BANK MANAGER’S FATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16782, 11 July 1922, Page 5

BANK MANAGER’S FATE.

N.S.W, MURDER, By Telegraph—Press Association—CopTrig-ht Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, July 10. The Government and the Savings Bank Oommisisioners each have offered £2oo reward -for evidence which will lead to the conviction of the murderers of Mr Kemmis. The whole detective department is engaged, so far without result.

further evidence appears to indicate that Kemmis’s assailants acted precipitately. Indications are that it was intended too attack him when on route from the train to his home in a quiet street in Wahroonga. It has been ascertained that a motor-ear was waiting there when the train arrived and left immediately. The supposition is that the assailants’ instructions were to shadow Kemmis to Waliroonga, but finding him alone in the train they seized the opportunity to attack him and secure the keys, also taking five pound notes. The waiting motor-car must have made quick time back to Hornsby. The police also acted quickly, Th? train reached Wahroonga about 10.20. The Hornsby police were informed and visited the bank at 10.40. Finding the door open and expecting the robbers to be inside, the p-olice rushed in, hut their quarry had gone. The robbers, finding themselves baulked through having only one of the two keys necessary to open the strongroom, had not wasted any time in making their escape. Mr Kemmis was a nephew of the late Canon Kemmis and was prominent in Church and philanthropic movements.

Mr Frank Cecil Kemmis. manager of the Hornsby branch of the Government Savings Bank, was assaulted in a train between Hornsby and Wahroonga while on the way home from the bank and robbed of his keys. He was discovered in a semi-conscious’ condition by another passenger and was only able able to state lie had been assaulted and that his keys had been taken. He was removed to the hospital, where he died the following day. After the assault .an attempt was made to rob the bank, where there was £SOOO in the safe. The attempt was unsuccessful, as two keys were required to open the sate. The rule of the bank is that one key was carried by the manager and the other by another officer. The bank was open for depositors on Friday night and apparently the criminals watched the offirials close the premises about ten o’clock aVd followed Kemmis to the train. Plans for the robbery had evidently heen maturing for some time, as a few days ago Kemrais’s house at Wahroonga was entered and a bunch of keys stolon but. owing to a number ,)f suburban robberies having occurred recently, the significance was not apparent. The police discovered a heavy blacksmith’s hammer near the railway station at Wahroonga, which apparently had been used on Kemmis.