The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
JAPANESE BANK
 THIEF ARRESTED Spent Ten Years of Riotous
 Living HE WILL BE RELEASED Owing to Length of Time Since Theft, the Bold Robber Cannot Be Prosecuted-Stole About
 S12,000 From Bank
HE WILL BE RELEASED

From the London Standard
 It Is not every culprit who is fortunate enough to get away from big bank with fSoo0 and, after wasting the same in riotous living, to be captured and po- litely released without trial Ten years ago (states Reuters Toklo correspondent the great robbery of the Bank of Japan took place, and on September the cul- prit was arrested He was released on September s. according to the statute of limitations
 On December 2S. 1901, a messenger from the AsalSusa bank proceeded to the Bank of Japan with a check for esO00 to be cashed into notes. Whilst he was wait ing for the cash he set down on a bench in the bank. As a long time elapsed without his turn being called he went to the guchet and asked, only to be told by the cashier that he had already paid over the money to a messenger from the Asakusa bank
 great sensation followed. The mes senger swore that he had not received the money. The cashier declared that he had handed it to a messenger from the Asakusa bank, who correctly answered his inquiries. The messenger was ar rested, kept six months in prison, and then released for want of evidence. Sus- piicon was directed to the cashiers staff Totsuka, the head cashier. who had long been in the service of the bank com of the suspicion, and all the other cash iers in the department were dismissed. The money was never found, nor was the culprit until September last.
 A few days after the robbery a check for 9250 was placed to the credit of Mat sumoto Keitaro at the Hundredth bank. On the following day a check signed by Matsumoto was presented at that bank, but when the cashier called his name no answer was given. The e25O has since been lying to the credit of Matsumoto on deposit. It was then believed that in some subtle way the two incidents were connected with the Bank of Japan rob bery.
 In May of last year the sum on deposit with f65 accredited interest, was drawn out by a man named Kitchitaro. holding a power of attorney for Matsumoto. In course of time the police heard of the withdrawal, and have since been search ing for Kitchitaro. He was arrested at the beginning of the month for pocket picking, and on being asked, confessed he had drawn the money on behalf of man named Wada. A posse went to the latters house and captured him, when he boldly stated that he was the author of the Bank of Japan robbery in 1901.
 It seems that Wada had also gone to the bank to get a note changed, and whilst waiting for the attention of the cashier heard another official call out for the messenger of the Asakusa bank On seeing that no one presented himself the idea came to him to pass himself off as the messenger. He did so On being asked the amount of the check, he was able to say e3000 by reading the en- dorsement on the check. which the cash fer held in his hand Then he went over to the Specie bank, paid in e25O, and got a check to himself under the alias of Matsumeto at the Hundredth bank.
 Since 1901 Wada has been living a life Of debauchery. When he was at the end of his resources he remembered the de- posit at the Hundredth bank, and sent to draw 1t out Owing to the length of time that has elapsed since the crime he cannot be prosecuted. On the arrest