Road block on highway was almost immediately thrown up by provincial police. Police said the pattern of escape used by men was similar to that employed in the hold-up of the Royal Bank of Canada at Woodbridge, just 17 days ago today.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
Off-duty provincial Constable Reginald Wilson had nine shots fired at him by three masked gunmen and an undisguised leader who staged a western-style hold-up of the Bank of Commerce at Bradford yesterday. Four of his return shots hit car.
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.