Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-13
The Lord Bond IObbery--A RemaFka
bic story.

The great Lord bond robbery. which
occurred In this city over fifteen
months ago, has again been brought to
public notice by the recovery of nearly
all of the stolen bonds. This robbery
| is probably the most remarkable on
record, not only because the amount
stolen was so great, bit because of the
/ skill with which the crime was commit
| ted, the great efforts made TO dispose
of the bonds, and the untireing persis-
tency with which the detectives follow
ed up the thieves.
In March, 1866, MIR. Rufus Il. Lord,
who is a very old man, was sitting in
his office IN Exchange Place, when a
stranger entered and engaged him in
conversation. While talking to this
man an accOmplice entered and stole
| from an open safe bonds amounting in
the aggregate TO one million seven hun
dred thousand dollars. As soon as dis
covered, the robbery was made known
! to the police, but there was no evidence
| by which the thieves could be traced.
| At first It was difficult To tell the exact
amount stolen or the number OF the
| bonds. mir Lord had seen no one 90
| to the safe, and he cOuld not positively
identify the man who engaged him in
conversation. In fact MIR. Lord would
not believe the bonds were stolen in
this manner until after the arrest of
some of the men connected with the
robbery.
The police Immediately began a
search for the thieves, and IN the lntter
part Of April or the first of May they
succeeded IN taking one of the crimI-
mails. But when arrested none of the
bonds were found In his possession,
and Mr.. Lord cOuld not recognize hmm.
| After he had been in confinement n
short time TINS man said he could re-
cover MIR. Lords bonds under certain
conditions. That gentleman was very
anxious TO get them h ok, and the con-
sent of the District Attorney was oh
tanned to use the prisoner as a medium
| for recovering the stolen property. Ac-
cOmPanied by detectives he went to
Massachusetts,, aud had secured some
of the bonds, when further proceedings
wore stopped by his arrest by the Uni
/ ted States marshal. The men who held
the stolen property then became
| frightened. and placed the bonds in
| the hands of the ringleadeT, who took
some of them TO Europe for negotia-
ton. A few were secured by Mr.. Lord,
from time To time, he paying percent
| age for their recovery.
The man who went to Europe was
/ formerly broker in this city. While
there he sold but a small amount of the
bonds; but for these he failed to divide
with two OF the men who had placed
their share of the property in his keep
/ ing. Both of these men we're subse-
quently arrested, and smarting under
\ the trickery of their confederate, his
guilt and movements became known TO
the authorities. Having recently re-
| turned to this country, his whereabouts
were asceTtained. An Indictment was
then obtained against him, and officers
were about applying for a requisition
| to secure his arrest, when nearly twelve
hundred thousand dollars worth OF the
bonds were returned to MIR. Lord
through broker, the latter receiving
a reward for their delivery.
There are now abont one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars of the stolen
| bonds out. 1t has been learned that
/ there were SIX men engaged in the rob
] berry, three.of whom havs been indicted.
N. y. Post.