Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-11-13
lFrem the New Yerk Ly.nng Epst.ls ..c,
Life hi,d Advehii;fes Of Three
Desperate Robbers.

Several months since, the Bank Of
New Brunswick was broken into and over
seventy thousand dollars stolen from its
vaults. The details Of this audacious rob-
berry have already been published; and af,
ter being tracked for long tine, and
through many places, its perpetrators
have at last been captured, and are now
awaiting trial before the Court Of Assizes
in Nova Scotia. They are three in NUM-
Der and their names are Phil Stanley;
Jack Rand and Bell Smith.
These three men apparently are none
of your small. vulgar rascals. They dis
play the trophies of no less than sixteeii
memorable achievements, of which each
of them boasts; and whether they exag-
gerate the Importance and recklessness
of these from love of boasting, we will
not stop to inquire.
The leader of this trio is Phil Stanley,
alias Phil Sandford, who prides himself
upon being one of the most artful villains
in Chrstendom. He was born in Eng.
land, and is over thirty-two years old.
His manner is afable and quiet; yet he
is very devil in hardi hood. and gifted
with almost unparalleled fnesse. He
has the eye of lynx, the subtlety of
cat, the quick decision Of consummate
general, and force of execution which
sets all obstacles at defiance.
He first became known on this conti-
nent in the city of Buffalo. where in
single night he committed three burgla-
ries. He was arrested for the CRIME,
tried, and convicted and sentenced to
nine years and nine months imprison.
ment. Unfortunately, his sentence &as
soon after commuted. and. true to his in.
stincts. he fastened to deserve another.
This fellow is aristocratic in his trade.
He entertains hearty contempt for
small rascalities, and aspires to great pro-
jects and achievements. Scarcely had
he got out of prison, when he planned
a grand enterprise against the Milton
Bank, Of Dorchester; and one fine morn
ing that institution missed $32 900.
Having succeeded in this great project,
he carried on his operations in Albany,
Rochester, Buffalo and Springfield; some-
times alone, and sometimes with his as
sociates But in Buffalo the bird was
Gagged the second time; the Grand Jury
found a true bill of Indictment, and he
was sentenced to the Auburn State Pri.
son for another period Of nine years and
nine months.
In the meantime Phil had married the
widow of Jew, who kept an obscure
hotel in the city of Albany. When he
found himself second time under the
restraint of iron bars and heavy locks, he
set his genius to work to devise the
means of recovering his liberty. He
drew up a petition to the governor Of the
state for his pardon, signed by all the ems
ployes of the prison, and having coun.
terfeited the signature of the Judge, sent
it on to Governor Seymour. His excel.
lency was ensnared by the tick; La
promptly sent on an order for his re.
lease, and in few days Phil found him.
self outside the prison walls. The fraud
was afterwards discovered, and officers
were despatched to find the criminal, and
after long and fruitless search, they lis.
tened to the proposals Of his wife, whS
agreed to discover his whereabouts upon
certain conditions. The bargain being
consummated, Phil got off with two years
and six months confinement. This mad.
equate punishment only whetted his In.
stincts, and gave him new faith in his
lucky star; ard he soon after robbed the
Windham county Bank Of $4,000. He
next turned his thoughts upon Canada.
and went to Montreal, where he commit
ted many robberies with impunity--
among others one of thousand dollars
from the office of the Grand Trunk Rail.
road. A police officer, getting clue to
his proceedings, tracked him to Buffalo,
where he succeeded in capturing him.
He was locked up two or three mouths.
and then let off for want of sufficient ey.
idence.
After getting rid Of this annoyance thus
fortunately, he went to New York, where
his wife was then living. Scarcely had
he stepped out of the cars when this ador.
able creature demanded fur mantilla.
Could he refuse such a request to low
ing angel who had turned aside the poi.
soned arrows of justice, aimed at his de.
voted head? The thing was not to be
thought Of; though Phil had rot the
funds, be assured he was not the man to
spoil his dignity by pilfering 80 petty i
thing. To relieve himself Of the embar-
rassment, he sigualized the night of his
visit to the Metropolis by breaking into
store and stealing quantity Of rich
iurs, which he thought could not fail of
satisfying the most extravagans wishes Of
his beloved. But unfortunately for him
he had not obtained the article ready.
made; he had only taken the raw materi-
as; and though the skins wefs magnif.
cient, his wife upbraided him in no gen.
tie terms for this oversight. "They must
do said Phil; "thcy must be mace up"
They were accordingly sent to fu, IN,
where, as luck would have it, they were
seen and recognised by the lawful owner,
and Phil was arrested when he called ~
the article.
] $50 it has otter happened 'philosoph-
ically remarked poor Phil, on his wsy 70
| ha t,p. 81 .oA kn,, Ma. -,