VICTORIAN BANK MURDER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10671, 21 January 1926, Page 5

VICTORIAN BANK MURDER.

CHARGE AGAINST SUSPECT.

SEQUEL TO YEAR-OLD CRIME. Per Press Association —Copyright.) MELBOURNE, January 20. Douglas Robertson was charged with tlie murder of William Almeida, manager of the Hampton (Victoria) branch of the Commercial Bank, on November 28, 1924. He was committed for trial. A statement alleged to be made by Robertson was put in as evidence. It stated: Robertson is a native of New Zealand, and 1 came to Australia about 16 months ago purely for a holiday. On arrival in Melbourne he was unfortunate in making the acquaintance of Perkins When Robertson said he desired to return to New Zealand, Perkins asked if he would like to take £2OO or £3OO back with him, and outlined a scheme for robbing the teller, who, Perkins said, was short of money and would not resist. Robertson agreed. He said he and Perkins went to the bank, Perkins going in first. When Robertson entered he saw Perkins pointing a revolver at the teller. According to a -lan, he made for the partition. He heard a deafening report and saw the fellow fall. Perkins jumped over the counter. Robertson asked' what he had done. Perkins replied: “Get a move on. Get the money and get out.” Robertson grabbed the money, ran to a waiting motor-car, and eventually got home. Later, he heard of the teller’s death and the arrest of Perkins, and remained in hiding.

As the sequel to the murder of Almeida, when the bank was stuck up by two men, one of whom escaped, Douglas Robertson, aged 37, described as a skilled labourer, was arrested' in Sydney on December 27. A man named Perkins, whom Almeida, after being wounded, held* at the revolver point till arrested, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.