ARMED DESPERADOES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1916, Page 5

ARMED DESPERADOES.

THE SYDNEY ROBBERY. tvoman brutally handled Further details were received by mafl of the robbery in Sydney when Mrs. Matilda Willis was attacked at her home by two armed men and was knocked into a semi-conscious state and robbed of £l5O in notoa. The money was taken from inside her blouse. .Airs. Willis is the wife of the jockey, George Henry Willis. He left his iioiua on tlie morning of the burglary to attend the Wollongong races held in tha afternoon. Mrs. was in the house nil day with her live-year-old son. A few minutes aftei six o'clock she heard a knock at the front door. She opened the door and saw two men with their laces partly covered with handkerchiefs. Both were carrying revolvers. One of them levelled his. lirearm at her head. "(live nie that money," he demanded in loud tones, and Mrs. Willis, becoming frightened, moved away from the door. The desperadoes stepped inside, and she ran to the diningroom, where they caught hold of her, and alter A brief struggle threw her to the lloor. .Mrs. Willis fought desperately, and managed to beat oil' her asi-ailants. She regained her feet, and, rushing out of the back door, entered the kitchen. S'ho was followed, and while stooping to pick up something with which ti defend herself she was struck across tae back of the head with ;l heavy instrument. She dropped to the lloor, and for several seconds was ho, dazed that she was unable to move. It was .vhile sln> was in this state that the thievci. tore open the front of |.er blouse and took the roll of notes. Then they dashed from the house and were soon out of sight. Partly recovering from the effects of I lie rough handling, Mrs. Willis got up. Wood was llowing freely from a wound on the top of her head, where she was struck. She ran outside, and told two persons who were passing of the assault ami robbery. They called in Dr. Aikea. of South Kensington, who attended to her. Word was sent to the Randwick ]xi;l e station and the detective ollice, arid detectives and plain-clothes policemen commented an inquiry.