AUCKLAND BANK ROBBERY

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1932, Page 7

AUCKLAND BANK ROBBERY

CLERK ADMITS GUILT

MONEY BURIED IN GARDEN

METHODS TOLD IN COURT

COMMITTAL FOR SENTENCE

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Auckland, Last Night.

A plea of guilty was entered by Norman Gloag Smith, aged 25, a bank clerk, when he was charged in the Police Court to-day with breaking and entering by day the counting house of the Newmarket branch of the National Bank of New Zealand and stealing £3220. 10s., the property of the bank. Smith .was arrested on Thursday evening by Detective Hunt, who recovered, the missing money buried in the ground at Smith’s homo in Balmoral.

Murray Walbran, teller at the bank, said that at about 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday he made up the cash, at the. bank, approximately £BOOO, and locked the money in the teller’s safe in the bank’s strongroom. All the notes were In a box and. were separated, from the silver and other coins. Witness did not secure the strongroom door as he did not hold the keys for either of the two Jocks.

About 7 p.m. witness, accompanied by Smith and another clerk employed in the bank, Nuthall, left the premises and walked along Broadway. After going a short distance Smith remarked to Nuttall: “I have forgotten an insurance policy; I must go back to the bank and get it. Lend me your key.” Smith-was given the key, continued witness, and Smith and Nuthall retraced their steps in the direction of the bank. They returned some minutes later, and after walking a short distance Smith, who had an, envelope in his hand, said: "There is nothing in this; I must have got the wrong envelope.” He was again given Nuthall’s key and ran towards the bank, Nuthall strolling after him.

CARRIED LEATHER HANDBAG. '

Witness did not see what happened next as he walked to where his motorcar was parked in Station Street, off Broadway! and then drove his car'to a position near the bank. Nuthall was standing outside the bank and Smith cam© out alone. He' was carrying a leather handbag and was driven to hie home by witness. Next morning Walbran said- he discovered that £3220 10s. h'ad been stolen from the teller’s safe. The notes were those produced by the police in' Court. Cross-examined by counsel, witness said he had known Smith only four months. Smith had been in the employ of the bank at Newmarket for about eight years and was recognised a® an efficient officer. Counsel: Have you noticed anything abnormal about him, physically or mentally, during the past month. ■ Witness:' No. , ,

Counsel: I understand he is a very strenuous worker? Witness: Yes. ; Counsel: During the past eight years he would have had ample opportunities to steal from, the bank?—Y©?, if he so de'sired. Counsel: Has not his action come as a shock to everybody?—lt was a great shock to me. ■ Graham Nuthall, a clerk, replying to counsel, said he had, not noticed anything unusual about Smith during the pant few weeks. Gnritb was a keen bank officer and worked, well. Another clerk, John Richard Woods', said on the Thursday evening he counted a number of banknotes at the detective office. They totalled £3220 10s. and were the same notes as h'ad been removed from the bankSmith had no right to possess the key to the safe, and he had not informed witness how he had opened, the cafe. FRANK ADMISSION. Detective Hunt said that on the Thursday evening he interviewed Smith, who frankly admitted having stolen the mbnley. Smith took witness to his hom© at Balmoral and there dug up the money, which was concealed in the ground at the back of th© house,- The notes were contained in two glass bottle® and a tin. Smith told witness that he opened the cafe with a key which he had since put down a sewer. He'explained about the money, of'his own accord and gave every assistance. In a written statement mad© to Detective Hunt Smith said: “On November 2 I took frpm the bank at-New-market a sum of mopey. All the money ■that I took' I gave on my own accord to Detective Hunt. The money was buried. I wish .to thank Detective Hunt for the kind and courteous manner he has shown to me, apd I am only too willing to do anything I can that may be. of assistance to him. I also wish to express my sincere regrets to the staff persons who have been put to Inconvenience in regard to this affair. The cash was all in notes and amounted tp £32^o. 10®.” , The presiding justices committed Smith to the Supreme Court for eentence. Bail was not sought. It was stated by counsel that he wishfe ed to have Smith medically examined by experts before sentence was passed. He asked that Smith should not be brought before the judge until examined, and this request was granted.