SHOT DEAD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 50, 29 January 1932, Page 12

SHOT DEAD.

BY. DESPERATE ROBBER. PLUCKY YOUTH KILLED. A plucky youth, who attempted to assist in the capture of two robbers, WM shot dead it point b!ank range near the Yagoona railway station (says the Sydney Morning Herald of 1 confusion following thencrime the robbers escaped, but the police received early information concerning the tragedy, and they drew a cordon around "tn# district. The dead youth is Cecil. Baker, aged years, of 121 Dutton Street, Bankstown. . ■ . , , Late last night, just as he was closing down for the night, the porter at the Yagoona railway station, which is situated on the lino rjtnnmg hotween Bankstown and Lidoombe, inspected the station premises and found nothing amiss. When he returned to the office, however, a man walked m the doorway after him. The porter turned at the unexpected footsteps, and found that 'a stranger was presenting a revolver at his head. “Now hand over the keys of the safe,” said the stranger. . ... , “I haven’t got the keys, declared “{jf°c*ourse you’ve got the keys. Hand them over, or I’ll drill you, said the thief. .' ... . ' The discussion concerning the keys proceeded for. some minutes, and then a car containing some young men, friends of the porter, drew up at the station, and the thief, either fearing the approach- of so many people, or having received some warning from his accomplice—later events proved that there was another man concerned in the affair —ran from the station. The porter gave chase, calling to his friends for aid. The man who had levelled the revolver at the porter and another man were seen running down the road, and the porter and his youthful friends were in hot pursuit. Cecil Baker was in the lead, and was almost upon the. men when one turned. He levelled a revolver at the plucky boy, but Baker continued towards him, and attempted to close with him. As he did so the criminal fired at point blank range, the bullet entering the unfortunate youth’s head. Death must have been instantaneous, and his body was taken to the Western Suburbs Hospital by the Canterbury-Bankstown Ambulance. . A pathetic feature of the shocking murder of Baker was the fact that his ten-year-old brother had joined in the chase and was not far. behind when the fatal shot was'fired. Deteotive-Superintendent Mackay oredred all available detectives to the Yagoona district, and ordered out more police motor cars to transport police in dosing in the district. The police have a reasonably good description of the escapees. Both aro young, and of medium build.