Gunning & District Historical Society

Evening News (Sydney) - 5 December 1905 A short note at the end of a long article about the Gunning Orchestral and Dramatic Society concert caught my attention: Goulburn Evening Penny Post - 16 November 1905 Some further Trove searches revealed an unfortunate journey that ended a promising career for a young bank clerk. On 8 November 1905, 21 year-old bank clerk, John Tom Lane, left the Gunning branch of the Commercial Bank and took the train to Sydney after 10 months of embezzlement to support a gambling habit.  He was arrested in Sydney on 21 November and, after a full confession, pleaded guilty.  He was sentenced to 9 months hard labour at Goulburn Gaol. John started gambling in September, 1904, by letter to a bookmaker in Sydney and had some early wins.  In March, 1905, he started embezzling money (£5) to continue gambling.  The amounts quickly increased to a total of £1021 before he fled in November.  Sadly, he was penniless by th...

Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, Gunning. Photo via CBC Officers Club Inc website GUNNING.  (From our Correspondent.) On Friday afternoon about twenty-five gentlemen met at the new premises of the Commercial Banking Company, invited by the manager, Mr. W. T. Busby. The gentlemen made a start to inspect the building, first viewing it from Yass-street, from where it presents a pleasing aspect, the private residence having a verandah running the full length of the building facing both Yass and Waratah streets. The whole is enclosed by a neat batten fence. On entering the building we first enter the hall, which is wide and lofty, being thirteen feet in height, as are also all the rooms. Six rooms in the private residence are gone through and are all found fitted with grates for coal-the three front ones fitted with handsome marble mantle-pieces. At the rear we find a kitchen fitted with a splendid cooking range, a pantry, two servants' rooms, a bath-room fitted...