The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-02
THE MULCTED MESSENGER.
The Mechanics Bank Collector RO.jed
in Broadway Yesterday.
Watched by Three Rowdiss on His Round, JOS
tied and Eassd Of the Bank Wallet Contain
ing ss,3oo-The Money All Los.-Acci-
dental Arrest Of One Of the Thieves BY
Two Richmond County Officers

One Of the most daring and successful street rob.
berries ever perpetrated in this city was accom-
plishcd on Broadway yesterday afternoon.
Bartholomew Leeds. messenger attached to the
Mechanics Bank was despatched shortly after noon
yesterday on tour Of collection, having in his
wallet checks TO the amount OF S3,305 As for which
he was to collect the cash from the various banks in
the city on which they were drawn. He placed the
wallet in an inside coat pocket, and was proceeding
with his collection, when an incident occurred TO
render further travel unnecessary. It appears that
from the time he left the Mechanics Bank In Wall
street three very respectable looking rowdles fol-
lowed him,
WATCHING HIN FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE,
douging him at every turn and keeping track of his
every movement. Their manifest object was to rob
him Should the least opportunity occur. BY two
O'clock he had collected cash to the amount of
$500 The last call he made was NJ the Chatham
Bank corner Of Cedar street and Broadway. He
was SO intent on mis- business that, though these
rufilans who had followed hun now almost con-
fronted him, he did not observe them until they
made regular, weli-panned onslaught on him. Just
as he was about turning way from Cedar street the
robbers, concluding that by this time lie must have
collected
SUFFICIENT TO PAT THEM FOR AN ATTACK,
placed themselves IN his way and hustled hlm in
such manner that he was taken altogether BIZ sur
prise: and when theJ were walking away, each IN
different directions, he was amazed ana wondered
particular time and place ana Just at that point to
diverge at three opposite points. He was not long
in being informed, for at that Instant though
to his wallet crossed his mind. and on putting his
hand IN MS pocket, presto! II nad howu. Scarcely
had he made this discovery when he was
TAPPED ON TaE SHOULDER FROM BEHIND
and on turning round observed one 0l the parties
who had so unceremoniously jOsted him IN the Gus
tody OF two oifoers. Here was another surprise Tor
him. The TACT was, two officers belonging to the
Richmond county force were In the CITY from Staten
Island. and happened TO he crossing broadway, near
Cedar, just at the time these jOstled the mes.
senger. Suspccting by the systematic manner IN
which 1t was done that the rowdies had some spe.
ciai object In view they Immediately started alter
OF them named John w. Howard. The latter saw
them making for him and
AT ONCE TOOK 'sHANKs' PoNY'
to double quick time This seemed to cOrroborate
the suspicious oil the Otscers and they ran after
him, chasing HIM round several blocks before they
could overtakt MIN. Ihey arrested hlGi eventually
ana brought him back 10 the victim. who was in as
great dilemma a. could be conceived. for he had
not only los his wallet but he had not the least idea
where to look for 1t. When the officers brought
their prisoner TO the od maa-he Is probably nearly
fifty years OF ase-he recognized him IN an instant
"a one OF those who had j0stled him. The prisoner
was then handed over 10 an o1icer OF the municipal
force and search instantly instituted the other
two, who. 1t was discovered, had gone
CLEAR OFF WITH THE PGCkETrooK,
containing s2,6s5 In cash and a check on the Nassau
Bank Tor $40: also one on the Marine Bank for Sl10
amount. S3,3o6, may lie gwen up for lost unless the
thieves are generous enough to return the checks.
The prisoner, who denied all knowledge OF the af-
1air, Was taken before Judge Hogan. At the TomDs,
ana held for examination tomorrow Saturday
morning There very little difficulty attending
the robbery Tor the messenger both too Old and
TOO weak TO resist Them had he been inclined to
co or aware OF he intended attack, and there was
All the thieves had TO do watcl, their opror.
tuhiy anu Quietly relieve the old man OF the money.