A Big Bank Robbery.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8757, 6 September 1897, Page 2

A Big Bank Robbery.

EXPLOITS OF A NEW ZEALAND

CLERK.

The Buenos Ayres correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph writes that New Zealand bank clerks would have considerable difficulty just now in obtaining employment in the Argentine Republic, and the reason af pears in the following :—

A gentleman of this persuasion; named Geoffrey Danby, who came across from Wellington by the Tongariro in the beginning of the year, has successfully brought off one of the neatest bank robberies ever perpetrated in South America—and that's, saying a great deal. There is as much romance about it as in a Sherlock Holmes' adventure, and it has proved Mr Danby to be one of those accomplished criminals more often encountered in fiction than in everyday life, the native papers actually going into ecstatic admiration over the ability and daring shown. When Mr Danby left New Zealand a crowd of friends came down to the boat to bid him farewell; among them were many "societyladies," one of the latter even presenting,. him with a " lovely bouquet." h Oa board also was the Argentine manager of a well-known' English firm of agricultural implement makers, who was returning to Buenos Ayres. Danby was introduced in the orthodox manner by an acquaintance who came on board at the time, and he in his turn presented a venerable ' gentleman as his rich uncle, who on the voyage over was more than suspected of making love to a forward young damsel in the steerage, much, of course, to the disgust of the other lady passengers, and greatly to the annoyance of his; nephew Geoffrey, [who by this time):had completely [fascinated the female element. He was rich, they said, good looking, played and sang divinely, got up entertainments, coaxed people into [(Sweepstakes, improvised games, carried round rugs, was always "nice," and generally exercised those minor arts so dear to the female mind.

On arriving at Monte Video, the South American passengers left the boat with a thousand promises to keep up such a de'ightful acquaintance, if only by letter. Danby and uncle went on to England, but from there kept up a brisk eprrespondence with the Argentine merchant. After a time Geoffrey's health necessiated another sea trip, and he turned up in Buenos Ayres, armed this time with letters of recoimneudation to his friend the manager—a superfluity, it would 1 be thought, but forgeries, of course, every one of them. He explained that the bread of idleness disgusted him, and asked for introductions to the banks. These were readily given in person, and to oblige a client of such high standing a position was at once made in the British Bank of South America to assist the accountant. He proved real smart at figures) and charmed the accountant by the amiable willinguess he displayed in relieving him of as ir.uch work as possible. Then suddenly, the accountant was taken sick. Now, whether Providence or Danby was responsible for this, uo- , body knows. However this enabled Danby to loojc through the books, to. discover that a certain merchant had some 100,000 paper dollars \. nearly £7000) lying idle. . c started to write up the nata'e,.as is shown by the blot ingpaper and then the venerable uncle came along, got up as a clerk to the said merchant. He actually deposited a' considerable sura to this" 100,000dol. and obtained a cheque book for his supposed employer. Next day Danby forged a cheque for 30,000d01, but, instead of brirgii git to the bank,the uncle opened an account at a neighbouring bank, and deposited the cheque. It was brought to the nephew, who certified all correct. They made three daily bites at this financial cherry, and then, leaving a few hundred dollars only as a blind in each bank, they decamped with the spoil, not in an apparent hurry, by any mean?, Danby merely complaining of sickness, and getting leave of absence A whole month passed, aud it was not until the merchant was notihVl that a cheque he had presented would overdraw his account. that *tha forgeries were dieC(vred.

Inquiries se?.m to indicate. thn J, curiously enough, the forgers got away in the same vessel which took back Jabez Spencer Balfour. The Argentine, detective force, which has the reputation of being particularly smart, is officially reported to be on the track, but as London, New York, and Melbourne are respectively said to be the hiding places or destination of the fugitives, and as Danby isn'ta criminal trinity, there seems to be a great deal of speculation about this item...