ROBBING BANKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9495, 26 April 1894, Page 4

ROBBING BANKS.

To stick up a bank and rob it, shooting the officers if necessary, is one of the common-places of crime in Australia. It will be remembered that the robbery of a bank is one of the exploits recorded in " Robbery Under Arms," and that the Kelly gang robbed two banks. Within the last year three banks have been attacked in New South Wales, and two murders have been committed in the process. In the circumstances the frequency of the crime is perhaps not much matter for surprise. These banks stand in quiet places, and sometimes are at a considerable distance from the nearest house. They contain the precise kind of booty which bushrangers want, namely, cash. Valuable goods are no temptation to these men, because they could not be easily carried away, and would be difficult to dispose of. But money in notes and gold can be readily lifted, andean be everywhere disposed of. The robbers can make their attack at the most suitable time, and they know that they will have to deal with only one man. The Kelly gang were successful so far, as they escaped with their booty for a time, but as a rule attacks on banks have not been happy in their consequences for the daring men who attempt the exploit. This last affair at Barraba has been about as unfortunate as possible. The bank manager was shot, while 110 prize was secured owing to the alarm being given. In all probability the criminals will be captured, and if convicted will certainly be hanged. But the banks will have to consider the policy of establishing branches in exposed places, or the Government will have to accord special protection.