Hans Gruyters
Encyclopedia
Hans Gruyters was a Dutch
criminal. In the 1950s, he was a car
sales
man in Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. His nickname was the Black Rider, because he once appeared completely dressed in black at a party.
On 15 November 1954, he shot J. van Dieten, a post office
employee in Ravenstein
. He was 29 at the time, and had already been convicted six times for smaller offences. On 16 November, he robbed a bank
and on December 31 he broke into the vicar
's house in Volkel, after which he ran over a man on a bike
and killed him in the process. By then, the police were on his trail, but this did not prevent him from trying to rob the bank in Oss
some days later. He was eventually arrested on January 5, 1955, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison in 1956. He escaped in 1957 but was soon found and returned to his cell. He was released in 1966. Gruyters died in 1980 after a fall from his horse.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
criminal. In the 1950s, he was a car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
man in Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. His nickname was the Black Rider, because he once appeared completely dressed in black at a party.
On 15 November 1954, he shot J. van Dieten, a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
employee in Ravenstein
Ravenstein, Netherlands
Ravenstein is a city and a former municipality in the South of the Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The former municipality covered an area of 42.68 km²...
. He was 29 at the time, and had already been convicted six times for smaller offences. On 16 November, he robbed a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
and on December 31 he broke into the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
's house in Volkel, after which he ran over a man on a bike
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
and killed him in the process. By then, the police were on his trail, but this did not prevent him from trying to rob the bank in Oss
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
some days later. He was eventually arrested on January 5, 1955, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison in 1956. He escaped in 1957 but was soon found and returned to his cell. He was released in 1966. Gruyters died in 1980 after a fall from his horse.