Lot 264A: Australia 'Austilin Bank' £1 "December 2 1837", Fine

The only surviving example of this spurious issue passed by Thomas Saulsbury Wright also known as 'Tommy the Banker' or the 'Rogue Banker'

Although signed and dated this note is regarded as a spurious issue passed by Thomas Saulsbury Wright also known as 'Tommy the Banker' or 'the Rogue Banker.' Wright produced notes for a series of dubious banks including the Austilin Bank whose design it was contested was meant to be confused with the legitimate notes of the 'Bank of Australia.' Mick Vort Ronald in his book 'Banks of Issue in Australia' writes that although the notes were not well regarded, Wright was able to keep within the law 'because he cashed them on demand.' His banking enterprises eventually became unstuck and instead of congratulations from the king in his centenary year he was convicted and transported to Norfolk Island for fraud. This note is generally in fine condition and is thought to be the only surviving example. The notes for the Austilin Bank were produced by 'Wilson,' the same printer in York Street Sydney who also printed notes for 'The Bank of Newcastle.' Wright was also responsible for the bank notes issued for the Austlin Bank, Austilian Bank, Sydney Bank, Bank of Parramatta, Parramatta Banking Company, Parramatta Trading Bank and The Defiance Banking Company. The fascinating life of Thomas Wright is described in Frank Clune's book 'The Norfolk Island Story' as follows : "The story of his decline and fall was told in the 'Australian' of 9th November 1839. On trial before Mr Justice Stephen and a jury was Thomas Wright. alias 'Tommy the Banker, late of Parramatta, indicted under a statute of 1st William IV, for feloniously having in his possession, without lawful excuse, certain forged notes purporting to be of the Austilin (sic) Bank, knowing them to be counterfeit.' Naturally Tommy the Banker pleaded not guilty, and also put in a plea of abatement that his name was Thomas Sa(u)lsb(ur)y Wright and not Thomas Wright. So His Honour ordered the indictment altered to please the prisoner. Not that it made any difference. The Attorney- General then began his case, saying that in the last session a co-partner of Wright's named Salt had been convicted of uttering one of these Austilin Bank notes, as a result of which they searched Wright's premises. 'A search warrant was issued, and the constable found several notes on Wright's person, and in his house one hundred and ninety-one £10 notes, two hundred and fifty £5 notes, three hundred and seventy-six £2 notes, eighty-seven £1 notes, and one hundred and ninety-five £20 notes, amounting in all to £8,000.' Enough to start a bank. No wonder Thomas Sa(u)lsb(ur)y Wright described himself as a banker. Plates were also found for a 'Parramatta Banking Company', a Parramatta Trading Bank', and another company, 'termed a Defiance Company, which he presumed had been jocularly so-called, because it was intended to set the law at defiance by fraudulent dealing'. The Attorney-General admitted that the plates 'were so well executed that any one would be likely to be deceived by their close resemblance to the notes of the Bank of Australia'. Constable Alexander Brown, who executed the search warrant, proved the finding of the notes and plates. 'They were engraved by a person named Wilson in York Street' Mr Edye Manning, a director of the Bank of Australia, testified that the notes in question 'could deceive none but the very ignorant persons'. But the judge thought otherwise, and asked the prisoner what explanation he had to offer. Said the Australian : 'The prisoner, who is an aged man, said to be one hundred and two years of age, said that he had been sixty-two years a banker: he had undertaken to establish a Bank for a company at Parramatta, but that he got connected with a party of swindlers, who robbed him. He was able to take up all the notes signed by himself, but could not take up those he was robbed of - and in fine that he had as good a right to establish a bank as any other gentleman, and would undertake to conduct the management of one for any company of gentlemen who might choose to employ him, upon the best and most improved principles of banking.' 'Laughter in Court', said the Australian. After the judge directed the jury,'They found the prisoner guilty, without leaving the box'. His Honour then inquired from the Attorney-General the circumstances under which the prisoner had arrived in the colony, and was told 'for the offence for which he has now been tried.' Mr Justice Stephen then said 'It was lamentable to see an aged infirm old man, on the verge of the grave, persisting in the same career of crime which he had commenced in his youth, instead of amending his life, and preparing for the world to which he soon be called. It was a striking illustration of the old saying of the ruling passion strong in death.' After his homily, His Honour said 'Fourteen years transportation to a penal settlement.' Final note in the Superintendent of Convicts Book, Sydney, dated 14th December 1839. 'I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to transmit for you a list of forty-four prisoners under sentence of transportation by the Governor Phillip sailing on Friday next.' The list follows, including 'Thomas Sa(u)lsb(ur)y Wright'. Final entry in the records of Norfolk Island Hospital : 'Death. Thomas Wright, 7th February 1843, aged 104'" A remarkable piece of Australiana that reinforces our convict past.