DARING ROBBERS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43102, 8 June 1907, Page 4

DARING ROBBERS.

Mention was made in thle cables recmtly to. a daring attempt by two desperadoes to rob the National Bank, Johannesburg. Banks and business firms generally have armed their employee® in consequence of frequent burglaries in Johannesburg during the past few months. Pedestrians have been held up and robbed in lonely streets, residences have been ransacked, and shops looted in the most audacious manner. TW men entered the Harrison street branch of the National Bank shortly after o’clock, when some of the officials were nt lunch, and practicalb* no business was being transacted. Walking up to the cashier’s window one man 1 thrust a revolver through the window, and demanded all the cash available. Meanwhile the second man kept guard at the street door. Instead of complying with the demand the cashier drew ai revolver from a half open drawer, and fired point blank at the robber. The bullet hit him on the jaw, and he dropped to the floor. The second robber immediately returned the fire, and half a dozen shots were exchanged with the employees behind the counter. One bullet, struck a clerk in the shoulder, but the other shots went wide, and were embedded in the walls and ceiling, The noise of the fusilade attracted men from the street, and they captured the second robber as he tried to bolt through the door after emptying his revolver. He was overpowered after a severe struggle. The other man was removed to' the hospital in a dying condition.