THE HISTORY OF A BANK ROBBERY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2666, 23 October 1882, Page 3

THE HISTORY OF A BANK ROBBERY.

A little over a year ago the sum o! £6OO was found to be missing from tbs National Bank, Nelson, and for some time no clue existed as to what had become of the money. Shortly before the lots became known to the Nelson Bank authorities, there was employed in the branch from which the money was stolen a young man named Francis James Hodgson, who in the meantime had been transferred to Christchurch, Suspicion, it seems, attached to him, and the result was that he was dismissed from bis position, and he then joined the Armed Constabulary, of which he remained a member till recently discharged. He again visited Nelson and had an interview with the Bank officials there, and it is stated that he admitted to them that he had. appropriated the money prior to his removal to Christchurch, and that he had used £2OO of the total amount to make good another deficiency, taking the balance with him to this city. In confirmation of hie statement, be mentioned that he had hidden 205 sovereigns in an old shoe, which, with its contents, he had committed to the safe keeping of the earth close to one of the buttresses of Bt. John’s Church in Hereford street. Ho supplied the Nelson officials with a rough plan of St. John’s Church, and on it marked the spot where the gold lay buried. The plan and particulars were forwarded to the Christchurch manager of the National Bank, and on Thursday night last the manager, assisted by a body of police, commenced to dig in the specified place for the lost treasure. The search was not immediately successful, but eventually their patience and perseverance wore rewarded, for, at or near the place indicated, the old shoe was unearthed, and in it 205 sovereigns. A Nelson telegram states that the Bank ultimately decided to prosecute, but in the meantime Hodgson got wind of the matter and evaded the police. A warrant has now been issued for his apprehension, and, as bis whereabouts is supposed to be known, no daubt but we shall speedily hear of bis arrest.