The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-08-26
The Matters Bank Robbery-Most
OF the Money Recoyered.


Last Saturday or Sunday night week, as
will be remembered, the vaults OF the Hat.
ters' Bank, at Bethel, Conn.,, were entered
by burglars and robbed Of $4,000 in bills,
$500 of which were on that institution and
the balance in notes of different banks. As
soon as ascertained, the fact was flashed by
telegraph to all parts of the country, in
hopes that some clue might be obtained of
the robbers and missing funds. Inspector
WaIIing, Of the detective squad, and officers
Elder and McCord Of his force, have since
been on the lookout, although unable to OBJ
tain any clue whatever Of the robbery
Notwithstanding this, these officers immed-
ately afterwards fixed their eyes on two very
suspicious men, whom they watched day and
night, followed them in cars and stages, un-
til they were located beyond doubt. These
officers watched two suspicious houses, the
resort OF imported burglars and other desper-
ate characters. The result was that about
ten days ago the officers arrested two men,
giving their names as James Farrell and
George Smith, but as they could not be rec
cgnized nor proved to have any participation
in the bank robbery, they were discharged.
The officers did not despair at this slight
dAmper upon their enterprise, but kept vig-
orously at work, hoping, in the meantime,
that something would 'turn up" that would
afford them some slight clue to work upon.
/ The matter stood thus till nine O'Clock Wed.
nesday evening at which hour man, with a
slouched hat drawn over his eyes and other
wise disguised, culled at the residence of In.
spector Walling, 325 Second avenue, and
asked Mr.. William O'DOnnell, from whom
Capt. Walling has apartments, it Capt. Wal.
ling lived there. He was answered in the
affirmative, whereupon the stranger handed
Mr.. O'Donnell o black leather travelling
bag, with the request that he should give II
to Capt. Wslling. Nothing strange was
thought of the matter at ihe time bySMr.
O'Donnell, who soon Afterwards lett for his
public house, at the corner OF Twentieth
street and Third avenue. Late at night Mr.
Walling, on his way home, called into Dir.
o 'Donuell's place, ON Third avenue, and u.
hali-past one in the morning they proceeded
home together, both living in the samJ
house. When about to enter the house,
Mr.. O'Donnell told the Capt. that carpet.
: bag had been left there for him early in the
D evening. The captain thought strange Of
: the matter, and knew his family had no car
pet bag answering the description OF the one
named. A third party binted that Captaia
Wulling might have enemies, and further,
that it was not impossible for the bag to
contain a torpedo or some other instrument
e of death. William O'Dunnell, in playful
q manner, suggested that the contents of the
" bag were the Hatters' Bank stolen notes.
o not supposing for a moment that such was
q the cuse. The suspicious bag was examined
Is with great cure, and found to- contain some
soft substance. 1t was carefully opened
Is when, to the wonder and astonlshmen, o,
e the captain and his companions, three large
packages of the Hatters' Bank bills werl
; discovered, wrapped up in newspaper. -
e At the sight before him, Captain WaIlina
became excited with pleasurabe emotions
e and soon put thesmoney under lock and key
Tor the remainder Of the night. On Thurs
IL day morning the money was taken to Depu
'e ty Superintendent Carpenters office, ant
10 partially counted, but not with care, that be
!, ing reserved tor the Cashier of the Hattrrs
III Bank, who was expected in the city las
&c evening, Mr.. Greenwood, of Barnum'S Ma
= scum, having volunteered to 60 after him.
= The sum OF money returned to Captain Wal
le ling is supposed TO be about $4,000, al
'e though it may be more. The bank oif-ret
a., u TeWuEu vi uVe per Ccht vi ali lHe LloUSI
y recovered, which will partially compcnsat,
- - the officers for their trouble, though ten pc
cent. would mot have been too much lor them
The officers are entitled to great credit il
!, this matter, and more particularly from til,
!. - fact that they have had no information what
10 ever to work upon. That they had uncon
:. sciously been "piping" the real burglars
u there remains scarcely doubt, and the pre-
~ sumption consequently is, that the robbers
To- being fearful OF falling into the hands Of tn
officers, together with the plunLer, deemc
it expedient TO return the bulk of the money
in the hope OF withdrawing suspicion trol
Oh themselves. No efforts will be spared to re
u j. cover the balance OF the money, and, ii po.
~. ~ sible, bring the guilty parties to Justice.