, 1869-09-28
THE BANK

In our issue of the 28th ultimo We briefly
noticed that the Bank of st. Thomas had been
robbed of several hundred dollars. We have
now the satisfaction of being able to report
that the robbers have been arrested and have
confessed their crime. Amongst the money
that was missing were a number of Jamaica
One Pound notes and, three days after the
robbery, suspicion was attached to a Chinaman
who had endeavoured, in a peculiar manner, to
change one of these notes. A gang of three
Cinnamon named Ajio, Manuel and MattheY,
was arrested on suspicion. These men at fSt
denied all knowledge of the robbery but,
during the several investigations made in the
matter, sufficient evidence was obtained to war
rant the belief Of their being accessories, if not
the actual perpetrators. Finally on Friday
one of them confessed that he had money buried
in the kitchen of the yard in which they lived.
6n the place indicated by the man there were
found forty Jamaica one pound notes and some
gold coins. The day after, another of them
confessed that he had some silver and copper
money sunk in the harbour in front of ths wharf
of the same yard. A diver was employed, and
the greater part of the money was found in the
place pointed out by the man. It has also been
ascertained that these men entered the Bank by
means of a false key that they had made for the
purpose, and with which they opened the door
facing the market. Patience, vigilance and a
little ingenuity were all that was necessary to
ensure their success; for having procured an
impression of the wards of the lock and there
from fabricated key with which they easily
opened the door, it required but a little more
patience and ingenuity to have enabled them
to open the vault of the Bank and take off all
its contents, or at least as much of them as they
could carry. When it is remembered that the
Rank 10 in the main street and fanpc tha oman
square of the market, and that it was by the
door giving to this square that they entered, it
seems strange that the Police should never have
encountered them in their several trials that
they made before they succeeded in opening the
door,-stranger still, when it is also remember~x
ed that there is a guard house in the market
within a few yards of the Bank, and several gas
lamps burning in the square. Of the guard
house we are certain, but of the guard we must
decline to give any evidence in fact we believe
that if there is any guard at all in the guard
house, it is only during the day and not during
the night. We do not profess to be able to
furnish any reasons for this strange arrange
ment. nor can we give any account of its action.
1t is also generally supposed that there is a
night guard that patrols the streets, but for
aught we know to the contrary, from the evil
dence of our senses, this also may be a popular
delusion and an Intellectual snare. 1t will be
remembered that we have before mentioned
these matters, and stated that during the night
the town is entirely at the mercy of thieves and
robbers, and there is nothing, as far as guards
are concerned, to prevent all the stores being
broken open one after another. A more help
less imbecile looking set of men than these
Chinese burglars, it is scarcely possible to con-
ceive and, if these miserable wretches were
so eminently successful, what might not men
do, who are trained to the business, as they are
in the large cities Of Europe and America ? : d.