The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-07-09
THx OCEAN BANK ROBBERY.
An Astonishing Burglary, ftsidine
81, 5000 to the OPerators.-ho"i ~
4 was Done.


The community is again startled by
colossal bank robbery, and one OF the old
est and most conservative moneyed instltu-
tions of the city is made the victim OF an
exploit in thievery that for ingenuity IN de-
a;on- skill in execution, and success
achieved. marks the sure advancement OF
bnrolarv as an art In this instance, prob
ahly the full amount of one million of dol
lars in available funds and securities has
been appropriated by the enterprising
rogues, who have 30 carefully covered their
tracks that the police are utterly baf1led
even in detecting clue that might fasten
a faint suspicion upon some one,
THE DISCOVERY.
The Ocean Bank, occupying the main
floor of the elegant and spacious brown
stone building at Fulton and Greenwich
streets, was tie scene Of his last and most
daring undertaking. The DaIa =. closed
and SECURED in the usual manner on Satur-
day afternoon at tbs ordinary time, gold,
currency, stocks, bonds, certificates and
other valuable securities, aggregating be-
tween three and four millions of dollars in
value, having first been deposited in the
safes standing within the trebly doored and
locked vault. The porter swept up the lit
ter made by the days business. secured the
windows and doors, and retired to his apart
ments in the attic, congratulating himself
that he had no more work to do until Mon
day morning. Monday morning came, and
with it the porter, bright and early. The
doors were opened at o'clock in the morn
ing, and as daylight found its way into the
long darkened apartment. the porter was
thunderstruck by noticing tie vault door
standing open. With one leap he cleared
| IL. ofr Id
over chairs, and made the fastest time lac
was ever known to make, in direct line
to the vault opening. Here his astonish-
ment was increased by the discovery that
the interior doors we've open also. Strik-
ing g. light Re was amazed at seeing the
floor Uttered thick with those beautiful EVIL
dences of value he was accustomed to see
handled with SO much care, and mixed
with them, and lying around loose, were
numerous bright and shining gold pieces.
The bank had been robbed. watch p
sPolice 7! shouted the porter. Then re-
! membering that he had locked the door on
entering, h. returned to the entrance of
the building, opened ths door, end gaining
his senses as he proceeded, stopped shout
ing, went ont, lacked the door behind him,
and hastened to the Liberty stteet police
station, and informed Capt. Steers of his
discoveries The Captain called two off,
GERS to accompany him, and with the porter
went to the bank On hastily surveying
the scene, he assumed the responsibility of
taking possesss,c of the bank, and sending
the porter In search of the bank officials
These were speedily brought to the scene,
when thorough examination of the prem
ises was made, disclosing the fact that the
operators had entered from the rear base
ment, by boring a hole through the ceiling
of that room and the floor Of the room
above, thus effecting an entrance into the
Eres.dont's room, giving them the range of
the institution.
THE BOOTY.
One safe contained the assets in charge
of the receiving teller, being mainly cur
rency, gold and checks. There was $780,.
900 in gold. tied up in canvass bags, and
filing a considerable portion of the avail :
able space. One of these bags was taken
out and examined, but being found heavy,
was left standing on top of the SAFE An
other bag was cut open and its contents
scattered about, 8 portion of it havin G
been taken, probably for loose change
Between $4,000 and $50, 600 in national
bank bills and greenbacks was in this safe
and appropriated by the robbers, but not
much else of value; $4,000 in checks pay
able to the bank, 100000 In three per
cent certificates, $4,000 in gold
certificates, and about 100000 in
various bills receivable were left intact
The other safe was forced open in
the same manner as the first one. This
contained the exchange package of the
bank, made up for delivery at the Clearing
House on Monday morning, which were
left intact, so that the bank made its set
Elements yesterday in full, and without the
slightest inconvenience. Besides these
the safe was filed with small tin boxes and
sealed packages belonging to the custom
ers of the bank, and left there for securi-
ty. A number of these, for which there
was no room in the safe, were piled on the
floor between the two safes. These were
all opened and thoroughly examined, eve
rything in the shape of money or negotia-
BILE securities in them being appropriated.
The amount taken can only be estimated
as the bank has no knowledge
of or any responsibility for the
contents Of such special deposits
The President of the Bank. Mr. d. r..
Martin had three private boxes here, all of
which were despoiled, but he declines Civ
ing his loss. VIM. Okell exchange broker
in the basement of the bank, had box
containing bag of gold, sundry bonds,
cheeks &C., and $500 in currency The
currency was taken, but the other valua-
bles left. One man, name unknown, claims
that his box contained coupon bonds to the
amount Of $50, 900, all of which was taken
Other individual losses vary from $3.50 to
500, 900, but the losers decline stating the
amount of their losses and the bank has no
means Of knowing. But it is commonly
estimated that, including the amount lost
by the bank, say $685. 900, the robbers Sc
cured from $50, 900 to $1,000. 00O
THE BASE OF OPERATIONS.
The basement of the bank was formerly
one room, and was occupied by the Globe
Insurance Company. William Okell sub
seeuently rented it for an exchange Office.
and sub-divided it into three apartments. as
shown in the diagram. The middle and
rear apartment he offered for rent, resery-
ing the front room for his own use. About
three weeks ago q well dressed, gentleman
~ appearing person engaged the inner or
rear room, as he represented, as an agency
for the Chicago Life Insurance Company.
agreeing to pay $500 per year rent, month
ly in advance. He paid one months rent,
$50, on taking possession. He appeared
to Mr.. Okell to be a German, but the name
he gave is not remembered. This Office is
directly underneath the private room of
the President of the bank, and has an en-
trance on Fulton street, numbered 22O.
few days after engaging the Office, very
respectable sign, gold letters on black
board, extending across the entire front
appeared, reading as follows:
INSURANCE, EEwCoMB o'NEIIL