GREAT BANK ROBBERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3782, 18 January 1908, Page 4

GREAT BANK ROBBERY.

An Aai cf Vengeance. Loyson, a Unsty cashier in a Brussels Bank, was recently put on his trial for robbing the Bank, and in December last he was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment. The receivers ot the stolen money got sentences ranging from three to four months. The history of the crime is interesting reading. In announcing to the Bank of Brussels at the end of September that he had gone with ,£13,000, Loyson wrote a letter explaining that this was an act of vengeance. Last year one of his sous, employed at the same bank, stole £IOOO. Loyson tried in vain to make the directors withdraw the charge against his son, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. The father’s letter concluded: —“Since you refused to save my boy, I punish you by taking ,£13,000.” Loyscji surrendered on October x, having returned from Louvain for the purpose. He declared that the money, ,£13,000, had gone to America. “ I would rather have burned it,” he said “ than let the bank have it back.” Loyson has written the following letter to the editor of the Ktoile Beige, explaining his conduct: — “I have just read the account of the theft in the Banque de Bruxelles, in your paper. lam the author of it. Sir, I have with serious intentions acted in revenge. These are true facts. ‘ ‘ I denounce my son ; but had I imagined that the bank would act in such a manner I would never have done it. My sou occupied a posivioh in the Bank, for which he received £2 15s per month, and I was far from supposing that he could commit any embezzlements. Therefore I immediately info-med the bank when I had proofs of my son’s guilt. Nobody had noticed anything; but instead of taking into consideration the services of a loyal old servant they prosecuted my son. “ It is a bad state of affairs for the bank when a young man of 18, earning £2 15s per month, can embezzle £IOOO without its being noticed. And then my sou’s condemnation to three years and three months’ imprisonment! Nothing was taken into consideration, and when I declare that public opinion will be on my side I speak the truth, for everyone is indignant at the bank’s way of acting. lam a man who is honoured and liked by everybody. Nobody will turn bis back on me. “ After his condemnation I felt doubly drawn towards him, for I had denounced my own son. Make any use of this letter you may wish, for I desire the whole truth to be known. I shall, however, speak when in the dock.” The trial was awaited with interest, and much sympathy was felt for the old father whose love for his son drove him to commit a crime.