The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-27


Georgia. 1t was not only supendous, but Gu
rious and remarkable one. It was piece of the
choicest rascality ever known to have broken out
among the orange groves of the sunny South -
(From the Columbus Geo. Times, April 2O1
Mosr DARING RoBstRY.-This community has been
quence Of most daring theft committed in this city on
Friday evening last the l4h inst and the subsequent
disclosures and Iumors which have met the public
On the evening in question, as early az O'clock and
while the Secretary and Clerk OF the Western Insurance
and Trust Company were in the Company office enga-
ged in closing the business of the day, and deposiiDg
money in the vault and securing it, their operations
arrested by the presence Of Individual, wearing
mask who extinguishe the light held by the clerk and
instantly seized him at the time that the secretary
was caught by another indivdual-and both Of them
threatened with death if syllable were uttered At the
placing away the packages securely and the clerk
holding light at the entrance The light extDguished,
packages hank bills and quantity of gold aud dimes
were thrown into bag, amounting in all o between 60
and dollars when the robbers retreated from the
building having closed the inner door OF the vault turn
ing the key the outside thereby securing the officers
and ecudng them from immediate escape to give
the alarm Alter the extinguishment of the light, and
before the robbery completed several shrisks
uttered by both the secretary and clerk but they
unheard either by the passers by in the street or any of
the occupants the c above being threatened
with instant assassination, and several cuts with knife
being actually inflicted upon the hat and coat OF the clerk
cries OF alarm the part of the officers ceased and the
robbery was consumma.ed All this occurred immedr
ately after tea, when the moon shining most bril-
feet of the post and Ogethorpe House aud in
building directly the street. by which persons
antly passing at almost every moment of the day
and night and the second story of which is occupied by
numerous family After the retreat of the robbers the
persons confined in the vault renewed their shreks for
help and after two three hours confinement, being
down and nearly exhausted by unceasng cries for
aid and the heat and confined air Of the vault
they were fortunately heard by gentleman in
room above and relieved from their peri situation
On Saturday. the town was in co:lmoton, and various
measures suggested for the recovery Of the money
nd thao skcftL
suspicious having been excited by the statement of
gro that certain individual had been by him.
forenoon of the day after the theft between four and five
thousand dollars of the stolen money found deposited
under the dirt in large tub or halt barrel in which
geranium was growing sitting just outside the door Of
the ROOM occupied by the person whom suspicion had
rested during the morning. Thomas C. McKeen was
forthwith arrested and alter some slight consultations,
he was given temporarily to the control of two ind
vidals for the purpose it sad of endeavorng to eli
cit the whole truthto discover where the remainder
the stolen money secreted well the persons en-
gagged in the theft. Late IN the evening it asserted
that McKeen, who lodged in Jail late Saturday
night had avowed himself of the operators Of
the crime and that he had stated whose the
money was-or perhaps what individual knew the place
OF deposit, and would deliver it. Col. Jshn l.. Lewis
and we mention his only because it has been pub
cy done before and with the view merely to state facts
ing represented to him that Mel Keen had stated to
his possession Col Lewis took the individuals, and
pointed them to the spot where he understood the money
to be concealed avowng that he had not it, The
bag was found the place indicated and examination
of its contents it ascertaned that six eight thou
sand dollars exclusive Of the money found in the flo
box, still missing, which has net yet been found
On Sunday morning, McKeen was brought before Judge
Sturgs bound over in the sum of $4,000 for his ap
pesrance at Court to for the offence and falling
to give bail was committed. At the same time motion
was made by counsel to commit Col Lewis stating that
probable ground of suspicion existed against him. from
the fact OF the bag being in his possession Col Lewis
resisted this motionand the Judge ked that the
cumsances authorised the suspiconthat il due to
the facts which had TRANSFERRED and to the character Of
Col Lewis who had become involved in the transaction
that judicial investigation should be had, and accord
ingy directed Colonel Lewis to give bond in the of
one thousand dollars to answer at the term of the
Superior Court Thus stood matters Sunday afternoon.
In the evening OF Monday William Jackson, against
whom suspicion had existed and who had been arrested
on Saturday but Immediately released again taken
into custody; and participation in the
robbery and gave detailed history of the whole affair
duplicating in it, of the parties to the theft the
Clerk Allen Bass who, with the Secretary, had been
attacked, and with him had been confined in the vault
This and the whole statement given by Jack
son. aroused the public mind and gsve force to the
excitement. Allen q. Bass arrested and COL Lewis
rearrestedand the Inferior Court Judge Surgs being
engaged in holding Harris Superior Court) in
sion the whole Of Tuesday and part Of yesterday engag
ed in hearing the confessions Of Jackson ordered Col
Lewis and A, G. Bass to give bonds, each in the OF
$4,000 for their appearance at the next term OF the Supe
rier Court 1t is proper here-and we have en-
deavored to colae simply the facts as they have trans
PRED emitting altogether conectures and nerences
out of place now and unsuted to the heated condition OF
tine public mnd-that Col Lewis thus explains his know
ledge OF the location os thu stolen money-when suspi
con attached to McKeeno Immediately after the arrest
oil McKeen the latter communicated to Col Lewis the
secret-tod him where the money could be found-and
bound him in honor not to dvulge the fact except
don that he, McKeen, be permitted to escape-or that
Col Lewis interest himself in inducing the of the
money to allow him to go Free pledge that their pro-
perty be restored These the prominent facts
ted with this most extraordinary robberyand they
impressed most painfully the public mind. God grant
that light may be thrown upon the transaction upon
the developments which have been that IL the
Innocent be COMPOUNDED with the guilty writing
under the awful force public Condemnation they may
be relievedand bleeding hearts suffering indscribabie
anguish, may be restored to peace and serenity.
IMPORTANT INDIAN INTELLIGENCE. We have re-
ceived from the southwest the subjoined news. 1t
will be read with interest.
fErom Shreveport (led ryer) Gazette AprilIQ1