The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-04-09
THE LORD BOND-RoBBERY.
How the Securities were stolen.

long account OF the arrest Of John Jones.
alias Brown for the robbery ofa million and
q half of dollars In bonds from Mr.. Lord, the
New York banker. We have already pub
llshed the fncts In regard to the capture Of
the criminal. who had several accomplices
but the following particulars Of the robbery
as confessed by Jones, are interesting:
Jones (Bgown) had been in New York
some six weeks before the bond robbery,
looking about for job. Information was
given him by parties. whose names we sup
press to day--men who were boudd TO do
| eXactly the opposite Mr.. Lord
aud his loose manner OF husl1ess; that he
had n large amount ofmouey constantly on
hand, which he did not deposit, bat kept In
his own safe at his office. 3S Exchange place.
On this information he set himselfto we 'k-
Ing up the case. as tine detectives would have
called t. he frequently visited Mr.. lord,at
which times he talked ''hops" to the old
| gentleman. representing himself ~ extern
sively eoga2ed Ia the hop business IN West
ern New York aud Cauada GhaC through his
| brother In Albany lie bad uow got the mo-
nopOly OF the trade and was desirOus of leas-
ing n store or an oillce for business. III
wal Willie he was talsidg "hops' that IN
| associate took an impression OF Mr.. Lords
KEYS. but these were not fouud 10 work
reached They were not then aware that
the inside door was unfasrened, or they
would have entered at once ior twice dur
ing the two weeks In which they were talk
ing ''hops' they had opened his Office in the
daytime after business hours. aud eSanlired
thepremises. They nad tue means Of open
ing the outer door OF the safe, which would
at once, had they understood It's condition
have given them the money.
Failing with keys It was then debated
among them what other course 10 take, aud
some Of the party-there wee -four iD IT,
advised TO seize aud hold Mr.. Lord while
Others accomplished The robbery. Mr..
Jones Brown objected; he would consent
to no violence: he would take no such advan-
tage Of u feeble old man: but suggested that
they go ia aud take the funds before his very
eyes and In broad daylight. This they ac-
compllshed IA follows.
One of the party dropped into the office
he desired to lease II store and then The
others, till they were all there. Jones
Drown having ''the gin OF tongue" was
to eugage Mr.. Lords attention. while one
was 10 enter the vault aud hand some of the
booty TO II companion. take the rest himself
and the fourth was to open the door when |
needed. Accordingly Jones BROWN sat
down In front OF Mr., Lord, whose back was
on his safe with the door open. he was
earnest aud excited the Interest of the mil |
lionaire IN the hop business" Meanwhile |
one thief was In the vault. He had ascer- |
tained that the treasure was In two boxes
about foot square, and TWO pocketbooks.
He passed one of the boxes 10 compan- |
ion who was warming his hands ut the CRATE
fire, with his back TO Mr.. Lord, and who
kept the box In front Of him. The other
box and Que pocketbook he took himself
carrying IL so ms 10 bling his body between
the treasure aud its riglItfnl owner. At one
time, durl1g this process Mr.. Lord rose as
lf he would look round ; but just then Jones
Brown was more anxious than ever 20 OBJ
tain the lease ofhis hop store. and pleaded
so eloquently fer an Immediate answer that
the venerable Mr.. Lord sat down again with
out rs much astarnlng his eyes. II was at
that very moment that the fourth robber
pulling out his valuable gold watch from his
pocket. recollected that he bad engaged to
meet his business parCner up town, and
must leave; he would call again, That gave
occasion to open the door, aud then out
went all the party but Jones (Browu). and
| out went the boxes aud pocket bo0k. Jones
| (Brown) talked long enough 10 enable them
TO get out of reach when ne Joined them.
The million and balfof dollars were carried
out In broad daylight iO their baods, In
| sight OF the crowd upon the street in The
busiest hour Olthe day, IL WAS therefore the
the boldest robbery, as well as Ghe greatest
| ever committed. Whether the hops mad,
| the old gentleman sleepy, or the pleasant
| talk of the smart mao drew his thoughts
| for the moment from his dollars and bonds
from his treasures on earth that took legs
| TO depart, II not wiUgs 10 fly away, we
can not tell but this stoy we tell as " was
told TO us, confirmed by all tue circum-
| stances.
The four men went on TIL they came to
an entry way, where they stopped and COW
cred their booty, and then proceeded up
town to their headquarters, near the park,
where tue boxes were opened and the con-
| tents examined. Now il was that the rob
bers were more surprised OF the amount OF
their III gotten gains than was Mr.. Lord, the
day following, when the hop merchant for
got to call on him. at his great loss. TWAS
beyond all their rantieipatlons. and their eyes
glared and their chins dropped TO dnd that
they were the biggest thieves of the world.
| Here were tIe papers. loosed from their
confinement, In stacks upon the table
national bonds, State bonds, railroad bonds,
private papers aud even the 'last Will ana
testament of that venerable broker, Rufus
| J.. LOrtl--stlll richer than any mao ~ the
State of Observation-Disclosures OD The verge
Of eterpity, having passed to the last score
of his century, who might die Ia an hour
with the deYisement othls vast estate un-
provided Cor. Some of the party were so
staggered that lheylbegan 20 ask what they
| should do with II. aud " was proposed 20
burn or suk In the barbor all papers Of lit
tie value to them or dlhlcult 10 dispose of.
| ia their secluded quarters. In the still
hour of night they met 10 deteraiine their
arrang geuents. Then Il was that Jones
| brown whose tongue was about ms per-
I suaslve with his comrades ~ With Mr. Lord.
dlssented No. he said, though The papers
might not be valuable TO them. they were
/ TO that aged broker upon whom We have
drawn so largely. aud they should return 10