Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-11-12
Gge fanlilp Girtle,
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF THREE
Desperate Robbers.

ioUUUAy AufO lCduy ucCH puullSueui anu
after being tracked for long time, and
through many places, its perpetrators have
at last been captured, and are now await.
ing trial before the Court of Assizes in
Nova Scotia. They are three in number,
and their names are Phil. Stanley, Jack
Rand, and Bill Smith.
These three men apparently are none
of your small, vulgar rascals. They dis
play the trophies of no less than sixteen
memorable achievements, of which each
of them boasts; and whether they exag-
crate the Importance and recklessness OF
these from love of hoasting, we will not
stop to inquire.
The leader of this trio is Phil. Stanley
alias Phil Sanford, who prides himself
upon being one Of the most artful villains
in Christendom. He was born in Eng
land, and is over thirty-two years of age.
His manner is affable and quiet; yet he is
q very devil in hardihood, and gifted
with almost unparllcd fnesse. He has
the eye Of lynx, the subtlety of cat,
the quick decision of a consummate gen.
eral, and force Of execution which sets
all obstacles at defiance.
He first became known on this CONT
nent in the city of Buffalo, where in a
single night he committed three burglar
les. He was arrested for the crime, tried
and convicted, sentenced to nine years
and nine months Imprisonment. Unfor-
tunately, his sentence was soon after COM
Emuted, and true to his instincts, he has,
tened to deserve another.
This fellow is an aristocrat in his trade.
He entertains hearty contempt for'gmall
rascalities, and aspires to great projects
and achievements. Scarcely had he got
out of prison, when he planned a grand
enterprise against the Milton Bank of
Dorchester, and one fine morning that in
stitution missed $4,000. Having sue
ceeded in that grand project, he carried
on his operations in Albany, Rochester,
Buffalo, and Springfield; sometimes alone,
sometimes with his associates. But in
Buffalo the bird was Gagged second time,
the Grand Jury found q true bill Of in.
dietment, and he was sentenced to the
Auburn State Prison for another nine
years and nine months.
In the meantime Phil had married the
widow of Jew, who kept an obscure ho-
tel in the city of Albany. When he found
himself a second time under the restraint
of iron bars and heavy locks, he set his
genius to work to devise the means of re-
covering his liberty. He drew up petit
ton to the Governor Of the State for the
pardon, signed by all the employees of
the prison, and having counterfeited the
signature Of the Judge, sent it on to Gov
ernor Seymour. His excellency was en-
shared by the trick; he promptly sent on
an order for his release, and in few days
Phil found himself outside the prison
walls. The fraud was afterwards discov-
cred, and officers were despatched to find
the criminal, and after long and fruit
less search, they listened to the proposals
of his wife, who agreed to discover his
whereabouts upon certain conditions
The bargain being sconsummated, Phil
got off with two years and six months
Imprisonment. This inadequate punish
ment only whetted his instincts, and gave
him new faith in his lucky star; and he
soon after robbed the Windam county
Bank of $4,000. He next turned his
thoughts upon Cenada, and went to Mon.
treal, where he committed many robberies
with impunity-among others one of a
thousand dollars from the Office of the
Grand Trunk Railroad. A police officer
getting clue to his proceedings, tracked
him to Buffalo, where he succeeded in cap.
turing him. He was locked Iig two or
three months and then discharged for
want Of evidence.
After getting rid Of this annoyance
thus fortunately, he went to New York,
where his wife was then living. Scarce
ly had he stepped out of the cars when
this adorable creature demanded a fur
mantilla. Gould he refuse such a request
to loving angel, who had turned aside
the poisoned arrow of justice, aimed at
his devoted head. The thing was not to
be thought of; though Phil had not the
funds, be assured he was not the man to
spoil his dignity by pilfsring so petty a
thing. To relieve himself Of the embar-
rassment, he signilizsd the night of his
visit to the Metropolis by breaking into
q store and stealing quantity Of rich
furs, which he thought could not fail Of
satisfying the most extravaganza wishes Of
his beloved. But unfortunately for him
he had not obtained the article ready
made; he had only taken the raw materi-
ais; and though his wife upbraided him
In no very gentle terms for this oversight.
:" They must do" said Phil; they must
be made up" They were accordingly
sent to furrier, where as luck would
have it, they were seen and recognized by
the lawful owner, and Phil was arrested
rwhenlhe called for the article.
$50 it has often happened" philosoph-
aically remarked Phil, on his way to the
Tombs these cursed baubles of women
have often ruined great men, But he
did not content himself merely with Civ
ing utterance to the maxims of wisdom T:
but while on his way to that venerable
Institution, he slipped from the officers,
outstripped them in the race, escaped from
the city, fed to Michigan, robbed the
State Bank of ST. 900; went to Connect.
lieut., plnndered several jeweIry stores in
that States, robbed an Indiana exchange
agent Of a considerable sum, plundered
several Of the principal shops, and Joined
Jack Rand and Bill Smith. The trio
next attempted to rob an oil company
BY means Of false keys the rascals got in
to the company's safe, but to their char.
gin found the Golfers empty. For two Or
three times they continued the expert.
ment but still found no money. Enraged
with his ill success, Phil resolved not to
have all this trouble for nothing. Having
carefully examined the oompany's books,
and acquainted himself with their method