The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1871-11-10
ROBBING THE BANK.

A few weeks ago, while staying
at Atlantic City, I met at my hotel
a dne gray haired cid gentlema n.
whose conversation greatly in.
terested me. He had evidently seen
great deal of the world, and
was especially conversant with the
banking business.
In q few days We become quito
companions, and Mr.. James Arehe,
(for such was the name Of my new
friend Uniformed me that be had been
engaged in the banking business all
his life, having at various times filled
the different Offices of cashier. teller
and President.
II should suppose, 1 observed,
"that the banking business offers
fewer dramat,c episodes than any
other profession"
Il don't agree with you there
returned Mr.. Archer. "Judging
from my own experience. I should
say that there are but few profess
ions which offer more dram atic
scenes
You have been an actor in som e
scenes Of this charac teri" asked.
Il 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.
r X +
Some thirty years ago, I was CASH
icr in bank situated in the city of
Milwaukee, in the State of Wiscon-
sin. Although large place now,
Milwaukee at the time l refer to
was long, struggling town, with q
very rough class of Inhabitants.
Like Ill places on the verge of
civilization the law was almost a
dead letter. Horse thieves, robbers
and murderers were there in such
numbers that they struck terror in
law-abidiug citizens. and no jury
could be found to convict the most
heinous offender. If it Glanced to
leak out that any Of the twelve ju.
rors we're in favor Of bringing in :
verdict Of guilty, his 81 their lives
we're sure to pay the forfeit Of their
sense Of justics.
Asa natural consequence Of liv-
ing in such state Of society, every
man walking abroad with his life in
his hand. and without . single ex-
eeption every one went armed to the
teeth. I have known men to be shot
down like dogs for word, or even 3
look. -. .z&
There we're hundreds of men who
made it their especial business to
try to pick quarrels with the better
class; that they might have cbanc .
Of killing and robbing them.
You will readily underst and that
carrying on . bank under these cir.
cumstsnces was most arduous task.
Every one of the employees was
heavily armed, and the vaults built
for the specie and vsluahlcs of the
bank were of the most massive char
acter. In fact, SO much was this the
case, that they became : kind Of
show place for strangers; and every
one who happened to be detained in
the city were sure to visit the
vault Of the Citizens Bank.
, Our President was . strong, pow =
erful, energetic man. who bad more
than once proved bis courage in ;
melee; consequently the ruf6aus of
the place kept him at distance. and
for two years after the bank was
started, no one offered to molest US.
We had orders from him to shoot
dow q the FIRST man that showed the
slightest disposition to be aggress-
i've.
Mr.. Braintree, for suah was our
presidents name, was aceust omed
to mingle . great deal with the
roughsr portion Of the community.
thinking BY this means he might
learn If there was any scheme on foot
to attack the bank. Ofcourse, these
inquiries were always made in dis
guise. and, indeed, MIR. Braintree
possessed the art of so altering his
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