New Britain herald., 1926-05-06
LOOT HE HAD WAS
 $17,OOO IN CURRENCY

Boston, May s GP-A robber who held up the Upham's Corner branch Of the First National Bank today vas shot and captured after a spirit ed pistol battle with the manager and 8 patrolman. Tho robber was believed to have been accompanied by two or three other bandits who fled from in front of the bank when the shots were fired.
 Shot By Manager.
 The man was struck in the temple by a bullet from the gun of the man. agcr, Lawrence $. Bcarce, as he crept across the floor Of the bank toward the main entrance, carrying with him bag full of money. He was believed to be fatally wounded and was hurried to City hospital.
 The man, who was about 45 years old. was believed to be George Mas 'ors of the Dorchester district. He lad fired two shots on entering the nank, thrust q gun into the face Of inc receiving teller, and forced him } fill a, bag with money. Then the manager opened fire. A duel enSucd while two customers stood in the middle Of the floor with their hands in the air. Patrolmar Harold Cam eron, empued his revolver and was reloading his gun when Bearce's shot took effect.
 Begins Shooting.
 Two customers were on the floor of the bank, two young men were near the door and business was pro ceeding as usual, witnesses said, when the robber appeared. He fired two shots into the ceiling and shout ed:
 ''Everybody hold up your hands. I haven't shot a man for five years. want money. You cant get il work ing"
 He walked over to the cage Of Douglas c, Campbell, receiving teller, told him to fill q leather bag within the cage with the money before him. With 8 revolver in his face. Camp bell obeyed instructions and passed the bag through the grill to the holdup man.
 Manager Opens Fire.
 From his office Manager Bearce opened fire. The bandit dropped be- hind some tilework and an ineffcc- tlce pistol duel followed while Harry Sherman of Mattapan and Edward Tittlebaun of Dorchester stood help lessly on the floor with their hands in air.
 Meanwhile, Earl r. Shea. one of the young men standing near the doorway as the bandit entered ran and summoned Patrolman Harold Cameron. Comeron gave Shea a key to 8 police box, told him to send a wagon call and ran 10 the bank.
 Both Reload Guns
 As Cameron reached the door and looked in the gunman was crawling along the floor toward the main en- trance. The bandit saw him and | fired three times. Cameron emptied | his service pistol and dropped back to reload. The g,lnman lay on the l floor and rehlled his weapon.
 Then, in a Crouching posture, he 1 started for the door. As he passed | the swinging door before the man. | agers office, Bearce fired one shot | that entered the gunman's temple. l He collapsed to the floor. Title baum, the customer, who had been attempting to signal the mans | movements to the manager warned | that the robber was "only faking"
 "Oh, no, l think I got him all right" Bearce said.
 Just as the shot was fired the po- lice wagon arrived and tho bank was surrounded. The gunman, badly wounded was rushed in the police wagon to the hospital
 Two Others Disappear
 Storekeepers on the street said that after the first clash between the bandit and the bank manager two men ran from in front of the bank. If was believed that the gunman might have been d member of a gang of three or four robbers, the rest of whom were posted outside.
 At the hospital the bandit was identified as George Mastoris. He lived q short distance from the bank. Plans for other "tobs" were found on him, the police said.
 It was found that a bullet from Officer Cameron's gun had struck Mastoris in the left foot. Bearce's ( shot struck near the back of the Funman's head. if was discovered He was on the danger list at the 'itv hospital. l The police in a preliminary esti- nate, said that the bag Mastoris had tempted to get away with con- lined about S17,000. An effort will be made 10 talk to { today. He will be finger z 'ated and his record will be look f