Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-08

From the Chicago Tribune, August 2
The numerous rObberies Of recent oc-
| currence in this CITY, Perpetrated at the
expense Of depOsit5Ts in the various
banking institutions, give rise to fear
that a screw is loose in some quarter.
Either the police are at fault for not
! looking after such sesmps as perPetrate
the thefts, or the conclusion must needs
be arrived AT that thieves in Chicago are
sharper than the detectives. However
this may be, the frequency Of the pecu-
liar and successful species Of robbery
spoken Of is certainly becoming alarm
ing. The latest case of the kind occur
red Yesterday, resulting in the capture Of
the thief; not, however, through the
shrewdness OF 3 detective, but that OF
newsbCy.
The scene of the deed was the First
National Bank, at the southwest corner
Of Clark and Lake streets. a gentleman
named James Snythe, q resident Of this
city, at one O'Clock yesterday afternoon
entered the bank for the purpose OF
trsnsacting business. He was in the act
Of depositing the sum Of S7C0, in bills of
large denomination, which ne laid on the
desk at his elbow. While coRversing
with the clerk at that moment, thief
tapped him on the shoulder, thus divert
ing his attention from the money, which
quickly disappeared. The thief was
seen to dart out at the door with the
greenbacks in his hand, and was quickly
followed by the victim, Mr.. Smythe, and
3 number Of others who witnessed the
daring maneuvre Of the scamp. He ran
rapidly down Clark streetsmidst confused
noises, distinguishab!ea among which were
the EXPLANATIONS Stop thiei 70 Z" Nab
him etc. Men, women aud children
were thrown to the sidewalk as be Jos
tied against them in his hasty flight,
lodging to the right and left when ne
cessary to avoid collision, and rudely
pushing into the gutter every one that
essayed to stop him. A little newsboy,
standing in front of the Sherman House,
heard the clamor and understood the
situation. The painting fugitive, elbow
ing his way through the crowd at 8 fast
pace, ran against the little fellow and
half brushed him into the basement Of
the building. The juvenile vender of the |
daily news was too much FOR him, how |
ever for throwing himself headlong up |
on the pavement in front Of the thief he !
abruptly closed the race. The precious !
green backs took to themselves wings, !
and few of them we're lost ia the throng |
of eager, excited people. The exact |
ahONuL ISCoFEitO CVIAu uuk DC itaEUSus |
owing principally, to the logged reticence |
OF the police. An officer took charge Of |
the prisoner and escorted him to the |
aFm0ry. An immense concourse Of boot |
blacks, newsboys, and curious adults fol- |
lowed in his wake, thus constituting 8 |
and not until he was safely |
incarcerated within the musty reeesses
OF the bastile did quiet reign. Upon be-
ing questioned regarding the robbery, it |
is said, the captive at first refused to
give the slightest satisfaction. It is sup
posed that he had an aocomplice who
was instrumental in sfording him ea-
cape, and upon this point be was closely
Intercepted. Nothing of a character
which will serve to aid the detectives ia
their search for others who msy have
been concerned in the theft was learned
from him, and he was locked up. His
case will probably come up for examins-
ton at the Police Court tomorrow morn
Dg.