COMMERCIAL BANK FRAUDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 448, 22 February 1890, Page 6

COMMERCIAL BANK FRAUDS.

Our cable despatches during the last few days have made some curious reference to a defaulting bank clerk named Charles Rivers Allpress, who on January 28fch of last year robbed the Collingwood branch of the Commercial Bank of the sum of £7,000 in notes and gold, and who has been captured in London, where he was masquerading in the garb of a nobleman. Ttie case has attracted a large amount of interest in Melbourne, being freely commented fipon there as illustrating one phase of modern society and its tendencies. Allpress is now about 29 years of age, and hails from Sandhurst. His parents, who are in a respectable way in business, are still at that place, and have been living there for many years past. They are well known and respected. Of his career at school there is little to be said, save that he had a most retentive memory. He progressed well, and developed an aptitude fot commercial pursuits. The genteel employment of a bank clerk suited his temperament, and he was sent into the Commercial Bank of Australasia as an under ledger-keeper, about 11 years ago. His conduct was most exemplary, and he was so much in favour that his promotion was not long delayed. He was drafted up to the Wycheproof branch ot the bank. He remained" there for some time as submanager and general agent. Some time in October, 1888, he was removed from that place to the city, he being further promoted to the position of teller and accountant in the Collingwood branch of the bank. His salary was fixed at £250 a year, which was thought to be sufficient to supply all his wants, he being unmarried. He lodged at South Yarra, the Collingwood district not being, perhaps, so suitable to his tastes as the somewhat more genteel southern suburb. When he was fairly launched in his duties at the Bank in Collingwood, he commenced a fast life. He got into the company of a few young men of that class who have no money, but whose capital solely consists of their accurate knowledge of the inmates of questionable places, a few clothes of the ‘‘loud” type, and an amount of brass in their faces which would do credit to Dickens’ lawyer in the “ Old Curiosity Shop.” •