Robbery in a Bank

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 100, 15 February 1890, Page 3

Robbery in a Bank

ESCAPE OF THE THIEF. Melbo(tbne, February 4. A. tsleverly conceived and skilfully •executed robbery, similar in many respects to one which was effected at the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank some two or three years ago, waa committed at the City Bank of Melbourne, on Saturday morning, during a period when the business, of the morning was at its height. Mr John -Gibson, who is imj>loyed as paying clerk at the St. Paul's Cathedral works, visited tne City Bank on Saturday, in accordance ■with a custom which he has followed fox years and drew £117 to pay the jnen their wages, v He received the pm in sovereigns, half-sovereigns •and silver, which he carefully counted and as he found each portion of it placed it in, a handbag which iie had brought with him. Just as lie had completed this work his attention was distracted for a momen when he looked ngnin he found that another' ba£, which was empty, ha<i -been- substituted for the one that con tamed the money. The exohau;. c had been effected so silently and so quid y that he could scarcely believe liw senses, and he was too much aston^ jshed at first to raise an alarm. When tie did inform the Bank officials and ■bystanders of his loss, the thief was gone, and no one had seen him de part. The money is not identifiable, •and if, as is most probable, the robbery -was carried out single-handed, the chances of detection must be con «ideied very remote. The detectives fiave obtained not the slightest clue to guide them in their inquiries.