Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-19
The $1,000. 900 Robbery.

The Herald says that the sudden appearance Of q
comet in Wall street could hardly have created a
greater sensation than has been produced by the re-
cent extensive robbery. The bold and successful
manner in which the sum of one and half millions
of dollarswas spirited away from the vault and
stronghold OF broker caused Others of the fraternity
10 feel apprehensive for the security OF their own
funds and to dread the next attempt of such skliul
burglars. The robbery the topic OF CONVEX
saton throughout the financial precincts of the city
yesterday, and the vicinity of No. 81 Exchange
place attracted the observation of many passers-by
Mr.. Lords Office was the rear apartment on the
ground floor Of No. IS Exchange place. Here
he was in the habit of coming every forenoon about
eleven o'clock from his up town residence, and here
he would remain until about four o'clock in the af
ternoOn. During this time he was engaged in the
business of q broker but, as an individual re-
marked to reporter, his business seemed to con-
sist generally of cutting OF the coupons of his own
bonds and collecting the equivalent interest therefor
lie had no clerk or assistant and seldom went from
the Office except at luncheon time. Yet unattended
as he was his funds had never been the prey Of any
depredatOrs until the present time. Some time ago
he missed abont fifty thousand dollars in bonds from
his safe, and supposed that he had been robbed. On
search being instituted twas found that in putting
large leather wallet QIon the top of the safe he
had thrust back the missing bonds, and they had
fallen into the crevice behind the safe.
In this apartment, or rather connected with it, Is
the vault in which the safe is located. The vault
tending out into a court of law and brokerage Of
fees opening William street. 1t is in the form of
a quadrant, and built of masonry several feet in
thickness The chamber of the vault is only some
three feet wide by four in depth and six in height
At the further end is located the safe from which the
funds were distracted. The safe door had not been
locked or even fastened for several months, the
bolt was out of repair and the door of the vault
not always locked, as has tFanspTed since the fact
of the robbery exeitsd an investigation of Mr..
Lords habits. Sometimes he omitted TO withdraw
the kew but left il in the vault door all night, For
a long time he was in tbs habit OF putting the key
in the Office desk after he had locked the safe, and it
was only when some of his friends warned him
of his imprudence in so doing that he took it
home with him. In fact so long had he
quietly and uuinterruptedly transacted his business
that he appeared to have lost all apprehension to
the safety of his funds; and night after night he
consigned them to the strongbo and left them to
remain there without fear of their abstraction
puring all this time it is indeed wonder that, in
his unprotected position he has not been the victim
of more violent effort to get at his treasure More
than an OctOgenarian-he is eighty.four years of
age-withOut a clerk or assistant in his solitary
back office plunged to the eyes, at times, in the
midst of millions Of dollars worth of documents il
is singular that he has not excited the cupidity Of
some msereant to more fOrcble and tragic dispos.
session of his wealth.
The mystery attending the robbery Is not the least
interesting feature connected with it, The door
leading into the Office was locked usual, the win.
dows were unopened and gave no evidence Of an
entrance that way, and the vault door was fastened
with the key in Mr.. Lords pocket The furniture Of
the apartment had not been disturbed In fact, the
burglars came and went as trackess as though they
were spirits.
Mr. Lord was visited by many Of his friends yes
terday, but he seemed wholly industrious Of their
sympathy. Like I'll fnancers he is sensitive as 70
the abstraction Of the bonds Is professional mat
II. ria his fort his, sEaan
" than for its pecuniary character, aud report has
Il that his capital is still unimpaed to the extent Of
The detectives are still at work in search of the
thieves but there were no developments up to last
evening.