New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-29
The 81 500 900 Robbery. :

The Herald says that the sudden appearance Of
a comet in Wall street could hardly have created
greater sensation than has been produced by the
recent extensive robbery. The bold and success
full manner in which the sum of one and half
millions of dollars was spirited away from the
vault and strong box Of broker caused m "a Others of
of their own funds and to dread the next attempt
Of such skillful burglars. The robbery was the
topic Of conversation throughout the financial pre-.
cincts Of the city yesterday, and the vicinity Of
No. 3S Exchange Place attracted the observation
of many passers by.
Mr.. Lords Office was the rear apartment on the
ground floor of No. 3S 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 afternoon. During this time ne was engaged ll
in the business Of broker; but, as an individual
| remarked to our reporter, his business seemed to
consist generally of cutting off the coupons Of his
4 own bonds and collecting the equivalent interest
| therefor. He had no clerk assistant. andseldom
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 about fifty thou
sand dollars in bonds from his safe, and supposed
that he had been robbed. On search being in
stituted it found that in putting large leather
wallet upon 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; Ihe vault
tending out in court OF law and brokerage
Offices opening on William street. 1t is in the form
Of quadrant, and built Of masonry several ieetln
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 abstracted. The safe door had
not been locked or even fastened for several
months, as the bolt was out of repair, and the
door of the vault was not always locked, as has
transpred since the fact of the robbery excited an
investigation of Mr.. Lords habits. Sometimes he
omitted to withdraw the key, but left it in the
vault door all night. For long time he was in
the 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 uninterrnptedly transacted
his business that he appeared to have lost all ap-
prehenson as to the safety OF his funds; and night
after night he consigned them to the strong box,
and left them to remain there without q fear OF
their abstraction.
e in his unprotected pnsition, he has not been the
victim Of more violent effort to get at his trea-
sure. More than an octogenarian--he is eighty
four years of age--without clerk or assistant in
n his solitary back office, plunged to the eyes, o.
times, in the midst Of millions Of dollars worth Of
documents. it is singular that he has not excited
tie cupidity Of some miscreant to more forcible
q and tragic dispossessiOn of his wealth.
r The mystery attending the robbery is not the
d least interesting feature connected with it. The
10 door leading into the Office was locked. as usual
: the windows were unopened. and gave NO evi
IL dence of an entrace that way and the vault door
IN was fastened, with the key in Mr.. Lords pocket
ID The furniture Of the apartment had not been dis
re turbed. In fact, the burglars came and went Is
n. trackless as though they were spirits.
nd Mr.. Lord was visited by many Of bis friends put
ng he seemed wholly undesirous of their sympahy.
ho Like all fnanciers he is sensitive as to the ao-
,e straction Of the bonds professional matter.
He regards his loss, for this reason more keeniy
ill than for pecanary character ana as
his that bis capital is still unmpared to the extent u
n Several millions. :, A.,
he The detectives are still at work in search OF the
ns thieves but there no developments up W iast
nd evening. -.e