The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-08-20 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

BOLD ATTEMPT TO ROB A BANK.  A correspondent writing from Melbourne says ; '• Desperate tighway robberies are as prevalent as ever in Nee, heuth wale.—the police •rei people, apparently, being utter') powerless in their endeaveurs to suppress this, the curse of the community If our theuds at home want pr..is or the evils of transportation they have only to I. ok at New South NVal., end its lawle..s eoiniitlon to witness the h wrora or toe ern ' the thus luthubee th toll aka: ball tlf I,.iille , the lPh 10 a. m., one of the most I. tr: freed and detcrmieed rddieri e ev.r nit d in this colohy w.te Ott. thrteil at the br.ot, office f the L whin, Scottish, anti Aio.tralian Bank, Fitzroy, one of the bu•iest suburbs if Melbourne. it appears that while the manager, Mr. Dowling, was standing behind the counter. aid the lettser-clerk at the deck, is man entered, and without; stopping at the hainter, walked towards the private room, muttering something to himself. Mr. Dowling perce ring this hastened towards this ro m by another door and seized the man, when a desperate struigle ensucti. During this time the other rucn enterid the bank, and wtile one kept beside the door the other went up to the ledger-keeper. Mr Grant, and pr,ented a Astra at his head, and thinking by this means he had frightened him oommencell gathering up some money lying on the counter. But while doing co, Mr. Grant seized him from behind, and struggled hard with him. But the robber, being much stronger, succeeded, ali ng, with the ni •n at t/ e door, in effecting his escape, after firing a pistol at Mr. Grant's head, who, however, saved himself by moving his head to one side. Grant immediately proceeded to the manager's assistance in the private room. The villain vinearzed with Mr. Dowling drew a 'Asti and tired it, slight y wounding Mr. Dowling's hither, whir had just cme to hie resme. Grout had his hand cut in snatching a dagger from the villain's hand. De immediately Prized& brasscaddleatick, the first weapon at hood, and crock the fellow several times with it, breaking it with the lam blow. By this time more maistance iawe, and the robber was seized and cob vivid to the hick-up. it appears that the gang-consisted of four determined-looking fellows, supposed to be from Western Australia, and while the three were inside one remoulded watching nutiitle. Since then all have heen apurch.hded, and are committed for trial. Meetings have since been held, for the purpose of raising subcciiptione to rewmil doe iwo gentlemen for the gallintry displayed in defending the property of the book a d securing the ruffians.  The EMnP corresnondent ccntittnes —"7: have to record ,nother drttaalfot litrage committed on stall!, liay arek rear tite offices of the itoatia and Brtdges Delta, tment. It ap:tears that ott the day in question to., Dirt,nato.,l Chri•tol,h4-r ITtrriotn and „jam, Marsh, et tntraett ea under Gt Oit•rOutent fir cleating soom roads to the JortOso, met by attnotuturent a' the *'o ;e Oa, for the portsee of stating store dispute hn. t, me,. thi m in regard to their contract,. Harriette, it  oppear-, suggeeted 8.111,11 terms which Marsh refu,sed to agree to, upon which he (Harris. ) drew a pistol from be peke r and dedherately shot his partner dead On the 81,01., and with an 'thee pistol attempted ti put attend to Lis own life, hut he was prevented by some prisons ',ie.-tit from doing so, and W&A 0 nveyed ti the watch bon,. Since then a coroner's inquest has Leen held resn!ting in a verdict of "wilful murder" agrinst IT-rri.on. From the evidence taken the murder and suicide were coolly meditated, and every cantion tar en by tie murderer to carry it out. He boa I Cii ommitted fix