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RECOLLECTIONS OF AN AUSTALIAN DETECTIVE.

THE BALt.UBAT BANK ROBBERY. The criminal records of Australia furnish more instances of robberies on an extensive scale, and of a daring character than those of perhaps any other country, during a similar number of years. Such barefaced cases of plundering as the " Nelson " robbery seldom occur in any community in which an attempt has been m ide to assert the supremacy of law and order. But many instances of such daring, impudent and extensive thefts have happened in these colonies. The robbery of the branch Bank of Victoria at Ballaarat, on Monday, the 16th day of October, 1854, was such a case. Perpetrated in open day, amid a numerous population, it even surpassed for impudence tiie far-famed piracy in Hobson's Bay. It differed, however, in this respect from the Nelson robbery, that we were able to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice, and recover a considerable proportion of the plunder. The building occupied by the Bank of Victoria, at Ballaarat, was, at the period referred to, situated in a somewhat isolated position. The nearest establishment to it was a bakery, which was distant about fifty yards, while behind the bank was t!ie undisturbed bush. The only officials employed in the branch were the manager, Mr. John Buckley, and the accountant, Mr. Frederick Marshall. The robbers in posse doubtless took these facts into consideration, as affording facilities for the successful accomplishment of their designs when they planned the burglary. The version of the robbery, which we received at the detective office, in Melbourne, immediately after the perpetration of the crime, can be briefly related. About three o'clock on the afternoon of the 16ih October, 1854, while Messrs liuckley and Marshall were in the bank, they heard a knock at the door. Mr Marshall was proceeding to open the door, when ie was burst in, and four men entered. They were all dressed very much alike, having on corduroy trowsers, blue shirts or smock-frocks, and wideawake hats. Three of them had crape over their faces, while the fourth concealed his countenance with a piece of calico, having holes in it to enable him to s-ee. As soon as they entered, otit; of them, a till mm, jumped over the counter, and called •out : " Now you b — s, we'll have •you this time.' 1 Going forward to Mr Marshall, thLs m n snapped a pistol -close o the manager's ear, for the purpose, as it was correctly surmised at the time, of simply intimidating him. The other men were also armed with pistols, two of which wee snapped in Mr Buckley's face. Mr Marshall was then seized by three of the men (the fourth meanwhile keeping watchover Buckley), and thrown down on a stretcher. They asked him to open his mouth to admit a £jag, but as he declined to be so obliging, they tied something over the moiuh to prevent him from calling for assistance. His hands were tied together behind his back, and then tied to his feet ; and, (having thus been bundled up, he \mis rolled off the streicher on lo tl>e floor, and a counterpane thrown over him Mr Buckley was then disposed of i.i a ■similar manner, and the uninvited visitors proceeded to plunder tlie bank. While they were thus en<ja;.'ecl, Mr Marshall managed to turn on his side, when the quilt that was over him rolled off, and he had an opportunity of watching hhe proceedings of the robbers. This w;+s, however, observed bj one of Them, who took off his smock and tied dt round Mr Marshall's head, so as to blindfold him. Uaving-e mipleted their depredations, with all possible expedition, the robbers left. One «f them proposed befxe leaving "to tie them," ■referring to Marshall and Buckley, but this suggestion was not acted on, ttnd the four worthies departed, taking the precaution to lock the door behind them. Soon after they left, Mr Marshall succeeded in releasmg one of his hands, when, with a penknife, he cut She bo ids that held him, and then set his compauion at liberty. They were not abe, however, to acquaint their neighbors and the police witli what had occurred, until after the robbers had got sufficient time to make good theirescape. It was found that the thieves had carried off about £15,000, consisting of £14.000 in notes, about £3.30 in sovereigns, and 233 oz. Gdwt. of gold dust. This, it must be acknowledged, was a respectable haul ; and, as there was no one who could identify or give a description of the thieves, it might have been regarded as almost a hopeless case by the detectives. In no instance, how--ever, do we despair, so long as there is a scheme untried by which we may discover the criminal. In tuis case, likewise, we were stimulated to extra exertions by the bank offering a reward of £200 for the conviction of any one of the prisoners, with the additional inducement that the reward would be doubled., or a sum of £1,600 in all if the whole four prisoners were convie^ed. They afterwards offered £400 for the conviction of each prisoner and one fourth of the property recovered was to go the person making the apprehension. The Government at the same time offered a free pardon and a passage from the colony to any one of the four robbers who might become approver and give such information as would secure the arrest of his companions in crime. The report from liallarat was that the thieves were "believed' 1 to have taken the road for Melbourne after they had secured their booty, but as none of them were known, we had no difficulty in placing the true value on this belief. It was perhaps more likely that they should come to Melbourne than go to any other place, as they could easily obtain the means at this port of leaving the colony, and we

were on the gui vive. Meantime, numerous arrests were being mad throughout the country of men who had nothing whatever to do with the robbery, and had to be as rapidly released. The anxiety to obtain the reward, had evidently completely overcome the discretion of not a few constables. The detective who understands his business seldom commits such blunders. One fact with which we very soon become familiar, is hat criminals are divided into distinct classes. The professors of the predatory art confine themselves to the study of particular branches, and we never find a man who has become; expert as a pickpocket attempting to garotte ; or a ''snakesruan '' usurping the province of a " cracksman, 1 ' which thieves' English, being interpreted, means that a man who steals a living by carrying off goods exposed at a shop door, will not be found guilty of housebreaking. When we heard of the Ballaarat Hank robbery, therefore, I, for one, resolved to confine my attention to the most daring class of burglars — suc'i men as might have taken part in the Nelson robbery 5 and it is somewhat singular that the actual criminals proved to be men whom we arrested on suspicion of being engaged in that act of piracy, but who were acquitted because there was no one to depose to their identity, although the detective mind entertained no doubt as to their guilt. Thore was no necessity for any particular haste in making an apprehension, all that was requisite being to keep a c ose watch on the emignnts from our shores, so that no notorious cracksman should effect a departure. The numbers of ueariy a)l the notes were known, and we felt assured that an attempt would soon be made to get them into circulation, when we should obtain | the first hint on which to act. After many false starts and fruitless pursuits, the true scent was at last caught, and was not lost until one of the criminals was, about a month after the robbery, placet safely in custody. Two detectives, at that time stationed at Geelong, were the successful men. I need say nothirg as to my own share in the matter, as the reader, I presume, 1 will be satisfied if I am able to tell how it was managed. It was ascertained that £i /nan resident in (iee)oji^, named Thomas Quinu, hid passed sorre of the stolen noten. He had originally been sent to Van Diemen's Land for housebreaking, but for some years he seemed to be earning tin honest livelihood as a mason, lie ha I, however, been travelling a good deal about the time of the robbery, and bad piid several visits to Kaliuarat. lie was known to us as a man of such a character as would be like'y to take pirt in some such desperate and extensive scheme of robbery as had been carried out on the \ tctona Ijank. It Was, therefore, resolved to apprehend him, but the I resolution Vas no sooner formed than it was ascertained that the bi d had flown. It was understood that he had gone with his wite and family to Melbourne" He might at that moment be embarking to leave tiie colony, and as there was not an hour to lose the order was instantly "to horse." A rapid ride through the night brought the pair of ihief-hun'evs to Melbourne early in the morning. Here, fortunately, atter making various inquiries, it was ascertained that Quinn was residing in the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel, Flinders street. Thither the detectives repaired, and on entering the room where the man was, he said, very cooley '• I know what you have come here for." The resu't of a search of the room was the finding' in the firs', place of two bags containing £.">3O JOs and £o-10 respectively in sovereigns, and a third bag which held oOU ounces of gold dust. In the pocket of a pair of trousers were found two £10 notes of the Hank of Victoria, A. box belonging to the prisoner was the n-xt subject, of attention, when lie called out, k ' What are you looking for ? ' " I was expecting to find some notes,' was the veply, when Quinn at once thrust his hand into the box, and pulled out a pockctbook which was found to contain five i;2O votes, and eighteen £1 notes of the Batik of Victoria, and £193 Iv notes on tte London Chartered l>.mk. A chest of drawers was about to be nextexaruined, when Quinn said — "You need not go near there ; there are no notes there.'' " Well, I shall search it at any rate," was the quiet reply. " Oh, you won't take ab man's word," said Quinn in a rage, and pulling out one of the drawers he scattered its contents on the floor. " Now,'' he was informed, " I shall search every thing, and there is no use in going on in that style." Quinn, however, would not bs quiet, so he had to be handcuffed. This operation was performed with some difficulty, and when completed, Quinn being unable i to use his hands, did all the damage he was able with his feet, by kicking the contents of the drawers about the room. At the same time he took the opportunity to say to the detective who held him while the other made the search, " You know I am a b good man. Yo can do something for yourself, and stick to the dummy (Anglice, pocketbook, there's something there that will do you." In the drawer was found a shooting coat, in the pockets of which there were ten £10 Victoria Bank notes, carelessly crumpled up. The other property taken possession of consisted of three gold watches, a silver watch, two gold rings, and two diamond rings, worth £50, and some other articles. Quinn was than taken to the watchhouse, the landlord of the hotel accompanying the two detectives. On his way to the lock-up, the prisoner said to the detective who had him in custody, " Don't be a b • foul. You

have £500inyour kick — (Queen's English : Pocket) — stick to it, and stand to the missus ; don't see her want.' 1 This piece of advice was met with an evasive answer. " I suppose your mate is a ] l right,' was Mr Quinn's next remark. "Oh yes." " Then," he said, " send that long fellow (the host of the Sir Charles I-lotham) back, and we will go into a public-house, and touch the bag of jimmies {i.e., sovereigns,) and I'll sling (jrive) you £300, which is more than the Government will give you." "Well, I'll think about it, and let you know to-morrow," answered the incorruptible servaut of justice. By this time the Swanston-strpet watch-house was reached, and Quinn was locked up. His wife was afterwards arrested as an accomplice, the three children of the worthy pair beiug taken charge of by the police. Soon after this, a wuman named Eliza Smith, who had tendered some of the stolen notes, was apprehended, and was found to have teu stoleu notes concealed in her stockings. How she came into possession of them will be afterwards learned. T-vo men named Keeley and Seymour were also arrested, who had s >me of the missing money, but all these three prisoners were uhimately discharged. The only sure card which we had was Quinn, and it soon became cvi lent that we would not, be able to bring forward such evidence against him as would satisfy a jury of his guilt. It was found necessary, therefore, to resort to the inadvisable, but only alternative, of getting him to become approver (upon somewhat tempting and advantageous terms, L believe), and get information from him as to who were his accomplices. This he agreed to supply and it was ascertained tl.athis conpanions in the robb.My wvre three m n named Marriott, B>lt >n, and Garratf. TJiev were well known to fie police. and Thomas Marriott, who whs in We l--bourne, was ea>ily found and arrest crl. He had at the time bt t-veen I/Ji)!)oand LoOOO at his credir. in (he name of James Day, in the Lo:i 'on ("bartered Hank, in addition to money found in his possession. John liolton, alias Johnny Ball, had, it was learned, succeeded in hnltmij u> Adelaide. Thither a detective went in pursuit, accompanied by Mr Buckley, who kn-w Bolton's per.Mmu! appearance, for the m.vi hail several times transacted business at the Hallanr. bank j after the robbery, but was not suspected to be one of the lobbers although lw one day pivs.-nied one or 1 lie sr.ilrn L.>o notes — for beinu r i" t )lC " l""^' I^^" 1 ut which, however, he u r » v *' wh:tt w is Considered a satisfactory a -co int. \)> t >:i, j who, like (iuinn, had ii.-tii arre^ed in \ connection with the " IS i;lrf.«ii '' mlnttr i"_v, but discharged, was apprehended on board the Xorm.i steamer, .it. -Vd-laiii-.'. lie had in liis possession a large, sum of money in nold and bank dral'is. W iiei; arrested, he asked the detective "'if there was not a certain man in Melbourne working "Mi the po!i c.' and then added that "it so, ll" was a ! rascal." Mrs. Boiton was likewise j arrested at Adelaide. | Gamut, the fointh robber, siu'ceciled in effecting his escape, and, so lar as 1 am aware, was not again heard of. When called upon to ui\ c evidence against his cunheiev, Quaiu g>vo a very minute and somewhat amusing account of the robbery. lie said tint he left Geelong on the Monday of the week before the >o!>'>erv, a:id went up to the Hilloarat, diggings where he met his old friend Boiton, playing cards in a skittle ailey with Marriott. He tiien went with them to the h'jjse of a niiu named Gamut, where the- proposal was • made to rob the bank, the three men named to participate in the seh.-nu' along with (-iuinn. One condition agreed to was that there should be no violence used. On the forenoon of the dav of the robbery the men met at Bolton's tent, where they were supplied with the shirts, crape and hats in which they appeared at. the bank. Tney were each armed with pistols, which Q.uinn loaded with paper, and put on caps, so that the firearms snipped at ihe bank officials were perfectly harmless- After waiting in pairs for considerable part of the day in the bush behind the bank, tbe men at last considering that their opportunity had arrived, entered and conducted themselves in the manner already described. After the robbery the men met atGarratt's tent where they divided the Spoil, with a carelessness which showed that they fully appreciated their "ood fortune in securing so much booty, for Q,uinn was unable to say how much each share, amounted to. (-iuinn remained at Ballarat until the Friday aftftr tbe robbery, and he then came to Melbourne in company with Bolton, and the two disposed of their gold here, after which they engaged in a number of transactions, purchasing gold, getting drafts in one town to banks on another, &c, using, when they had to make payments, a few of the stolen notes mixed with those of other banks. In j this way they were able to convert a number of the notes. With reference to Eliza Smith, Quinn stated that he had lodged at her house, and that while he was absent sue had, from a box belonging to him, stolen the Victoria notes found in her possession, and then absconded. Seymour and Keeiey, he said, had had no connection with the robbery. Marriott and liolton were found guilty aud sentenced to ten years' hard labor on the roads. Mrs Quinn and Mrs Bolton were acquitted, it being considered that they were n ,t cognisant of the intended robbery before its perpetration, (iuinn, I presume, went home to England, probably with a sufficient sum in his possession to enable him to abstain iiom thieving, if he was so inclined.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18631221.2.21

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 19, 21 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,996

RECOLLECTIONS OF AN AUSTALIAN DETECTIVE. Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 19, 21 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

RECOLLECTIONS OF AN AUSTALIAN DETECTIVE. Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 19, 21 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

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