A SHOOTING BANKER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4489, 30 January 1886, Page 3

A SHOOTING BANKER.

The manager of the Commercial Bank of Tumberumba, New South Wales, who it will be remembered was arrested for firing into a crowd of New Year's Eve roysterers and wounding cne H.A. Welfe, has made the following statement in explanation of the affair :— " I was engaged at the bank till half-past 11 o'clock at night, it being the day for balancing the half-year's operations. I then retired to my bedroom. I was soon afterwards aroused by my wife, who appeared to be much terrified at a noise and disturbance in the street. She asked me to go with her and see what was the matter. We went on to the verandah and saw a crowd of persons making a dreadful noise and letting off fireworks. We then went into the drawingroom, and heard the crowd approaching the bank, one person saying, ' Come up to the bank ; there's lots of money there.' They came up and began yelling, hooting, and beating empty tins, also singing ' There's bound to be a row.' 1 aaid to my wife, ' I have a great mind to get a revolver and frighten them off by firing over their heads.' I then got a revolver, which I kept loaded for the protection of the bank, and opened the hall door, my wife being at my side. I saw near the fence about 50 men, who on seeing me began to groan and yell. I called out to them to go away, but instead of doing so they yell 3d and groaned more. I than raised my revolver to fire into the air and fired four shots quickly. While I was doing so my wife, who was greatly excited and terrified, pulled my arm down, whereby the firing may have become depreaaed, and caused the deplorable result. I then shut the door and returned to bed. No one can deplore the dreadful result more than I do."