THE BANK ROBBERY. STARTLING EVIDENCE BY THE INFORMER.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 109, 11 May 1881, Page 2

THE BANK ROBBERY. STARTLING EVIDENCE BY THE INFORMER.

[united pbbss association.] Taubanga, 10th May. Barfield, arrested for attempted bank robbery, has been committed on both charges. Ellis, one of the witnesses, and who was also the informer against the prisoner, said — In April the prisoner called me into his saloon, and asked me " How was business ? " I said things were very quiet. He said he had not taken sixpence all that day, and that if things did not change he would have to do something, as he was not clearing his rent. He said ho had sent .£5 to Nathan, in Auckland, and he had closed on his money, and stopped Mb credit till he should send more. There was only one way, he said, he conld see of clearing himself. I asked him what it was, and he replied, "It was going to the .National Bank." He added, "There was a capital chance there, as there was only one party on the bank premises." I asked him who that was, and he said "It was Mr. Morris." He said he had been weighing the matter over in his mind for the last fortnight. I then enquired what he intended doing, and ho replied he had ''a pistol, and could easily catch Mr. Morris any night when going to the club or coming from it." He said if he could not g«t anybody to assist him he would go single-handed. He informed me of Mr. Morns' movements, when he left the bank and when he returned. He said he could easily knock him down, take the keys from him, and tret into the bank. He Baid he knew Mr. Morris generally left about 6 o'clock at night. He said nothing at that time about cutting Mr. Morris' throat, nor about setting the town on fire. I said I would think over the matter. I made up my mind to put Mr. Morris on hi 3 guard, though I never at any time had the smallest intention of taking part in the burglary. I subsequently called Mr. Purdie and informed him of the matter. On Sunday night the prisoner told me that if he gave it up that night he would go into the bank on the following Saturday withsome deeds, and when Mr. Morris was perusing the deeds, he would knock him on the head. We went round on Tuesday night, and he was knocking about some time before he could make up his mind to go in. This was between 10 and 11 o'clock. I proposed to give it up, bnt he insisted on having a try. That wa3 at the corner of the bank. We walked acros3 the road to the swamp, and went into the swamp, as some parties came by playing a concertina. The prisoner then started to blacken his face, and, having finished that, he said, " Come on, Ellis ; how do I look ? " I hesitated, and proposed to toss up half-a-crown whether to go or stop. He said it would be dangerous to Btrike a light. I

blackened my face then, and we want over to the bank. I carried the pistol, as I wished to save bloodshed. I feared if he carried it he would most likely have shot some one. The prisoner knocked at the bank door. He had a parcel of pepper and the bludgeon in his hands. The door was opened by somebody whom I supposed to be Mr. Morris, and a voice said. Come in," whereupon the prisoner rushed in, and I cleared away and returned home.