Aerial view of Bradford shows the bank at the corner of No. 11 Highway and the town's main street. The four bandits escaped with $4,200 through dusty back streets with Cons. Wilson in rapid pursuit. The hold-up car was abandoned midway between Holland Landing and Sharon, where the men got into another stolen car to make good their getaway, minutes before police converged on the scene. Robbery was in full view of police office.

"I was so frightened I could hardly move," said John Welgen, a marsh gardener, who entered the bank a few minutes before gunmen with his wife and daughter, Stephanie, two. They were forced to lie on the floor along with members of the staff.

Two members of bank staff who faced guns of bandits were R.E. Black and Gloria Duncan, 17. The incident lasted less than five minutes from moment men entered.

Event Date: August 10, 1935
Event Type: Death

Description: Suddenly, at Bradford on Saturday, August 10, 1935, Harold Leeds Blackwell, manager of the local branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

Ledger-keeper at Bradford bank is Grace Moriarty, who was "compelled to lie on the dirty floor in my white dress." Getaway car crashed into truck in escaping.

Staff artist's sketch shows how the robbery was executed by men, who forced people to lie on floor and then looted tills. Constable is also depicted as he went upstairs for revolver and entered into gun duel with men who nearly hit him.

"While not disparaging the splendid service and fine co-operation of the firemen from neighbouring municipalities, in the battle to save Bradford from more extensive damage from fire last Wednesday, the brunt of the long hours of the fight, and the strain of responsibility, fell upon the home brigade, and their magnificent effort and success merits the gratitude of every Bradford property owner." ...

Bullet found on street after hold-up is shown by Lorne Fines. After examining the location of bullet holes in the abandoned getaway car, under close guard as a garage, police hinted at least one of the thugs may have been wounded by constable.

Two bullets which missed Cons. Wilson are indicated here, lodged in doorway by Nick Bicko, left and Emery Sarasin, who saw the shooting. Wilson was out for a casual stroll near the bank when he became suspicious. He went to room and got gun.

Located on Holland St. at the corner of Barrie St. This building was originally a hotel (Central Hotel, Uneeda Hotel and in 1900 the H. Hulse Hotel). In 1951 the bank was held up by the Boyd Gang which had robbed a number of banks in the Toronto area and Montreal. The robbery resulted in a shootout with Bradford police. There is a bullet lodged in the building across the street from the bank which was the police station at that time. Today this building is the CIBC bank.