ATTACK ON BANK MANAGER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 22 January 1926, Page 5

ATTACK ON BANK MANAGER

thk newmarket cask Marshall sentenced to five YEA lIS' (Uutr.aJ I'reaa Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. Five years' imprisonment was the sentence-*imposed by .Mr Justice Stringer on (leoigc Joseph Marshall, aged (!J. who presented a loaded revolver at the head of Mr (liltnnrc. manager ol the Newmarket branch of the Auckland Savings Bank, on the night of lit'n November in an attempt to rob the bank. Marshall had also pleaded guilty to bigamy, and the term of live years covered this oll'ence. !u seeking, leniency for Marshall, Mr Beiby pleaded in extenuation of Ihe crime that the prisoner was a. tiiiiii of <>l years, who lind hith.-rlo led a blameless life. In his time he had held many responsible positions. As t\>r as the otl'once ol bhmmv was concerned, prisoner was married to a woman 70 years ol age, from whom he was living apart. !!e had not seen her for twelve months. It was of course. ditticuH to understand whv Marshall, an educated man. did not 'institute the fullest imp.uries before contracting the second marriage. Five vears ago he had lctt the emplov of the Auckland Savings Bank owing to ill-health, having o'.-n paid twelve months - salary-or. the termination of his engagement. Since then he had lent two sons £IOOO. mi-. their failure had fufher affected hi:' health. Prisoner sull'ered from neuritis. . iii, Mr Justice Stringer asked what proof the Court had of these statements. Judging by the depositions, the prisoner seemed to have been in the habit of inquiring through main moiml agencies with a view to many inn widows for their money. "I e deliberately planned I" rob the bank. He armed himself with a loaded revolver and devised a, means ol niaskincr his features." said Mr Justice Stringer, "in his own statement he ruvs he had an accomplice waiting outside." The Judge said thai he wanted evidence concerning what had been said bv counsel. He could iioi accept an ex parte statement. What had been said only went to show thai M-i'-shall had the means and know lodge of making an attempt to rol t,he bank which might have been successful. Mr Y 11. Meredith. Crown Prosecutor, said thai Dr. T. Cray, medicalsuperintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital, had been una', le to hud any symptoms of mental trouble. in passing sentence. Mr Jus'ice Stringer said that Marshall had pleaded guilty to one of the most serious offences'on the criminal calendar, one that made him liable to imprisonment for life and, also flogging. Apart from the question of the prisoner's matrimonal vagaries, his character seemed to have been fairly good, and the Court intended to give him credit for what his counsel had said regarding his health. However, prisoner had armed himself with a revolr.-r and had awaited an opportunity that would afford facilities for robbing the bank. He had presented the gun a I the manager's head. "I may say that had it not been for the commendable conduct of the manager, who 1 think showed great courage and proinpitiide in rushing a man who presented a loaded revolver at his head. a very large sum might have been taken from the bank." added the Judge. After being sentenced. Marshall explained that he had the revolver in his possession, and the reason being that lie had it when in a store al Hastings. "Oh. it does not matter where you had it." retorted the Judge. "(>n this occasion yon had it in your hand and pointed it at the bank manager's head."