Bonnie Whitehead - Princess of Penshurst 1935

THE ADVOCATE

Thursday 10^th October 1935

PENSHURST

Nearly £400 Raised by Competition and Dance.

The princess carnival held to raise funds for St. Joseph's School, Penshurst, was brought to a close in the Mechanics' Hall, Penshurst, the building being packed to the doors. The candidates were: Princess Bonnie Whitehead, Princess Eileen Harrington, and Princess Gwen Kelly, each being charmingly attired. Their attendants were: Margaret Wilton, Kathleen Whitehead and Margaret Kelly, while Clete Harty heralded the arrival of the royal personages. Fairlie O'Brien was flower girl, and R. Harrington crown bearer. The first part of the evening was taken up with vocal and musical items, a number of Hamilton artists contributing to the programme. At the conclusion of the entertainment, the princesses marched from the back of the hall, and took their places on the stage, each being warmly applauded. The Rev. Fr. Scanlon introduced Very Rev. J. Kerin, P.P., Hamilton, who announced the amounts raised by the different princesses as follow:—Princess Bonnie Whitehead, £143;Princess Gwen Kelly, £125/3/2; Princess Eileen Harrington, £102/2/3; total, £370/5/5.There was applause when the result was announced, and the sum raised speaks well for the generosity of the people of Penshurst and district, as well as for the organising abilities of the various committees.

FR. KERIN CROWNS WINNING PRINCESS.

The Rev. Fr. Kerin then crowned Princess Bonnie and said he regretted that he had not two more crowns for the other princesses. In a contest of that particular kind someone had to win and someone had to lose, but he felt sure that one and all would take the result in a proper spirit. He had been pleased to assist and thanked the Rev. Fr. Scanlon for asking him to do so. He congratulated the promoters on the magnificent result obtained and he could say without exaggeration that no parish in the district could have done better. Considering the times and the financial stress it was an effort to be proud of. He also desired to congratulate them on the friendly spirit displayed by the non-Catholic part of the community. His predecessor (the late Mgr. Shanahan) had always fostered that spirit and he was glad that it had survived. The carnival had perhaps entailed financial stress on some, but the givers would never regret helping such a cause. He congratulated the Rev. Fr. Scanlon on the success of the carnival and hoped to keep him in the parish for at least another twelve months.

ZEALOUS WORKERS THANKED.

The Rev. Fr. Scanlon thanked the Rev Fr. Kerin for performing the crowning ceremony. He had been agreeably surprised at the result of the carnival, and had pleasure in congratulating the winning princess very heartily. When the carnival was commenced they had only two candidates, but Princess Bonnie's mother came in and pluckily allowed her daughter to fill the gap, and it gave him pleasure to see her enthroned as winning princess. He also thanked the other princesses, their supporters and all who assisted. He referred to the kindly cooperation of all, especially thanking Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Ubergang, and Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Burow, who had placed their residence sat the disposal of the committees for holding house parties. The carnival had passed off well, and he thanked all for their assistance and support.

Fr. Kerin then presented souvenirs to the other princesses and their attendants. Bouquets of flowers were also handed to the princesses by friends and admirers. In presenting a bouquet to Miss N. Hayes (head teacher of St. Joseph's School), the Rev. Fr. Kerin said that no one had worked harder than she had done, and everyone had admired the way in which she had trained the children. The function reflected great credit on the children and to all. The Rev. Fr. Manning (Port Fairy), who was warmly received, said it gave him pleasure to attend the crowning ceremony. He congratulated them on the wonderful effort. The Rev. Fr. Scanlon thanked Mrs. Walls and the Hamilton performers for their assistance. The proceedings terminated with a dance. The ladies provided a dainty supper. The amount raised will be augmented by the door takings, which amounted to £27.

THE WINNING PRINCESS.

 

Little Bonnie Whitehead, the winning Princess, whose candidature raised £143. She is attended by Kathleen Whitehead.

 

Thursday 22nd, Friday 23rd and Friday 30th September 1898

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The Argus – Fri 23 Sept 1898

Thursday 22^nd September 1898

THE PENSHURST BANK ROBBERY.

SLATTERY IN COURT.

THE DEFENCE AN ALIBI.

ARARAT, Thursday.

At the Supreme Court today, before Mr Justice Holroyd, James Ryan, alias James Slattery, was presented on a charge of robbery under arms at the Bank of Victoria, Penshurst, on the 4th of August when he assaulted Duncan Jamieson, the manager of the bank, and stole £563/3/3.

Slattery was quite composed and self-possessed. He challenged 13 jurors before a full panel was selected, and, whilst giving thoughtful attention to the evidence, appeared to be quietly indifferent to his surroundings. Slattery is a native of this district and the case attracted a great deal of attention, the court being crowded all day.

The evidence for the prosecution was practically the same as that given at the Penshurst Police Court. Duncan Jamieson, bank manager deposed to the facts of the robbery. Robert Young, groom, identified Slattery as the man who hired a buggy on the 4th August and did not return it; and Frank Lawson also identified the accused  is the man he saw leaving the bank, and who ran to the buggy and drove away.

Constable McKenzie deposed that he was not at Penshurst on the day of the robbery, but on the previous Thursday, the 28^th July, the telegraph wires were cut on each side of Penshurst and a man answering the description of the robber of the bank was seen in the township. The circumstances connected with Slattery's arrest, and the finding of the money near the station, were again narrated.  

For the defence, Frederick Reid, keeper of a coffee place at Ballarat, was called and stated that between half past 7 and 8 on the evening of July 27 Slattery called at his house and engaged a bedroom. Witness showed him up to it, and the bed in the morning presented the appearance of having been slept in. Slattery to get to Hamilton by 11 o'clock on the  morning of the 28th July would require to  have left by the Ballarat to Ararat train at 11.15 a.m. on the 27^th.

  

Mr Horwitz who appeared for the prisoner, addressed the jury at considerable length, remarking that Reid's evidence was a proof that Slattery was not at Penshurst on the 28^th July, and was not identical with the man who had robbed the bank on August 4. He commented in strong, terms on the way in which the case had been presented by the Crown, in not calling the men who travelled in the carriage with Slattery and who, it might be inferred, would have proved that the prisoner got in the train at Hamilton, and not at Glenthompson.

The Court adjourned until to tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.  

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Portland Guardian – Monday 26 September 1898

Thursday 22^nd September 1898

The Penshurst Bank Robbery.

ARARAT, Thursday.

At the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Holroyd, James Ryan, alias James Slattery, was presented on a charge of robbery under arms at the Bank of Victoria, Penshurst, on the 4th of August, when he assaulted Duncan Jamieson, the manager of the bank, and stole £565 3s 3d.

Slattery was quite composed and self-possessed, He challenged 13 jurors before a full panel was selected, and, whilst giving thoughtful attention to the evidence, appeared to be quietly indifferent to his surroundings. Slattery is a native of this district, and the case attracted a great deal of attention, the court being crowded all day.

The evidence for the prosecution was practically the same as that given at the Penshurst Police Court. Duncan Jamieson, bank manager, deposed to the facts of the robbery; Robert Young, groom, identified Slattery as the man who hired a buggy on the 4th August and did not return it; and Frank Lawson also identified the accused as the man he saw leaving the bank, and who ran to the buggy and drove away.

Constable McKenzie deposed that he was not at Penshurst on the day of the robbery, but on the previous Thursday, the 28th July, the telegraph wires were cut on each side of Penshurst, and a man answering the description of the robber of the bank was seen in the township. The circumstances connected with Slattery's arrest, and the finding ot the money near the station, were again narrated. For the defense, Frederick Reid, keeper of a coffee palace at Ballarat, was called, and stated that between half-past 7 and 8 on the evening of July 27, Slattery called at his house and engaged a bedroom. Witness showed him up to it, and the bed in the morning presented the appearance of having been slept in. Slattery, to get to Hamilton by 11 o'clock on the morning of the 28th July, would require to have left by the Ballarat to Ararat train at 1.15 a.m. on the 27th. Mr. Horwitz, who appeared for the prisoner, addressed the jury at consider able length, remarking that Reid's evidence was a proof that Slattery was not at Penshurst on the 28th July, and was not identical with the man who robbed the bank on August 4. He commented in strong terms on the way in which the case had been presented by the Crown, in not calling the men who travelled in the carriage with Slattery, and who, it might be inferred, would have proved that the prisoner got in the train at Hamilton, and not at Glenthompson.

Friday 23^rd  September 1898

ARARAT, Friday. The prosecutor for the Queen addressed the jury, urging that the setting up of a half-kind of alibi was merely bolstering up a defenseless case. Mr. Justice Halroyd reviewed the evidence at great length, and was very decidedly against the prisoner; and the jury, after a retirement of half-an-hour, returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was remanded for sentence. On Saturday morning the prisoner was sentenced to 10 years' hard labor, with the first week in every year in solitary confinement.

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The Horsham Times – Fri 5 August 1898

Friday 30^th  September 1898

THE PENSHURST BANK ROBBERY.

 A TRUE LOVER.

Of the final act in the trial of James Slattery for the Penshurst bank robbery the '' Ararat Advertiser" writes:- He (Slattery) blanched somewhat as sentence was pronounced upon him, but in a quiet voice, which betrayed no emotion, said the sentence was a cruel one - a remark which brought from His Honour a stern rebuke. But a little way removed from the Court House was the wretched young woman to whom Slattery was engaged to be married over four years ago, and who, had her lover not taken the first downward step in crime, but had instead again contested the electorate of Normanby, might possibly have lived to be the wife of a Minister of the Crown. To her the blow was a severe one, but, recovering her composure, she assured Slattery, in the last interview allowed her, that even were it 20 years she would remain true to him. She purposes taking up her residence in Melbourne so as to be able to see the man as often as the goal regulations will allow.

One of the closing acts in connection with the stirring little drama of the robbery of the Bank of Victoria at Penshurst took place on Tuesday, when Superintendent Larkan handed over to the manager of the Ararat branch the sum of £565 3s 3d, found when the robber of the bank, James Slattery, was arrested.

Monday 8th, Thursday 11th and Thursday 18th August 1898

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The Mercury (Hobart) – Thursday 11 August 1898

Monday 8^th August 1898

With regard to the doings of James Slattery, arrested for robbery at the Penshurst branch of the Bank of Victoria, and who formerly served a sentence at the Yatala Stockade, some astonishment is expressed at the release of the prisoner from Yatala, considering that he was sentenced to 3½ years' hard labour in August, 1896, and that that term, in the ordinary course of events, would not expire until February, 1900.

It has transpired that Slattery received the benefit of a considerable remission of his sentence in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. He had behaved remarkably well during his incarceration, and it is possible for a prisoner to obtain a remission equivalent to about a third of his sentence on account of good conduct. Slattery secured credit marks equal to more than a fourth of the term. He was sentenced at the Adelaide Criminal Sessions on August 3, 1895, for forgery, to a term equal to 1,278 days. Being a first offender he received the Jubilee remission of one sixth of his sentence, equal to 213 days, and earned credit marks entitling him to 347 days off. Altogether he served 718 days, being released on July 22, so that he must have been soon over the Victorian border after leaving Yatala.

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Goulburn Evening Penny Post – Sat 13 August 1898

Thursday 11^th August 1898

The Penshurst Bank Robbery.

MELBOURNE, Thursday.-James Ryan, alias James Slattery, was presented at the Penshurst Police Court today on a charge of robbery under arms at the local branch of the Bank of Victoria on the 4th instant. The facts, as already known, were set forth in detail, and the accused, who reserved his defense, was committed for trial.

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The Horsham Times – Thursday 18^th August 1898

Mr. Louis Howitz, of Hamilton, will defend James Slattery, the alleged Penshurst bank robber, at the Ararat Assizes. Slattery is awaiting trial in the Ballarat Gaol. 

Friday 5th August 1898

 

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TheArgus – Friday 5^th August 1898

 

Friday 5th August 1898

THE ACCUSED IDENTIFIED.

AN OLD POLITICAL OPPONENT OF MR. SHIELS, M.L.A.

ARARAT, Friday.

The accused, who terms himself John Ryan, was identified late last nightas James Slattery, a man well known in the Western district, and formerlysecretary of the Shearers Union at Casterton. Slattery was at one time a mostprominent figure in the labour movements of the Western district, hisconnection with the trades unions and the Australian Natives Association standinghim in such stead that he contested one election against Mr. Shiels, and polled well. In the middleof July, 1896, Slattery came to the front as the perpetrator of a very cleverseries of frauds on share brokers, by means of forging scrip of the Broken HillJunction North Company, and selling it openly in the market. By this means hesold script to the value of £3,000 to various brokers- among whom were Messrs.Wilkinson, Harrison, and Porter, of Adelaide. Ultimately Slattery left Adelaidefor Melbourne with £1300 sovereigns and a bank draft for £1,500. Within a fewdays the fraud was discovered, in consequence of a purchaser who desired his scripdivided into parcels forwarding his scrip to the office of the company in Melbourne.

Detective-sergeant Ward and Detective Macmanamny arrested Slattery inMelbourne through his cashing the draft, and £965 was found in his possession.Of this £400 was lodged to the credit of a young lady, to whom Slattery wasengaged to be married, but directly she learned how it was obtained sherenounced all claim to it. Detective Macmanamny subsequently obtained a fullconfession from Slattery, and he was extradited to South Australia, receivingthree years and a half hard labour at the Adelaide Criminal Sittings on August3, 1896. Though this sentence would not expire until February 3, 1900 Slatterywas, by some means or other released in July last, and apparently has lost notime in getting into mischief again. He is a native of Bendigo, 35 years ofage, and prior to his arrest for forgery was always regarded as an honest andtrustworthy man.

 

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EveningNews (Sydney) – Tue 9 August 1898

 

Friday 5^th August 1898

ROBBERY UNDER ARMS

ACCUSED'S CAREER, A LOVE STORY.

The man James Ryan was brought before the police court at Ararat (Vic.)on Friday, and charged with robbery under arms at the Bank of Victoria,Penshurst (Vic.) on August 4.

Superintendent Larkan stated that the police were informed that thePenshurst bank had been robbed at 2.50 on the previous afternoon, and about£600 was taken, and he decided to meet the Hamilton train, which arrived at9.30 p.m. It was believed that the accused got in the train, at Glen Thompson.The police, who were all in plain clothes, were stationed on either side of theplatform as the train came up, and a man was in a second class compartment,huddled up, with his head on one side, and a bandage round his neck. The policetook him to the stationmaster's office, and in his right-hand pocket were founda revolver, fully loaded in five chambers, and 40 cartridges, which, he said,had been given him by a man, whom he did not know. The police, finding nothingin the carriage, went down, to the station yard, and by the side of the linenear Princess street a new strong portmanteau, containing a brief bag and themissing money was found (reports the Melbourne 'Age').

Superintendent Larkan then informed the bench that the man during thenight had washed some of the black off his whiskers. Prisoner denied this,saying that nothing had been given him either to eat or drink. He had only hada pannikin with a little water in it, and if he had washed in that and drankthe water he did well. Then, turning to the superintendent, he added: 'How doyou like that now?' Prisoner is extremely taciturn. He has made no statement tothe police at all, beyond a few words disclaiming all knowledge of the crime.

In the portmanteau, which was obtained at the railway station, and whichis addressed 'James Slattery Warrak, Ararat,' is some black pigment, evidentlythe stuff he had used for dye- ing his whiskers. The portmanteau also containedhis discharge from the Dry Creek labor prison. The accused subsequently admitted his name was James Slattery.

Prior to June 15, 1896, Slattery was known, only to fame as a risingpolitical aspirant, who had been expected by many to wrest from ex- PremierShiels his seat in the Legislative Assembly. At Casterton he was a prominentand well respected man, who took a keen interest in public affairs; but it wasas secretary of the Casterton branch of the Shearers' Union that he was bestknown locally. And an excellent secretary to the shearers' society he made. Itwas a complete revelation, even to those most immediately connected with him,when on the date given Detective Sergeant Ward and Detectives M'Manamny andM'Manus arrested him at a hotel bar in Bourke street and charged him withforging and uttering scrip.

He had been passing under thename of 'E. Long,' and admitted to the detectives that he was the person ofthat name whose accounts in various Melbourne banks amounted to a large total.'I beat the 'books' badly at the Grand National meeting,' he said inexplanation. This proved of no avail, as his identity was soon establishedbeyond doubt.

The forgeries perpetrated by Slattery were in respect of 4000 shares inthe Broken Hill Junction North Company. In nearly every instance this company'sshares were made out in parcels of 100 each, and when the forger prepared aparcel of 500, be made in an otherwise excellently developed scheme, the errorwhich led to the early detection of his crime.

When this parcel came to the hands of 'Mr. J. L. Wharton, the legalmanager of the company in Melbourne, he saw at once that it was a forgery. Areference to the register confirmed the fact. The shares were made out in thename of the legal manager, in trust, such as many more, and for the signa- turewas written 'John L. Wharton, per P. S. Wood, acting manager.' The names werewritten in very good imitation, of Mr. Woods's writing, but the other wordsseemed to be written without attempt at disguise, Mr. Wharton had become awareof Slattery's handwriting through his having brought an action against thecompany for forfeiture of shares. In a visit to Adelaide Mr. Wharton and one ofthe directors obtained information which resulted in the arrest of Slattery.

The circumstances of the company were such that only on comparativelyrare occasions did the scrip reach the hands of the manager, when sales were affected.The case was unlike that, say, of a company making frequent calls. Hence, hadthe parcels all been made of the regular denomination, the crime might havelong remained undiscovered, and Slattery might even now be living in luxuryabroad. The scrip was printed on apparently the same class of paper as thegenuine article, and the signatures were such as an experienced forger mightfeel pride in.' Stamped in crimson ink were the names of two Melbourneshareholders, to demonstrate that the shares were not new. One of these was agood copy of the original, but a shade too large; the other was an exactreproduction. On the back of the scrip, however, a mistake had been made in thesignature of a receipt for payment of a call, 'A. M. Fiedler' appearing Insteadof 'H. M. Fiedler.' The printer's name also appeared in the wrong place.Slattery got the scrip printed at Ballarat, stating that he was an officer ofthe company, and rubber stamps were made for him in Melbourne. The victims ofthe forgeries were Messrs. Wilkinson, Harrison, and Porter, sharebrokers, ofAdelaide, who lost about £3600.

It was ascertained that Slattery paid £400 to a young lady to whom hewas engaged to be married, and whom he had known for five years. The caseagainst Slattery was tried in Adelaide and he received a sentence which expireda few days ago.

It was the fact that he had a toe missing which went to confirm theArarat police in the opinion that the man they had arrested for the bankrobbery was the dealer in scrip. Members of the Casterton Shearers' Union werenot aware that there was anything wrong with Slattery until he was arrested.They surmised— not altogether incorrectly— that he was away on business.' Sodid the members of the local branch of the A.N.A., whose secretary he had been,and whose accounts ''wouldn't add up.'

It was between two and three years .after his defeat by Mr. Shiels thathe was arrested, and in the time intervening he developed a craze for sharespeculation, which was the beginning of his downfall. The history of Slatteryand the young woman referred to has been, peculiarly chequered. When she wasbut 19 years of age she was engaged to be married to Slattery, who was at thetime a prominent shearers' champion, and a prospective labor politician. Shewas heiress to £500 upon coming of age. But when achieved the distinction and themoney Slattery promptly borrowed £400 of it. With this he started a betting andstockbroking career, which led him eventually to the Broken Hill scrip frauds.The proceeds of the frauds were in part devoted to the settlement of thisliability, but the young woman was honorable enough so soon as she learned thesource from which the money came to hand it all over to the police.

It is curious that subsequently she entered the service of Mr. Gosslett,late manager of the Bank of Victoria at Penshurst, the institution which hasjust been robbed by her old- time lover. She left the situation some time ago,but kept up a correspondence with Slattery, and probably it was the desire tosee her which brought him back to the district in which he had been formerlywell known.

The two had appointed to meet at Ararat on Saturday last, and the youngwoman was on the station awaiting the train, when she heard of Slattery'sarrest. It is said they were to be married; if so, the bridal day has sadlymiscarried. On Saturday afternoon, when Slattery was taken back to Hamilton,the young woman was at the station to see him. The sight of him, crestfallen,doggedly silent, and wearing piebald hair, was, however, too much for her, andshe burst into loud and hysterical crying, and had to be taken home from thestation in a cab. Slattery was unmoved.

A Warrnambool wire states: Therailway authorities have received a report that a ganger's wife saw two mencutting the telegraph wires near Penshurst on Thursday afternoon, but at thetime she thought they were line repairers. This points to the conclusion thatthe bank robber Slattery had accomplices.

 

Thursday 4th August 1898

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Kalgoorlie Miner – Friday 5 August 1898

Thursday 4^th August 1898

Telegraphic News

DARING BANK ROBBERY

MANAGER GAGGED. TELEGRAPH WIRES OUT. ...

[By Telegraph]

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Melbourne. August 4.

A daring bank robbery has been reported from Penshurst. Armed men stuck up the local branch of the Bank of Victoria and bound and gagged the manager, Mr. Jamieson. They took £600 from the strong-room and then decamped. A. post office employee named J. Buckley called at the bank to make a deposit. He saw a strange man in charge, and left to inform the police. Another resident saw a man leave the bank, and he was threatened with a revolver. The man then got into a buggy and drove away. The telegraph wires on both sides of the township were cut. A man has been arrested at Ararat in connection with the robbery. Be arrived by the Hamilton train muffled up, and on being arrested said, ' I did nothing wrong.' A revolver and ammunition were found in his possession. A portmanteau containing money was found near the station.

Later.

Later particulars of the bank robbery state that shortly before closing time a tall man, with a dark moustache, drove up, and tying his horse to a post nearby, entered the bank and asked the manager if he could leave some securities, as he did not want to carry them about. The manager replied that he could take care of them, and was in the act of re- turning to the counter when the man suddenly drew a revolver, and presenting it at the manager's head, threatened to blow his brains out if he called. He ordered him to throw up his hands, and Mr. Jamieson had no alternative. Having bound and gagged him the robber locked the door, and proceeded to ransack the strong room, placing the coin in a Gladstone bag. The post office and railway employees mentioned knocked vigorously at the door, but the robber proceeded with his work, taking no notice. He then unlocked the door and passed out, the men who were standing outside saying to him: ' What the devil have you been up to?' They made no attempt to stop him and he jumped into a buggy and drove rapidly away. The man who has been arrested at Ararat gave the name of Jas. Ryan. A small Gladstone bag was found containing £450 in notes, £74 in gold, and £32 in silver. Ryan had £2 12s in his pockets.

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South Australian Register – Friday 5 August 1898

Thursday 4^th August 1898

ROBBERY UNDER ARMS.

SIX HUNDRED POUNDS STOLEN.

A SMART ARREST. MELBOURNE.

Thursday. August 4.

A daring Bank robbery is reported from Penshurst, a small town in the Western District, 209 miles from Melbourne. At about a quarter to 3 this afternoon, a man entered the local branch of the Bank of Victoria, and covering the Manager, Mr. Jamieson, with a revolver bound and gagged him. He then obtained possession of the keys of the strong room, and abstracted about £600 in notes and gold, and made off. The robber had a buggy waiting a short distance from the Bank, and with this assistance made good his escape. The telegraph wires on both sides of the township had been cut previously, hence there was no means of communicating with the police at Hamilton, which was distant sixteen miles. The robbery was discovered by an employee of the Post-office. Mr. J. Buckley, who went to the Bank at a quarter to 3 o'clock to deposit some moneys for the Postal Department and found the premises closed. Upon looking through the window-blinds, which had been let down, he saw a strange man in the Bank, and he immediately made off for the local constable, Mr. K. McKenzie, who, however, was absent at Hawkesdale, an adjoining township, on duty. The robber was noticed by Mr. Lawson, a chemist, shortly after leaving the Bank; but   a revolver which was promptly presented checked interference. Mr. Murphy, the Manager of the Penshurst branch of the National Bank, and Mr. Lawson at once left for Hamilton to advise the police there. Last Thursday the telegraph wires at Penshurst were similarly cut, and it is assumed now that this was the work of the robber, who wished to find out how long it would take to restore communication.

Upon the Hamilton police being advised   this afternoon they immediately communicated with all the police stations in the district, and an arrest promptly followed. On the arrival of the Hamilton train at Ararat tonight a passenger was arrested on a charge of having been concerned in the robbery. He got in the train at Glen Thompson, and his neck was bandaged up as if he was ill, but on removing the bandage the police could not find anything wrong. On searching him they discovered a revolver and ammunition in his possession. He gave his name as James Ryan, but declined to make any statement. A portmanteau containing the stolen money was thrown out of the carriage window at the junction of the Hamilton line near Alfred street, where it was found by the police. The bag contained £456 in notes. £74 in gold, and £33 in silver. Ryan had £2 12s in his pocket when arrested. When asked to explain his possession of the revolver and forty rounds of ammunition, he said it was not his, but had been given to him by a man whom he did not know.

£600 in 1898 is about $85 000 in 2015