THE ACCUSED, JAMES SLATTERY
TROVE
Leader
– Sat 13 Aug 1898
Thursday 11th August
1898
General News
A
BANK STUCK UP!
ACCUSED
BEFORE THE COURT.
THE
BANK MANAGER'S STORY.
PENSHURST, Thursday.
James Ryan,
alias James Slattery, was charged at the police court to-day with robbery
under arms at the Penshurst branch of the Bank of Victoria, on Thursday, 4th
last. Mr. McCormick, P.M., and Messrs. Thomas Hutton and F. L. Olle, J.'sP.,
were on the bench. Superintendent Devine prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
Robert
Young deposed that he was a groom employed at Elijah's livery stables, Hamilton.
On 4th inst a man of similar build to the accused hired a horse and buggy, which,
he said, he required to go to the Wannon. He identified the horse and buggy outside
the court as those hired. He saw the prisoner at Hamilton on Tuesday, and
identified him as the same man who had hired the horse, and buggy. He saw the
same man on28th July, when he also hired a horse and buggy.
Duncan
Jamieson deposed: On 4th inst, accused called at the Bank of Victoria, Penshurst
(of which I was manager), at about2.40 in the afternoon, and asked to see the manager.
I replied; 'I am the manager." Accused, said; "I have some
deeds," and I then said, "What is your name?" He replied,
"Renshaw." He then made a move towards the manager's room, and I
said, 'I will take them here." He had a small black bag in his left hand,
and I believe that produced is the same. He opened the bag, and I went forward
to see the deeds. He was wearing dark colored glasses and a Chesterfield ulster
of light color. His beard was longer than now, and black. He had a revolver in
his right hand similar to that produced, which he presented in my face and sprang
over the counter, and came beside me. He said, "Lie down.". I asked
"What for?" and he replied, "I am sticking you up. I then went
down on my face, and he said, "Put your hands behind your back." He then
rolled me over, tied my hands behind my back, and put the revolver down on the desk
near, where I was lying. He put a handkerchief in my mouth and tied it behind
my head, and said, '"Keep quiet and I will not hurt you." He then
tied another handkerchief across my eyes and put me behind the counter out of
his sight. I heard the front door of the bank shut and then heard cash rattling.
He felt in my pockets and took the keys of the safe and then went into the strong
room, which was open. I heard someone outside shoving the front door, and
sometime after I felt cold air as if the front door had been opened. After that
I heard someone come into the office and say, "Jamieson, where are
you?" When released I saw Mr. Murphy, of the National Bank, and noticed
then some paper bags of silver on the counter. I then went to the telegraph
office, and found that communication had been interrupted. Made an examination of
the cash, and missed £565 3s. 3d., in notes, gold and silver. I identify the
two £10 and one £1 notes (produced) as being part of those stolen. The
description and amount of money produced correspond with that stolen. To the
Police Magistrate: Prisoner had glasses on when he came over the counter. I
looked at the accused when he levelled the revolver at me, and fancied that his
beard was false. I have no doubt whatever the accused is the same man.
John
Buckley, telegraph messenger at Penshurst, deposed: On the 4th inst., at about
2.45 p.m., I went to the bank and found the door shut. I waited for about, five
minutes, and during that time tried the door and found it fastened. I then knocked
at the windows and looked through them, but could not see anyone inside. I then
went to the post office, and returned to the bank again about 3 o'clock. I met
Mr. Lawson and Mr. Lewis at the door. Onlooking through the window of the
manager's room I saw a chair placed under the knob of the handle of the door in
that room leading to the private apartments. Just then I saw a man come out of
the banking chamber, into the manager's room, who carried a small black bag,
like that produced. He immediately returned to the banking chamber. I went
round to the front of the bank intending to go to the National Bank. When
near the hotel I saw Mr. Murphy, and told him what I had seen. I then went to the
police station, and found that Constable McKenzie was away on duty. I noticed that
the man had black bushy whiskers and wore glasses. I went back to the bank again
and found that the man had gone. The man I saw in the bank was about the same
build as accused, but his whiskers were of a different color. I cannot swear
that accused is the same man I saw in the bank, but I believe him to be so.
Frank
Lawson, chemist, deposed: On 4th inst, about 2.40 p.m., I arrived at
the bank and found the front door shut and the window blinds down. I saw a man
named Edward Lewis, who said that he had been waiting for some time to get a
cheque cashed. We both knocked at the door. I looked through the window of the
banking chamber, on the side of the gardens, and saw several bags of what
looked like coin lying on the counter. I then went to the window of the
manager's room, and saw a chair tilted under the handle of the door leading to
private apartments. I called Lewis's attention to it, and then went round to
the front door again and attempted to open it. Buckley came across, and I
called his attention to the chair. As we stood at the window a man came out
from behind the door leading into the bank chamber. He appeared to see us, and
slipped back. He had a biggish face, with black whiskers. I went to the front
door, and was telling Lewis, when the man opened the door and came out,
carrying a black bag (similar to that produced) in his left hand. His right hand
was in his overcoat pocket, apparently clasping what appeared to be a revolver.
He said, "It's all right, I have just been doing private business with the
manager. He is inside, if you want him." He then walked away. When distant
about 10 paces away I called out to him to stop, saying, "Wait a bit, old
man." He then started to run along the gardens fence towards the railway
station, and I followed him. He turned the corner of the gardens towards the springs,
where I saw a horse and buggy, the horse being tied to a fence. He slipped the
halter off the horse's head, leaving it
tied to the fence, and jumped in the buggy and drove off towards Hamilton. I was
about six paces away when he got into the buggy. That the accused is the same man,
I have no doubt whatever. His whiskers were then blacker and longer than now,
hut I recognise him by his general appearance. I have seen the horse and buggy
outside the court, which are the same that I saw on that occasion. I picked out
the accused from amongst three men at the Hamilton gaol, and recognised
him as the man seen driving away in the buggy on 4th inst.
Joseph
Patrick Murphy, clerk of the National Bank, deposed: On 4th inst., about 2.55,
I was going to the Bank of Victoria to see Mr. Jamieson. When half way I met Mr.
Buckley, and from what he told me I went back to the National Bank, and
returned to the Bank of Victoria with Mr. McLeod. We went into the bank and
found Mr. Jamieson behind the counter, bound and gagged, and we released him.
Theresa
Fairbairn, bar maid, at Tllley's Hotel, deposed: On 4th inst. I was in the bar
about 2.15, when a strange man came in. He had a handkerchief tied round the lower
part of his chin, and asked for a glass of ale. He inquired what time the train
left for Hamilton. I told him, and when he was going I noticed that he
had a small black bag in his band, like that produced. I asked him if he
was selling jewellery, and he replied "Yes," and then went towards
the post office. Accused is like the man, only his beard was then darker. I
think he is the man. He had a white handkerchief round his chin (like that
produced), and also wore goggles similar to those now in court.
John
Weir, constable, deposed that he saw accused driving through Dunkeld towards Glen
Thompson about 6 o'clock on 4th inst. He kept the lower part of his face
covered with his hand whilst he passed him. He identified the horse and buggy.
He had no report of the robbery at that time, but when he received it he sent
word to the station master informing him to look out for any man corresponding
with the description given; also asked the guard of the Ararat train to do the same.
Upon arrival at Glen Thompson he was informed that a man answering the
description of the robber had boarded the train there, about 8 o'clock.
David
Williams, groom at McLennan's Hotel, Glen Thompson, deposed as to the arrival
of a man (whom he identified as the accused) at the hotel there, and his
subsequent departure.
Constables
O’Donnell and Bourke and Sergeant McCurdy gave evidence as to the capture of
the prisoner at Ararat. Accused, who reserved his defence, was committed to
take his trial at the Ararat criminal assizes on 15th September.
PLAN OF
THE PLACES.
