[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Tauranga, Tuesday.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1382, 12 May 1881, Page 2

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Tauranga, Tuesday.

William Henry Barfield waB again brought before the Bench, and charged with the attempted bank robbery. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. the Court was crowded to excess. Mr Moms (of the National Bank), Mr Purdie (of the New Zealand), Mr Benjamin Ellis (bootmaker, Strand), and . Constable Whelan were examined. Mr Ellis statement shows a complete plot. The Court opened again to-day. Sergeant White was subjected to a severe cross-examination by Mr Moss, who made an eloquent address for the prisoner. Barfield was eventually committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Auckland.

[UNITED PREFS ASSOCIATION.] Ellis, in his evidence, said : In April prisoner called me into his saloon and asked me how was business. I said things -were very quiet. He said he had not taken sixpence all that day, and that if things did not change he would have to do something, as he was not clearing his rent. He said he had sent £5 for Mr. Nathan in Auckland, and he had closed on this money, and stopped his credit till he should send more. There was only one way, he said, he could see of cleariug himself. I asked him what it was, and he replied it was by going to the National Bank. He added theie wai a capital chance there, as there was only one party on the bank premises'. I asked him who that was, and ho said it -was Mr. Morris. He further stated he had been -weighing the matter over in hid mind for the last fortnight. I then enquired what he iutended doing. He said ho had a pistol, and could easily catch Mr. Moiris any night when going to the Club or coming from it. He said if he could not get anybody to assist him ho would go single-handed. Pie infoimed me of Mr Morris' movements, when he left the bank aud when he returned. He said he could easily knock Mr Morris down, take the keys from him, and get into the bank. He said he knew Mr Morris generally left about 6 o'clock at night. He said nothing at that time about cutting Mr Morris' throat, nor about setting the town on fire. I said that I would thinkover the matter. I made up my mind to put Mr Moiris on, his guard. I never at any time' had the smallest inttntion of taking part in the burglary. I hubsequently called on Mr Purdic aud informed him ot the matter. On Sunday night he told me that if he gave it up that night he would go into the bank on thofollowing 1 Saturday with some deed, and when Mr Morris was perusing the deed he would knock him on the head. We went round on Tuesday night, and he was knocking about some time before he could made up his mind to go. It was between 10 and 11 o'clock, i proposed to give it up, but lie insisted on having a try. That was at the corner of the bank. He walked across the road to the swamp. Some parties came by playing a concertina. The prisoner then started to blacken his face. He said, "Come on, Ellis, how do I look ?" I hesitated, and promised to toss up half-a-crown whether to go or stop. He said it would be dangerous to .strike a light. I blackened my face, and we went over to the bank. 1 carried the pistol, as I wished to save bloodshed. I feared if he carried the pistol he would most likely shoot someone. The prisoner knocked at the bank door. He had a parcel of pepper and the bludgeon in his hands. The door was opened by somebody. I supposed it to be Mr Morris. A voice said, "Come in," whereupon the prisoner rushed in, and I cleared away and returned home.