By Adele (Kofoed) Johnson
The Royal Bank 4545 Lakelse Avenue, United Church to the left
On the morning of June 26, 1958 it was business as usual when our bank doors were opened at 10 am. Everyone was busy with his or her job, and typewriters, adding machines, proof machines, etc. were all busy. We had one customer in the manager’s office, conversing with him.
At approximately 10:40 am all this was interrupted by two masked, gun toting robbers.demanding money. The robbers commanded us to do as we were told. They didn't want anyone to be a "hero". Upon this our manager told us to do exactly as were told. The robbers told the two tellers to fill the canvas bags (which they provided) with money, and the rest of us were to lie on the floor. The alarm had been sounded and police were alerted. When we were down on the floor we couldn't really see what was going on, but could hear the older robber with an accent, who was approximately 29-30 years old, short, stocky, build, seemed to be giving orders to the younger man who was approximately 20 – 22 years old and tall slight build.
Once the bags had been filled they proceeded to the front door of the bank to leave, but changed their minds, and decided to go out the back way through a swinging gate. They then broke the back window of the bank to make their escape, which they did. They ran all the way to the river where they had a motor boat waiting. We are assuming both men got in the boat. The boat capsized due to high water, logs and debris in the river. One man drowned and the other walked out of the bush a few days later, wet and bug bitten, he was picked up by a transport truck and brought to Terrace. The body of the drowned man was recovered from the river some time later with a loaded gun and ammunition, but no money was ever recovered. Another gun was also found by a local man who worked for Terrace Transport that they must have tossed on their way to the river.
Terrace Omineca Herald
Thursday, August 7, 1958
Body of Bank Robber Found in Skeena
The body of Gomes Fejer reputed to have been involved in the Royal Bank Robbery here on June 26 was recovered from the turbulent waters of the Skeena River at Mile 54 1/2.
The body was brought to Terrace by local R.C.M.P. officers. On his person was found a loaded gun and extra ammunition. No sign of the stolen money was found.
Funeral service was held here from MacKay's Funeral Parlors with interment
in Kalum Cementery.
A couple of days after the robbery, Jimmy McKenzie found the gun ( a .45 pistol)
in the CN freight yard. He then turned it over to Constable Vern Myers.