THE ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY AT TAURANGA.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1383, 14 May 1881, Page 2

THE ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY AT TAURANGA.

Fbom the Bail of Plenty Tunes we gather that the circumstances connected with the attempt to rob the National Bank, Tauranjra, as disclosed in evidence, differ materially from the reports first telegraphed. The clever discovery of the plot by Mr .hearing mysterious footsteps following him, tho vigilance of the police, the thrilling encounter with tfie buYglar, and the suspicion's* of the exiseuoe of a local Kelly gang, all rery graphically painted, iv former telegrams, turu out to be simply moonshine. The facts as shown in the - evidence- appear to be that a man- matned Barfield, who kept a tobacconist's shop and bowling naloon, and who has respectable, connections in Tauranga, wanted £50, and he that he could replenish his own coffer* from those of the bank. He communicated his idea to a bdotmaker named Ellis. Barfield and Ellis then plot to rob the bank. Ellis immediately goes to<\ the, , manager and police and tells them all about it. Ellis is advised to go in with Barfield. The result is a plan is concocted winch Ellis refused to swear his advisers did not approve of, and say, "what a capital notion it was," viz., to go the bank, throw pepper in tho manager's eyes, and then seize him and rob the bank. All this time Ellis swsars that he kept; urging B.uheld not to go on with tho burglary, and tries to make out Barfield to be » i most bloodthirsty character. The bank | manager told Ellis that even if he gofc possession of the bank 1 and his keyset could not open the safe without the aocouutant's keys. Ellis goes about with Biirfield at night, reconnoitering in disguise, blackens his own and Barfield's face ou the night of the atlack, and carried a club and uncapped pistol to the door of the bank — knowing well that two policemen was waitinsr with the manager to catch Barfield. Barfield knocks., The manager comes to the door, and then receives a dose of pepper where his head ought to have been, had he not been on the guard. The manager is seized by the throat by BivfiVld — who is a much smaller and weaker man than the manager— and Barfiold's wrists arc seized by the manager. Constable Whelan strikes Bai field on the he.ul with baton, and s ergeant White cover* him with his pistol. Ellis throws tho club down just iuside the door and leave 3 the pistol outside on the footpath. \Vhen B irfleld wns handcuffed Sergeant White runs out into the street to look for accomplices. He carries ■ a rovolyer in one hand and a lighted c.mdle in the other, " because the night was dark." There appears to be a contradiction between U>e manager and EHis's evidence as to some of the preliminaries. The manager said he had never seen the pistol, bludgeon, gag, etc., before the night of the burglary, while Ellis «aid he had taken them to him on tho Sunday night before, and Morris (the manager) returned them next morning.