The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-07-28
ROBBING THE BANK.

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| grey-haired old gentleman, whose con-
versatiOn greatly interested me- He
had evidently seen a great deal of the
| world, and was especially conversant
| with everything connected with the
banking business.
In a 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.
"I should suppose" +" observed, "that
| the banking business offers fewer dra-
matte episodes than any other profess
| sion."
''I don't agree with you there" re-
/ turned Mr.. Archer. 'Judging from
my 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 ?'' asked.
al have indeed. Let us sit down
| here, on the porch, and will tell you
| what happened to me once out West"
| So saying, we fixed ourselves com.
| fortably, and Mr.. Archer related to me
the following exciting episode of his
| life
Some twenty years ago I was cashier
in bank situated in the city of Mil
Waukee, Wisconsin. Although a large
place now, Milwaukee at the time l
refer to was a long, struggling town,
| with very rough class of inhabitants.
Like all places on the extreme verge
of civilization, the law was almost a
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. If it chanced to leak out
that any of the twelve jurors were in
favor of bringing in a verdict of guilty,
his OF their lives were sure to pay the
forfeit of their sense of justice.
AS a natural consequence of living
in such a state of society, every man
walked abroad with his life in his
hand, and without a single exception
every one went armed to the teeth.
have known men to be shot down lilx
dogs for a word, or even q look.
There were hundreds of men who
made it their especial business to try to
pick UP quarrels with the better class, /
that they might have an opportunity
IF 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 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 a strong, power
ful, energetic man, who had more than
once proved his courage in a melee;
consequently the ruffians if the place
keep him at a distance, and for two
years after the bank was started no one
offered to molest 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
presidents name, was accustomed to
mingle a great deal with the rougher
portion ofthe community, thinking by
this means he might learn if there was
any scheme on foot to attack the bank.
OfcouTse these inquiries were always
made in disguise, and indeed, Mr..
Braintree possessed the art of so alter
ing his features that he could deceive
even his own family and particular
friends when assisted by a change of
dress.
He had carried out his plan for about
two years without anything occurring
to prove its necessity or usefulness,
when one hot July morning he enter
ed the bank about an hour earlier than
was usual with him.
"Good morning, Mr.. Archer" said
he to me, and be took off his fine black
coat, and put on an easy-fitting
blouse.
"Good morning, Mr.. Braintree, you
are early this morning"
"Yes-I have something particular
to tell you, and thought it better to
lose no time. You must know, in the
first place, that I visited the ''Three
| Swans last night"
The "Three Swansu was one OF the
J lowest taverns in the place, and the
! rendezvous for all the desperate char
| acters in the town and neighboThOOd.
! There was scarcely a night passed that
some one was not killed there.
"You visited in disguise, / suppose"
| / remarked.
"Certainly. l was disguised as
! drOveT, and had the extreme pleasure
| of being taken for a horse thief by all
the scoundrels present"
'That is at least a compliment to
your success in Disgusting yourself" l
returned.
"Yes-that's true. | learnt some
thing at the "Three Swans" last night,
Mr.. Archer, which nearly concerns
US"
Indeed" l returned, pricking up
my ears.
''You have heard of ''White Haired
Bobby ~ said Mr.. BraintTee.
"Do you mean the great bank rob
ber?" / asked.
ayes, he himself He has robbed
more banks than any ten men in the
United States together. He has never
failed in one instance. His success in
breaking into safes and vaults has
something marvellous in it. He works
generally in company with friend of
his who goes by the nom dc gUcrre OF
Slippery JIM"
II have beard of that rascal, too" I
returned.
"Well, now for my information. l
learned last night that White Haired
Bobby and Slippery Jim are about to
visit Milwaukee for the express puT-
pose of depriving the Citizens Bank of
its specie and valuables."
1.-THE deuce they dov' was all l could
say.
''AIr. Archer, l do not intend that
this worthy pair shall accomplish their
Il purpose, so / want you to keep an extra
lookout. / shall visit the Three Swans
nightly for some three weeks, to find
out, ii possible, the moment they ar
rive.
xweels passed away and we heard
no more of f'NVhite Haired Bobby
or "Slippery Jim" Mr.. Brainueer
{ continued to visit the "Three Swapsp
nightly but heard nothing further
1 We came To the conclusion that the