Attempted bank robbery: As reported. 1932.

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ACCIDENT

THE PERSONAL STORY BEHIND THE NEWS IS ALWAYS ONE OF GREAT TRAGEDY!

Watched by silent crowds of townsfolk the constable carried his baby girl’s limp body down the main street of that small timber town all those years ago. One man wrote that he, “had never seen such a pathetic scene in all of his life.”

As for William himself? Well let’s just say that once again he walked another “longest mile” on that “longest day” of that “Great Depression.”

Run Down By Train

When he reached the front door he heard a grinding sound in the interior of the bank. He looked round instinctively, and saw a man coming toward him from the shadow of a pine tree on the other side of the road. It was a bright moonlight night. Witness walked to the edge of the footpath, and, not being able to recognise the man, shouted, “Who are you?” The man did not reply, but continued to walk toward him in a very determined manner. Witness again shouted, “Who are you?” The man made no reply, and when he was more than half-way across the road witness saw that his face was covered with the handkerchief produced. Witness raised his revolver about in line with his waist, and shouted, “Police here; put ‘em up!” The man made no reply, but, still moving forward, drew a revolver from his right hand pocket, and when about twelve feet distant, levelled the revolver at witness, his right arm being straight out in front level with his shoulder. Witness raised his revolver and fired without taking aim.

At the time witness fired he was quite certain that the man intended to shoot, and that his (witness’s) life was in danger. He did not want to kill and it was against his will that he fired at all. He had no option but to fire as the man was still advancing.
It was my bounden duty to arrest the man.
The mask and revolver, and sounds within the bank, were reasonable grounds for the belief that the man was engaged in a crime punishable with life imprisonment.
Instead of complying with my command he threatened me with a revolver. When in this position a constable has not the option of retreat, as a civilian would have.