Did Squizzy Taylor rob the Thornbury Bank?

“I might have… I am every where”

Well known criminal Leslie (Squizzy) Taylor was arrested in connection with a bank robbery that occurred in High Street, Thornbury in 1921. Taylor claimed that he had nothing to do with it and as the thieves were not apprehended during the robbery there was no way of knowing for sure that Taylor was involved. It was quite a coincidence that he was seen on High Street in Thornbury in the moments before the robbery took place.

Newspaper reports at the time indicate that Taylor was arrested days after the incident for “loitering in a public place with intent to commit a felony.”   When the time came to appear in court, suddenly all the witnesses changed their story. Perhaps they were bribed, or more likely threatened.

Below are the reports that appeared in the Northcote Leader. 

Northcote Leader 12th February 1921

THORNBURY BANK ROBBED
OVER £300 STOLEN.
THIEVES ESCAPE IN MOTOR CAR

Audacity and daring characterised a robbery in broad daylight on Monday by two men at the Thornbury branch of the Commercial Bank.

The bank, which is a single-fronted brick building, situated in the centre of a block of land fronting High Street, is opened daily during the usual business hours, and was in charge of Robery Milton Turner, a clerk attached to the Northcote branch, and residing at Shaftesbury parade, Northcote. Turner has been attending the Thornbury branch for about two years. There is a paling fence 5 ft. in height surrounding the bank, and a gate communicates with an open piece of ground at the rear.

Mr. Turner opened the bank at about 10 o’clock and placed £271, which he had brought with him from the Northcote branch, in a drawer under the counter. He had occasion to leave the building for a few minutes, at 20 minutes past 12 o’clock, and locked it up securely. While he was in an outbuilding at the bottom of the yard he heard the sound of footsteps running down the yard. He rushed out in time to see two men, one of whom was carrying a bag, pass through the gate. Mr. Turner recognised the bag as the one in which he had carried the money from the Northcote branch, and immediately gave chase. Having reached the vacant allotment, the men separated, and ran in opposite directions. Mr. Turner pursued the man with the bag, who ran towards High Street. When near the corner of High Street and Rossmoyne street, Mr. Turner got within five yards of the fugitive, who said “If you touch me I will shoot you.” A motor-car, in which a chaffeur was seated, was standing at the corner of High and Rossmoyne streets. Approaching the motor car, the thief threw the bag into the vehicle. He then clambered in, and the motor-car drove off in a westerly direction. Mr. Turner went to the savings bank, and communicated with the police by telephone. Constable Swanwick arrived, searched the neighbourhood for the companion of the man who had boarded the motor car, but he had made good his escape. The police are of opinion that he was picked up by the motor-car.

The detective office at Russell street was notified of the robbery, and Superintendent M. J. Bannon immediately despatched Detective-sergeant T. Coonan, and Detectives McArthur, McGuffie and Grieve in the police motor- car. An examination of the window at the rear of the building showed that it had been forced open with a jemmy. When Mr. Harrington, manager of the Northcote branch, and Inspector Bradbury arrived, they investigated the extent of the robbery, and found that £321, 7/3 had been stolen. The money consisted of £5 notes, single notes, 10/- notes, silver, and copper. A small brief bag was also missing. Part of the money consisted of deposits made during the morning by customers.  The police have a good description of the men. One is said to be about 20 years of age, 5ft. 8in. in height, fair complexion, clean shaven, and was wearing a blue twill suit and a dark felt hat; the other was about the same age and the same height, of thin build, and was wearing a blue sac suit and a black velour hat.

Northcote Leader 26th February 1921

Thornbury Bank Robbery.   Leslie Taylor has been arrested in connection with the Thornbury bank robbery. It is alleged that Taylor was seen in the vicinity of the bank shortly before the robbery was committed. Taylor was remanded to Northcote Court on March 3.

Northcote Leader 8th March 1921

THORNBURY BANK ROBBERY.
A CASE BREAKS DOWN

Arising out of the robbery from the Thornbury branch of the National Bank of £321, by two men on February 7th, a man named Leslie Taylor was charged at the Northcote court on Thursday, before Messrs Hayes (chairman), Cohen, Timmins, Jones, Johnson and Redmond, J’s. P., “that he at Thornbury on the 7th February, 1921, was a rogue and a vagabond, for that he being a suspected person did loiter in a public place with intent to commit a felony.”

Detective Sergeant Coonan prosecuted. Mr. C. Barnett for the defence. Robery Milton Turner, clerk in charge of the bank at Thornbury, stated that on February 7th he opened up the bank for business at the usual hour. About 25 minutes past 12 he went to the back for a few minutes, and while he was there- Mr. Barnett objected that such evidence was not relevant to this issue. Witness continuing said that when he came out he saw two men running down the yard. He also saw a window open and conceived that the bank had been robbed. Mr. Barnett again objected. Continuing Turner said he gave chase to one of the men up High street, and he turned and said “If you touch me I will shoot you.” He (witness) returned to the bank, from which £321,7.3 was missing. He did not see the accused on the occasion. Mr. Barnett again contended that the evidence was irrelevant so far as this charge was concerned.

The chairman said that speaking personally he did not think any evidence had been given bearing on the present charge. Cross examined by Mr. Barnett, witness said the description he had given to the police of the man he chased was that he appeared to be a man from 20 to 24 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches or 5 feet 8 inches in height, fair complexion, clean shaven and dressed in a blue twill suit. He could not say how old the second man was, or what he was like. Henry Charles Dyte, chemist, 759 High street, Thornbury, said he was in High street on Monday, 7th February.

Detective Coonan- Do you know him?
Witness- Yes ; two years ago I had a motor collision with him. Pressed again to say whether accused was the man he saw in High street, witness said: “He looks something like him, but I will not swear he was the man I saw.” Continuing witness said it was about 11.30 when he first saw the man, and two or three minutes later he saw him get on a tram and go south.
Mr. Jones, J.P.- Is the man before the court the man you had the collision with?
Witness- Yes.
Mr. Jones- Did you ever tell anyone you saw this man there?
Witness- I said I saw a man I believed to be him.
Mr. Barnett- You would have reason to remember the man you had a collision with?
Witness- I should think so.
Mr. Barnett- Are you in a position to swear that the man you had the collision with isthe man you saw at Thornbury on the 7th February?
Witness- No.
Stanley Wilmott Murden, grocer, 761 High Street, Thornbury, stated that he was in High street on February 7th.
Detective Coonan- Do you remember seeing the defendant there?
Witness- It was only a passing glance I had, and the man I saw was, I think, a thicker set man than the man before the court. Further examined, witness said the man he saw had jumped on a tram and was going south between 12 and five past 12. He never saw the man there before.
Watson McDonald, grocer, corner Gooch and St. David streets, said he was in his shop when he saw a man running along Gooch street. This was about half past 12. He would not swear that the man he saw was the man now before the court. The man who ran past him and boarded a motor car appeared to be a thicker set man than accused.
Detective McGuffie stated that after arresting accused he asked him if he was at Thornbury on February 7th. He replied “I might have been, I am everywhere.”

Mr. Barnett said not one of the witnesses had identified accused as the man they saw at Thornbury on the day of the robbery. He was in the midst of a lengthy address when the chairman said he need go no further, as the Bench had decided to discharge the accused.

THORNBURY BANK ROBBED. (1921, February 12). Northcote Leader (Northcote, Vic. : 1882 - ), p. 2.

THORNBURY BANK ROBBERY. (1921, February 26). Northcote Leader (Northcote, Vic. : 1882 - ), p. 2.

THORNBURY BANK ROBBERY. (1921, March 8). Northcote Leader (Northcote, Vic. : 1882 - ), p. 3.