The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-07-28
ROBBING THE BANK.

| world, and was especially convsrsant
with everything connected with the
banking business. -
i In few days we became quite COM
panions, and Mr.. James Archer for
such was the name of my new friend)
informed me that he had been engaged
in the banking business in his life,
having at various times filled the diff
ferent offices of cashier, teller and
president. -...-
ST should suppose" observed, "that
the banking business offers fewer dra-
matte episodes than any other profess
| sion.n
81 don't agree with you there" re-
turned Mr.. Archer. "Judging from
nay own experience, should say that
there are but few professions which Of
fer more dramatic scenes"
"You have been an actor in some
scenes of this character 9n 1 asked
al have Inueed. Let us sit down
here, on the porch, and will tell you
! what happened to nae once out West.n
| So saying, we fixed ourselves COM
| fortably, and Mr.. Archer related to me
the following exciting episode of his
life.
L
| Some twenty ears ago was cashier
| in bank situated in the city of Mil
waukee, Wisconsin. Although large
| place now, Milwaukee at the time |
refer to was long, struggling town,
with a very rough class of Inhabitants.
Like all places on the extreme verge
of civilization, the law was almost
dead letter. Here thieves, robbers and
murderers were there in such numbers
that they struck terror in law abid-
ing citizens, and no. jury could be
found to convict the most heinous
offender. II it CHANGED to leak out
that any Of the twelve jurors were in
favor of bringing in verdict of guilty,
his or their lives were sure to pay the
forfeit of their sense of justice.
AS natural consequence of living
in such state of society, every man |
walked abroad with his life in his |
hand, and without single exception |
every one went armed to the teeth. 1 |
have known men to be shot down like |
dogs for word, or even a look.
There were hundreds of men who |
made it their especial business to try to
pick up quarrels with the better class,
llidl lil6N LdNC al luLIlN
cf killing and robbing them.
You will readily understand that
carrying on bank under these cir
cumstances was almost ardurous task.
Every one of the employees was heavi-
ly armed, and the vaults built for the
specie and valuables OF the bank were
of the most massive character. In fact,
so much was this the case, that they
became kind of a show place for
strangers; and every one who hap
pened To be detained in the city was
sure to visit the vault Of the Citizens
Bank.
Our president was strong, power
ful, energetic man, who had more than
once proved his courage in melee;
the ruflians if the place
keep him at a distance, and for two
years after the bank was started no one
offered to modest US. We had received {
orders from him to shoot down the |
first man who showed the slightest dis /
position to be aggressive.
Mr.. Braintree, for such was our I
name, was accustomed to {
ningle great deal with the rougher 7
portion nfthe o0IaAEnunity. thinking by ,
his means he might learn II there was
my scheme ON foot to attack the bank. |
)fcourse these inquiries were always {
made in disguise, and indeed, Mr..
8raintree possessed the art of so alter c
ng his features that he could deceive c
wen his own family and particular l
riends when assisted by change Of a
lress.
He had carried out his plan for about (
wo years without anything occurring T
o prove its necessity or usefulness, [
when one hot July morning he enter G
d the bank about an hour earlier than |
vas usual with him.
"Good morning, Mr.. Archer" said 5
le to me, and be took off his fine black C
:oat, and put on an easy-fitting il
,lOuse.
"Good morning, Mr.. Braintree, you C
re early this morning. e
"Yes-I have something particular O
0 tell you, and l thought it better to v
Ose no time. You must know, in the v
irst place, that / visited the "Three C
swans last night" a
The "Three Swans was one of the Z
owest taverns in the place, and the C
endezvous for all the desperate char
cters in the town and neighborhood. n
hNAI " 80 pSNAANCAJ ~ 4lRAlt RoRoNh tl11I
ONE one was not killed there. u
"You visited in disguise, suppose?"
remarked. |
rover, and had the extreme pleasure n
f being taken for horse thief by all D
he scoundrels present" b
'"That is at least compliment to n
our success in Disgusting yourself" l e
eturned.
"Yes-that's true. | learnt some il
hing at the "Three Swans" last night, Il
ir. Archer, which nearly concerns
s." h
"Indeed," returned, pricking up d
ny ears. II
f'You have heard of "NVhite Haired
}Obby?n said Mr.. Braintree. %
''DO you mean the great bank rob- t,
er ?" / asked. b
"Yes, he himself. He has robbed Il
more banks than any ten men i'll the v
United States together. He has never L
allied III one instance. His success in a
,reaking into safes and vaults has II
marvellous in it. He works
i'll company with friend of v
lis who goes by the nom dc 9ucrre Of |,
Slippery JIm." n
II have heard of that rascal, too" e
eturned. %
"WelI, now for my information. ! n
earned last night that White Haired d
Bobby and Slippery Jim are about to %
-isit Milwaukee for the express pur-
,ose of depriving the Citizens Bank of C
IS specie and valuables." S
"The deuce they dow was all could Ii
ay.
"Mr. Archer, l do not intend that e
his worthy pair shall accomplish their t
purpose, so | want you to keep an extra n
ookout. shall visit the Three Swans u
lightly for some three weeks, to find
ut,"i possible, the moment they ar u
i've. 3
Sixweeks passed away and we heard Fl
10 more of "NVhite Haired Bobby" il
r "Slippery Jim.n Mr.. Braintree, s.
ontipued to visit the "Three Swans''
lightly but heard nothing further. y
Ne came to the conclusion that the 5
wo famous bank robbers unchanged a
heir minds and had gone to exercise
heir enterprisiDg profession in a diff b
erent field. Il
We had forgotten all about the mat e
er, when one Saturday, in the d
middle of the month of September, o
While we were busily engaged in our q
,arious duties, a clerical individual
ntered and asked to see the president. u
The request was addressed to me, and o
had an excellent opportunity for OBJ P
erving his external appearance.
He appeared to be about forty-fve 81
ears ofage, of commanding presence. L
lis hands were very white, and he o
yoie fine diamond ring on the little 81
niger of the right hand. He was Il
ressed in a suit OF black, which fitted ft
i'm perfectly, and must have been "
nade by tailor. 1t was this black
nit together with the whitest and stiff N
4 4 4 Il -,