The New York herald., 1870-09-01
GREAT SAFE ROBBERY.
The Methodist Book Concern in
Trouble Once More.
The Private Deposits Stolen from the Safes
Tho Loss Estimated at Over 500, 600
Scene Of Wreck and 5poliation-
Reticence Of Officials

great deal of commotion was observable ycster.
day morning among the back-coated gentlemen
who occupy offices on the upper doors OF No. sos
Broadway. At an early hour there was hurryng to
and fro along the galleries, whispering In the rear
offices and in the front ones, especially IN the rooms
OF the Board OF Missions, where varying express
sons OF excitement and CONSERVATION chased each
other over faces usually bland ana complacent. 1t
was discovered
THE GREAT SAFES
had been robbed, and property varously estimated
al from 100000 to Sl5o.o0O carried away. On
tering the room at that time scene Of great confu
sion presented Itself. The noor was thickly strewn
with papers, large leather wallets and bill books
were scattered about and here and there a tin box
forced open and cmptied OF It's contents, lay In the
position IN which 1t had been carelessy thrown
Among the many papers thrown about the room
were found TO be large number OF
REGISTERED UNTrEO STATES BONDS
No clue to the perpetrator perpetrators OF the
robbery seemed to present Itself any OF the rev.
erend secretaries. who, after series Of consulta-
tons, finally sent to police headquarters for detec
uves. On examination the safes were found TO be
emptied OF everything OF negotiable value includ.
ing service OF silver plate belonging to the Rev.
MIR. Depew, and other articles or silverware. the
property OF clergymen who had used the facilities
SAFE DEPOSIT.
Not only stverware was left in this place OF sup.
posed security, but money and bonds in large
amounts. Some small wallets containing the saw
ings OF lifetime Of frusaty and economy by
humble parish preachers and others, and larger
ones were well flied with the surplus accumulations
OF fortunate and fashionable prelates. Such OF the
bonds were registered were quietly thrown on the
loor, and those which were payable TO bearer were
Invariably removed. The largest single looser is
one OF the secretaries or the Missionary Board who
was
ROBBED OF $4,000.
Hopes were entertained that at least one of the
safes had resisted the efforts OF the burglars to open
1t, as II was closed and could not be opened by aid
OF the key; but 1t was subsequently found that the
thieves mad opened 1t and closed it afterwards.
Workmen were summoned from Marvin's Safe
Factory, and after considerable delay they gained
access to the interior only ind that every artlce
OF value had been removed II seemed very strange
to casual observer that the robbery should
have been successfully performed by any one
not well acquainted with the arrangements
and familiar with the place. There
TWO NIGHT wATCHMEN
on the outside OF The building and one on the inside,
and the only persons having rooms on the floor, with
the exception OF an artist and perhaps other
person, are churchmen connected with some of the
many Methodist concerns.
The money OF the society was deposited in differ
en place, and that Of the Book Concern was In safe
in another part Of the building. II Is therefore only
individuals who lose now, though that loss may be
almost irreparabe TO them and sweep away the
savings OF the best part OF their lives.
A HERALD reporter yesterday called upon the sec.
retaries at the rooms OF the board, and
ASKED FOR PARTICULARS
in IN tup no cia1a
stated they did not choose to disclose anything in
regard TO the affair Tor publication at the present
tlme and that thoy had been advised by the derec-
tves to withhold all information for some days.
The reporter replied that he had already the main
facts OF The case, and only asked for any additional
particulars in their possession. The reverend gentle
men then demanded the suppression OF the above
statement and the reporter falling to promise them
anything of the kind one OF them grew brusque and
insulting, saying ungen'lemanly things unworthy OF
repetition.
There Is some reason to suspect that il the rob-
berry was perpetrated by parties not In the employ
OF the Book Concern, 1t accomplished at
least by
EXPERT BURGLARS,
as they were shrewd enough not TO appropriate
any of the registered United States bonds they being
OF course difficult and dangerous to negotiate. All
bonds left by them thrown with great reckless
ness about the apartment, together with empty
wallets and miscellaneous papers, deeds, mortgages,
&c. The rather strange circumstance OF the depre
dation however, is that the safes were in nowise
injured but were opened bv keys, and, as they
were fitted with combination locks, to open them
the thieves must have obtained the combination
numbers or characters. The safes were Of Marvins
make and were considered first class OF their kind
1t will be undoubtedly considerable time before any
exact estimate OF the loss can be made out, as
some Of the vauables placed on deposit were so de-
posted In boxes and other receptaces by clergy
men and persons who are absent as missionaries
coporteurs, special agents and on their midsummer
vacations. Many OF these gentlemen are now In
Europe or distant States, and it is understood that
as general rule no record was left by them with
the Concern as to the value of the deposits severay
made by them. When the full damage Is ascer-
tained, OF course the amount distracted may be
found to be less than is now supposed but the fg-
ures given above the estimates OF some Of the
officials Of the Book Concern yesterday