ARMED ROBBERY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20915, 21 September 1939, Page 5

ARMED ROBBERY

YOUTHS FOR SENTENCE ORDEAL FOR ATTENDANT SERVICE STATION ENTERED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday A service station attendant, Charles Williams, related in the Magistrate’s Court an ordeal experienced when two men armed with a revolver robbed the station on the night of August i. The premises were those of Sherwin and Morton, in Wakefield Street, and accused were John McDonald, age-d 21, steward, and Horace Timothy O’Connor, aged 17, labourer. Both pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence. Williams said there was an extra large number of customers that nigh’, and he was detained liii after eleven, when he commenced to balance up the cash taken while lie was o.*i duly. Just as he went to place the cash in the safe he heard a knock on the office door. lie did no', answer immediately, but remained still in the office. Then he walked Over to the main door and looked through the glass panel. 'He saw a man outside who resembled a fellow employee. He opened the door and said * Hello, Cleve,” and then discovered it was not the employee but O'Connor threatening him with a revolver. Both men entered, one ordering witness to put his hands up. He saw o’Conn-or taking cash from the desk and till. While keeping witness covered, McDonald told him to face the wall. As he did so he was hit over the head with a heavy instrument, and received a second blow while falling. He was again hit on the floor, and became unconscious, on recovering he found the men had gone, and he got into touch with the police. Offence In Hastings One of the partners in the firm said £23 5s lid was missing.

# Statements were put in by the police relating to the present charge and to a similar offence at Hastings. Detective Gompian said the attendant at Hastings resisted, and the youths abandoned the revolver and a bludgeon. The revolver would not Are.