A FAMOUS BANK ROBBERY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 16, 18 January 1879, Page 4

A FAMOUS BANK ROBBERY.

HISTORY OF A WELLINGTON CONVICT.

The Chronicle tels tho following story:— Nearly a quarter of » century ego Melbourne wr.a startled hy a myet-rious rohbery from one of the principal hanks. A very largo sura of money disappeared, no one could say how. The Melbourne detectives at that time were celebrated for their acoteneep, but in this ca3e they 'were utterly baffled. There wbb in the hank a highly respected and much trusted clerk, whom we shall call Mr Smoothface. This gentleman wrs euspfcted by the deteoiives, sod, though much Against the will of the bank authorities, he WBs arrested. Every effort was mode by the detectives <o shett the robbery home to him, for if successful they would gain great preslige. They were, however, completely frustrated in their attempt. Nothing tangible could be adduoed egaiast Mr Smoo'hface, and he wae eet free. The detectives still believed him guilty and secretly kept a close watch over his movements, bat with no result. Two years after the commission of the crime there was a largo sale of city allotments in Melbourne. The shrewdest detective in Victoria happened to be present looking oat for a man who was " wanted " by the police. He caw a money lender there whoso reputation w«s rather " shady." Tfaia man bought a valuable section of land, and piid for it in £100 notes. The detective thought it strange that so many very large notes should he in the possession of this man. He at ence called to mind the bank robbery. He had in his pocket-book the number of all tho notes stolen on that occasion. He informed the Auctioneer that he had suspicions, and was allowed to examino tbo notes paid by the money lender. These notes corresponded exactly with some of those 6tolen from the bank. The money-lender wrs at once arrested. He said that be had purchased these £100 notes from a man, giving £50 for each of them. This was a fatal admission. He was convicted of receiviog property knowing it to be stolen, and was sentenced to two years' pen.il servitude. Mr . Smoothface started business in one of the suburbs of Melbourne, and prospered for some years. He had a brother in Queensland, who wrote to him urging him to buy some property there. Mr Smoothface consented and requested his brother to moke the purchase oa his behalf. He forwarded the money for this purpose not by bank draft, but in notes, which were confiJed to the care of a Mend who was going to Queensland The brother took these Victorian notes to a Queensland bank to get them exchanged for Queensland notes. The teller was surprised hi the largeness of the notes. It was a thing unexplained in his experience to Beo so many £100 notes in Queensland. The manager was consulted. Ha remembered him of the notorious bank robbery which had been perpetrated in Melbonrne years before, The numbers of the notes stolen on that occasion had been sent to the banks all through Australasia. He turned up the record and found that the notes just brought in tallied with come of those which had been stolen, bmoothface'a brother had to account for how he became possessed of them. The Victorian police were apprised of the discovery. The detectives came upon Smoothface before the tetter sent by his brother to warn him of his danger had reached him. His house was searched, and the whole of the notes not yet accounted for were found bidden there. Smoothface wbb tried, convicted, and sentenced to seven years' hard labour. After coming out he left for New Zealand. He gradual iy rose to a comfortable position, and carried on business in various towns in this colony. He conducted himself as a strictly honest man, end was moch respected, la (be course of years he met with severe reverses, and was reduced to poverty. A considerable time ago he came to the then province of Wellington. His hard circumstances preyed upon his mind. He took to drinking. His old spirit of wickedness took bold of him. He transgresed the law, was detected, brought before the B.M. Court in Wellington, end committed for trial. In due course be was convicted at the criminal sittiogs of the Supremo Court, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. That term is Btiil unexpired; Smooth face is still a denizen of Wellington gaol.