BANK ROBBERY AT KUMARA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 197, 21 August 1877, Page 4

BANK ROBBERY AT KUMARA.

[Grey River Argus, August 11.] Early yesterday morning it was rumoured that the Bank of New South Wales had been " stuck up," and the news caused no little excitement both at Kumara aud Greymoutb . The facts, as far as we have been able to ascertain them, show that a deliberate attempt to secure' a large booty has be«n made, which would probably have bean successful but for the plucky behavior of the agent in charge, Mr Hogg. This gentleman, who sleeps in a room at the back of the Bank premises, had beau awakened by something very light touching his face. He thought it was a mouse, and went to sleep again. About an hour later he was again awakened by hearing a noise near the safe ia the Bank. He at once felt for his revolver, which he had placed as usual under his pillow. It was not there. He had seen it in its place during the previous evening, and had spoken to his companion in charge, Mr. Lanauze, of the advisability of discharging and reloading it. When he found that his revolver was gone, he suspected that something was wrong, and called Mr Lanauze, at the same time hurrying into the bank. Here he at once made for a revolver which is kept in, ft bolster behind the counter. To his agreeable surprise be found it in its place and secured it. No sooner bad he done so than he perceived the door of the bank opeuing and closiag. Without losing a moment he fired at the opening, where he fancied he could dimly perceive the outline of a man making his exit. The sbot, as can be seen, struck the door close to the outer edge, went through the frame diagonally, and lodged in the jamb, wheuee it has since been extracted. The robber endeavored to make hia way towards the back by going between the bank and the adjoining building. He, however, stumbled over a barrel, and dropped a bag of gold and a parcel of 400 unsigned notes. These were afterwards picked up; the notes by Mr Burger, and the gold by Messrs Gibson and Burger, who upon hearing the shots and cries for the police came to the .rescue. Mr Hogg had in the meantime followed the robber, and fired another shot at him. Ho would have deed more, but the chambers missed fire. The robber at one time appears (o bare made up his mind to return and assault Mr Hogg, as he faced round and began to approach that gentleman. However, he thought better of it, probably fladiog that assistance was at hand. It is noteworthy that the recovered notes and the bag of gold are marked with blood, showing pretty plainly that Mr Hogg's ahot took effect, probably in the hand. That there were two men engaged in the matter is more than likely, and tha folio wiag fact renders this almost certain; whilst Mr Hogg was pursuing the miscreant, whom he had shot, Mr Lanauze kept charge of the bank, standing at the front door; Mr Hogg returned to the bank by the back door, which he found wide open, though he is certain that he left it shut. There can be little doubt, therefore, that a second man had escaped by the back door. As to the manner ia which this outrage was effected of course nothing is positively known. Mr Hogg noticed the previous night a strange dog hanging about the place, and endeavored to drive is away, but it persisted remaining. It is most likely that the dog belonged to one of the robbers, who were concealed on the premises. There is a bed in the bank upon which Mr Lanauze sleeps. The keys of the saie are kept under the mattress. The would-be thieves could Jie concealed under this bed. They must have abstracted the keys thence without awaking the occupant of the bed, which operation was facilitated by the fact that it was ruining very hard at the time of the robbery. The poice are actively engaged iv tracing the deliqueute. The following annoyraous letter was received by Mr Hogg yesterday morning through the Post Office. Ie bears the post mark of the 10th August, and is covered with droppings from a sperm caodle : — " Sunduy August (lbs space where thedato may have beeu placed is covered by a large bloi). . "Mr Hogg — I knowed you when was in Robb, You done me v good turn, I tell you to be ou gard hecause to ol my mates asked me to go aud help ihera to stick up tt Bank, in Sebdou street. I tb.iug it ia thay bank of New Zealand. I cousinted but I thought bier ei ol it. I promised him not to tell. I believed tbay intend shtick>;u it or soui« bauk ou

Munday other sight weak. There is a private bit on ifc. Woo intinds stealia in with boots of. " A Friend." The gold in the bag is said to have been worth £1200,