The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-21

Hecn3nfcS
by Robbers in Open Dny--They Chioroform
the Cashier and Make on with Sixty.hve
Thousand Doiars-Strange sequel to the
Tragedy Of Thirty Years Ago.
fFrom the Courier journal, June 1871
One OF the most daring and successful pieces or
vlany ever perpetrated IN our city occurred yester.
treasure vaults OF the Mechanics Bank IN broad day
light OF large sum OF money and the escape OF the
robbers The facts Of this daring robbery are about
as lolIows:-Mr Henry l.. Fope, who, Tor the last
twenty ve thirty years, has held the position OF
s bank q e me ssSk gDsS he
busy season, count the cash. post the books and
bank was closed two O'Clock p. NJ, the usual hour,
and Mr.. Pope went to dinner, and returned to the
cashiers once, looked over the daily papers for
q few minutes and then opened the vaults
aud cash drawers and commenced counting the
money. He had been buslly engaged IN this man.
ner Tor some time-hOw long Is not exactly known,
but the supposition Is that tt was about five O'Clock
when suddenly Two men advanced upon hm from
behind Mr.. Pope, when he entered the building,
closed and locked the front door and was standing
behind the counter facing the front door, me lore
most Of the two men had huge knife in his hand
and, as he suddenly came upon Mr. Pope. and as
tnat gentleman turned his head, III ade menacing
movement with the knife and sald:-"lf you make a
noise VIII KIN YOU" and ut the same time threw a
handful OF snuff into Mr. Popes eyes. The other man
tnen rushed up with heavy WOODEN shawl when cll
room and threw 1t over MI. Popes mead.
The two men Then seized hold Of him and
q s,asrwav leading up stairs and locked the door
They then Went back 10 the front room and hastily
gathered up what money there. was in sight and
made on The special deposits Of the bank, amount.
INC TO many thousands OF dollars, were ranged
roslnd unon the shelves of the vault aud
were entirely overlooked by the robbers. The
cash belonging TO the bank was IN tue
casn drawer ana in "a small safe the
large vault, both of which were open They scooped
the small safe clean, but when they came TO the
cash drawer they were more particular only empty.
ing The oomparments Containing large bills. Scrip
ana one and two dollar bills were thrown aside win
contempt They were evidently in great hurry,
ana grabbed M the money hastily as one package,
CONTAINING 900 was found lying on TIE
noor, immediately beneath the cash drawer. The
money obtained was United States currency,
m hills Of various denominations and IL Is
suppo,ed the robbers had carpetsack, which
Ihev crammed full of notes and then lett. How the
robbers got into the bank Is mystery but the most
Se theory is that they sIinped into the bn-
inn dnrIno the ay and secreted tie nseives in the
hsck room until Mr. pope returned from dinner.
Tney advanced upon HIM from the back room, and
were evidently in their stocking feet, as Mr. Pope
hoard ma sourid mill they were upon him. When
they threw the shawl over his head he experienced
| a sense OF suTocarIon ana Immediately lost all con-
Sc,onsneas
The frsf discovery Of the robbery was made few
mnnntes before eight O'Clock last night. Mr.. w. NJ
| LEWIS a Young man who sleeps In the BANK went
there at that time last night and upon entering the
| rnom fonnI the ras turned down. contrary to the
nsnai ensrn,n Ne Struck FIGHT and finding the,ya II t
door omen susnecIed thai Something was wrong and
| ven. To tho Tesidence of Mr.. Pope the cashier
| and learning that he had not been
| hnme since dinner obtained the AS
| sistance of two policemen and returned
:" tho h,nt ana ound matters in the condition de.
scr,had ahnva NJ pone was living in the stairway
Nth tha Shou, living narty over him and bot tie
which mad Contained cnioroform near his face. He
was insensible, but by the application Of cold water
| nartlv flied with chloroform a napkin which had
| been saturated with chloroform aud huge knife,
! with blade nearly eight inches long, were found on