but simultaneously the policeman threw his helmet in his _lassailant’s face, and this, disturbed the aim_ The bullet Went wide, and Moore closed with the man and tried to disarm him. V - A fierce struggle followed, and in‘ the course of it the rnVolver.Wellt off; and the bullet entered the;man’s..arng’; ‘I-la‘ was ,taken-. to: Plumstead Infirmary‘; and subsequently admitted .-as .anj patient.» .to the -hospital-..; . Subsequently .—the accused man, James Shakespeare, 26,» ‘formerly a barman, was charged: b‘e‘fore_j_th'e‘. D:art'fo'rd magistrates and remanded. 4