ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY

Evening Star, Issue 15909, 15 September 1915, Page 9

ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY

ELTHAM OFFENDERS PLEAD GUILTY. [Pee United Pbess Association.] ELTHAM, September 14. ( In the Magistrate's Court this morning William Keith and Sam White were charged—firstly, that about June 1 they did attempt to break and enter the Bank of New South Wales, with intent to commit a crime therein; secondly, did break and enter the premises of Charjes Anderson Wilkinson, and did commit theft. The evidence showed that a tunnel was constructed from a vacant section underneath a billiard room, and thence under the bank to the strong room. The tunnel was approximately 33ft 6in long. The tools used were a short-handled shovel, a fork, an adze, a tomahawk, and a spade. The accused wanted a third party to do the watching whilst the burglary was being committed, and Keith, when half-drunk, approached one George M'Glashan, a coachbuilder at Eltham. M'Glashan at first apparently fell in with the plans, but eventually informed a fourth party, whose name was_ not given in court, and he in turn informed the bank manager (Mr William Denham Ross), who laid an information with the police. It was the intention of the accused to drill through the concrete work at the base of the strong room. When the tunnel was discovered the concrete showed signs of being bored with a drill or cut with a cold chisel. Interesting evidence was given by Senior Sergeant Dinnie (of Wellington), who identified the finger-prints with those on a bottle found in the underground workings. At the conclusion of the evidence the accused pleaded guilty, and were committed for sentence.