The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1839-10-03
A GREAT ROGUE.

cd James Smith, alias James Brown. was
sentenced by the Municipal Court of that
city, on the 18th inst, to three years hard
labor in the State prison, for robbing Mr..
Charles Goddard, at the depot Of the
Providence railroad, and Mr.. Phineas ].
Stone, at the auction room of Thomas w.
Sears, in Boston,
Smith is said to be a rogue of the first
magnitude He is one of the three per.
sons concerned in the robbery in the City
BANK OF New York some ten years ago,
for which he was arrested, convicted and
sentenced, and sent to the State prison at
Sing Sing, for period Olive. years. He
served out his term Of imprisonment, then
re-appeared in the city, and, as is the case
with old offenders, commenced anew his
career Unsuccessful villany. The circum-
stances connected with the depredations
upon the City Bank are rather curious.
and possess sufficient interest TO be given
to the public.
The amount stolen was $2s7 900. The
sccomplices of Smith were a Scotchman.
named Murray, and an Englishman nam
ed Philips. They entered the bank on a
Sunday evening by means of false KEYS.
and removed the deposites to Smiths
house. As the officers, of the bank did
not open its doors until 8 o'clock the next
morning, discovery of the robbery was
not made until that time. When it be-
come known, Wall Streetwas in an up
roar in moment. Information was
promptly transmitted to the police Office,
and reward of SIC, 900 Immediately of
fered for the apprehension of the Williams
and the recovery OF the money. The
lynx eyed officers Of the police were i'm
mediately in motion, and they secured
every nook and corner where they thought
they could gather information that would
give them scent of those who had COM
mi!ted the daring deed. One day passed
away, and another, and another, but moth
ing came to light. Even that renowned
thief catcher, Old Hays, was 'at fault,
and coul' dnt follow" A week elapsed,
and no doubt began to be entertained but
that the rogues had been as successful in
laying their plans to avoid detection, as
they had been in accomplishing the rob-
berry.
i But justice, though slow sometimes in
her movements, is pretty generally sure
to overtake the guilty. So it proved
Eventually in this case, as the sequel
diseloses.
. Early on the Monday succeeding the
robbery, well dressed man made applica-
ton at respectable boarding house in the
upper part Of the city, for accommodation
j for few days: His request was granted.
He stated that he was engaged in the pre-.
paration Of a literary work, and that he
was obliged to devote all his time to have
it ready within the period contracted for,
he should want a separate room, where
he would be undisturbed. AS he was a
stranger, he rendered the weeks board in
advance, which was received. He then
/ inquired if it would comport with the con-
venience of the housekeeper to furnish his
meals in his own room, provided he made
an extra allowance for the trouble. This
was readily agreed to, and the stranger
took possession of the apartment assigned
to him, bag and baggage. Meanwhile
time rolled on, the good landlady mani
Testing every disposition to do every thing
for his comfort and convenience that the
stranger desired.
i There was but one domestic in the
house, and that female, about twenty
years of age. She of course, as well as
the landlady, had heard all about the
great robbery, which was topic Of a good
deal of conversation between them. The
curiosity of this domestic was not little
excited about the mysterious stranger who
was the inmate Of the house. Once ex.
cited, she kept her eyes open when she
entered his room daily for the purpose Of
arranging it, and every now and then
communicated to her mistress that all did
mot look right. She watched him through
the key hole, and once or twice thought
she was able to distinguish him counting
on the table large pile Of bank bills. The
door too was always kept locked, and on
.|ly opened when she presented herself
/ with his meals. At last she ventured to
intimate her suspicious that the stranger
was no better than he ought to be, and
might be the man who had robbed the
bank. The mistress demurred, but as the
girls discoveries increased every day, the
good lady at last thought it to be her duty
to communicate the whole story to her
husband, and they took council together
to determine what should be done.
In the midst Of their consultation, one
night, about 1910 clock; they heard the
stranger come out Of his room, lock the
i door, take out the key, descend the stairs
and walk out Of the house. They prompt
Ily decided 10 have an investigation, and
such an examination as would settle all
doubts. The husband FASTENED, or rather
ran for Old Hays, called him from his
.fbed, and communicated his suspicious
The sagacious minister Of justice made
particular inquiry about the personal ap.
tpearance of the stranger, rolled up his