The Baltinglass Bank Robbery (1924)

This account, published in the Dublin Evening Herald on March 4, 1924, tells of an armed bank robbery in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow. The bank manager, Maurice Woulfe, pulled his own gun but ended up shot in the abdomen. A Guard was also shot; he died the next day.

“COULD NOT KILL”

Baltinglass Bank Manager Tells Graphic Story

SEQUEL TO RAID

Young Men Charged With Murder of Civic Guard

The recent sensational raid on the National Bank in Baltinglass was described in the Dublin Police Court to-day by Mr. Maurice Woulfe, the bank manager who was wounded on the occasion, and is still being medically treated.

The two young ex-army captains were put forward on remand to-day charged with the murder of Guard O’Halloran, the wounding of Mr. Woulfe, and conspiracy to rob the bank in question.

Mr. Woulfe told how he covered one of the men with his revolver, but could not bring himself to shoot him in cold blood. He identified the two prisoners in the dock as those referred to in his evidence.

“HANDS UP!”

Wife of Bank Manager Raises the Alarm

This afternoon, in the Dublin Police Court, before Mr. Collins, C.C.,

Peter Jordan (29), 29 St. Paul St., ex-captain National Army, and

Felix McMullen (26), 34 South William Street, ex-captain National Army,

were put forward on remand on a charge of having

(1) On January 28 conspired, confederated and agreed to commit an act of punishable by law—to rob with arms, and did on that date enter the National Bank at Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, covered the officials with revolvers, and attempted to rob the bank.

(2) Did feloniously, wilfully, and with malice aforethought, at the same time and place, with a revolver loaded with bullets, shoot at one Maurice Wolfe with intent to kill and murder him, thereby causing him grievous bodily harm.

(3) Did feloniously, wilfully, and with malice aforethought, kill and murder one, Patk. O’Halloran, a member of the Civic Guard, at Baltinglass, on the same date by shooting him with a revolver.

Mr. John O’Byrne, K.C. (instructed by the Chief State Solr.), prosecuted on behalf of the State. Mr. E. H. Burne, solr., appeared for Jordan. Mr. C. J. Murray, LL.D., appeared for McMullen.

BRAVE GUARDSMAN’S DEATH.

Dr. Kenna, Baltinglass, gave evidence of attending Civic Guard O’Halloran at the Guard barracks and described the nature of the wounds. The injured man was in a weak condition, and after the doctor had treated him he was removed in the ambulance to the Curragh. The wounds were such as could have been caused by one bullet.

Witness also attended Mr. Woulfe, the bank manager, who had been shot in the abdomen. He was still attending him for his injuries and he was progressing satisfactorily.

Dr. Coffey, surgeon in charge at the Curragh, said that Guard O’Halloran was brought to the Curragh about 5 o’clock in the evening of Jan. 28. He was in a very collapsed state and suffering from two wounds, one in the stomach and the other in the back. There was a good deal of hæmorrhage, and an operation was performed at once. The examination disclosed that the intestines had been very badly lacerated. The wounds were treated, and

everything possible was done for the patent, but notwithstanding all that could be done he died at 3 o’clock the following day.

Death was due to shock and hæmorrhage following a revolver wound.

MANAGER’S EXPERIENCE.

Mr. Maurice Woulfe, the manager of the bank, related how he was in his office on the date of the tragedy with three other officials and a customer. Two men entered shortly before 2 o’clock, and asked for the use of a telephone, to which he replied there was no telephone, but they could send a telegram from the Post Office. Some time after, while in his private office with a customer the smaller of the two men knocked at the door, and on admission presented a revolver at witness, and said “Hands up; hand over your keys.” The taller man was outside the door. Witness meanwhile put his right hand into the pocket of his coat in which he had an automatic pistol.

He released the safety catch, drew it from his pocket, and pointed it at the talel rman [sic], meaning to shoot him dead.

He covered the man, but could not shoot him in cold blood. He next pointed the revolver at the smaller man, and they stood covering one another.

HEARD A SHOT.

A moment later he saw the tall man with a revolver, and heard a shot, but did not see the tall man fire. Witness felt he was wounded, and fell to the ground. At the same time he heard something go off. He shouted for help, and the tall man came forward with a revolver and said he would blow his brains out. One of the men then—he thought the little man—told him to give up his keys, and witness emptied his pockets of some keys. One of the men took them, and told one of the officials to open the safe. Mr. Shade, the official, pretended to open the safe with the key, and failed to do so. The police were then summoned, and the two men ran out and disappeared from his view. When the men had gone out he picked up a bullet (produced) off the ground in his private office.

He now identified the two men in the dock as those referred to in his evidence. One of the men took away his (witness’s) automatic pistol.

In answer to Mr. Murray, he said he had seen the photographs published in the “Independent,” and had said he could not identify either of the men from the photographs. He did not tell the police he had seen the photographs.

SHOUTS FO RHELP [sic].

Mr. C. P. Corcoran, an official in the bank at Baltinglass, said he was in the bank on January 28 when two men came in. After some conversation about the telephone the men went away, but returned after some time. On both occasions the smaller man was carrying an attache case. On the second visit the men went towards the manager’s office. He heard the small man say “Hands up!” and saw him disappearing into the manager’s office. The taller man pointed a revolver at witness and told him to put his hands up. Witness stooped down quickly and his his cash in his cupboard. He then heard two shots in quick succession and saw Mr. Shade (an official( [sic] attempting to throw out the keys, but he was called back by the taller man, who ordered him and witness to put up their hands. Witness then heard Mrs. Woulffe shouting, and asking what was wrong.

She then ran out on the street schouting [sic] for help. She was followed by the tall man, who shouted “Woman, come back or I will shoot you.”

FRONT DOOR BOLTED.

After Mrs. Woulffe had gone out the tall man bolted the front door. In the meantime Mr. Shade threw the keys out through the back window into the street. There was then a whistle out on the street, and the two men rushed out of the bank leaving behind them a brown attache case (produced).

“I recognise the tall man” (McMullen), said witness, “as the man who entered the bank that day and held me up. I would identify the small man. It was the tall man that covered me with the revolver,

(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.)

“COULD NOT KILL”

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.)

and I had a better opportunity of recognising him.”

The Court adjourned for an hour.

SHOOTING OF CIVIC GUARD.

Edward Brophy, Baltinglass, stated that about 2 o’clock on the day of the occurrence he was in an office opposite to the National Bank, and saw a motor car stop at the bank door, and two men alighting. One of the men was carrying an attache case. The men went into the bank and came out again in a few minutes. They entered the car and drove away in the direction of the chapel. The men wore heavy, dark overcoats, with trench coats over them. They were not of equal height. About five minutes later he saw the men coming from the direction of the bridge, one of them carrying an attache case. They entered the bank premises, and shortly afterwards he heard shots, and later saw the two men running across the bridge, pursued by Guard O’Halloran. He heard the Guard call on the men to halt. The taller of the men had a revolver in his hand, but witness could not then see the other.

The taller man was moving across the bridge, at the same time covering the Guard. There was a shot and the Guard fell on to the footpath, while the two men disappeared across the bridge.

Witness the rushed to the Guard, who was lying wounded on the street.

FURTHER REMAND.

Mr. Joseph Germaine, Baltinglass, said he was in his home at 2.20 on the date in question. Hearing from his wife that there was something up he went upstairs and got a Colt revolver, which was fully loaded. He then ran out on the street towards the bank, outside which he saw Guard Halloran. The latter was beating at the door trying to get in. Witness ran over to the Guard and handed him the revolver. As he did so he saw two men come out of the bank and ran up the Bridge. Guard Halloran shouted “halt” and ran after them. Witness heard a shot and saw Guard Halloran falling. He saw one of the men turn round and there was some smoke, but he could not say who fired the shot. The two men kept running across the bridge. Witness went up to where the Guard was lying, and Miss Clarke, who was there, handed him his revolver which he gave to Guard Delaney. He did not examine the revolver at all.

Guard Delaney said he was in the yard of the barrack when he heard a shot. Running out on the street he found a crowd of people carrying Guard Halloran, who was wounded, to the barrack. Witness was handed a colt automatic revolver by Joseph Germaine. He noticed that the safety catch was still on. When witness got back to the barracks he handed the revolver to Sergeant Ryan.

Sergeant Ryan,, Civic Guards, Baltinglass, produced bullets found in the bank, and gave evidence with regard to an automatic pistol handed to him.

A further remand for a week was ordered.

Top of the page: The Square, Baltinglass (National Library of Ireland)