THE ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2247, 11 May 1881, Page 3

THE ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY.

TATJBANGA, May 10. Borfiolil, the prisoner for attempted Bank robbery, wag committed on both charges. Ellis, one of the witnesses, and the informer ** against the prisoner, aaid :—ln April he|called me into his saloon and asked me how business was. I said things were very quiet. He said he had not taken sixpence all that day, and that if things did not oh an go, he would have to do something, as he was not clearing rent. He said he Had sent £5 to Mr Nathan in Aaokland, and he had olosed on this money, and stopped his credit till he should seed more. There was only one way, he said, he could see of clearing himself. I asked him what it was, and he replied it was going to the National Bank. He added that there was a capital chance there, as there was only one party on the Bank premises. I asked him who that was, and he said it was Mr Morris. He farther said he had been weighing the matter in his mind for the last fortnight. I then enquired what he intended doing. He said that he had a pistol, and could easily catch. Mr Morris any night when going to the club, or ooming from it. He said if he could not get anybody to assist him he woald go singlehanded. He informed me of Mr Morris* movements when he left the Bank, and when he returned. He said he could easily knook Mr Morris down, take the keys from him, and Set into the Bank. He said he knew that Mr [orris generally left about six o'clock at night. He said nothing at that time about outting Mr Morris' throat, nor about setting the town on fire. I said I would think oyer the matter. I mode lip my mind to put Mr Morris on his guard. I never at any time had the smallest intention of taking part in the burglary. I subsequently called on Mr Purdie, and informed him of the matter. On Sunday night he told me that if he gave it up that night he would go into the Bank on the following Saturday with someone, and when Mr Morris was perusing the deeds he would knook him on the head. We went round on Tuesday night, and he was knocking about some time before he oould make up his mind to go in. This was between ten and eleven o'clock. I proposed to give it up, but he insisted on having a try. That was at the corner of the Bank. We walked aoross the road to the swamp, and went into the swamp. Prisoner then started to blacken his face. He said, " Come on, Ellis; how do I look?" I hesitated, and proposed to toss up half-a-crown whether to go or stop. He said it would be dangerous to strike a light. I blackened my face then, and we went over to the Bank. I carried the pistol, as I wished to save bloodshed. I feared if he carried the pistol he would most likely have shot someone. Prisoner knocked at the Bank door. He had a parcel of pepper and a bludgeon in his hand. The door was opened by someone, I supposed to be Mr Morris, and a voice said " Come in," whereupon prisoner rushed in, and I cleared away and returned home.