Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-03-09


"FYes-I have something particu
lar to tell yon, and thought it bet
ter TO lose no time. You mus
know, in the first place, that Wis
tied the Three Swans last night.
The "Three Swans" was one o
the lowest taVerns in the place, anC
the rendezvous for all the desperatl
characters in the town and neighbor
hood. There was scarcely o nigh
passed that some one was not killeC
there.
''You visited in disguise, l sup
pose" remarked.
Certainly. was disguised as /
drover, and had the extreme pleas
Ure of being taken for horse thei
by all the scouudrels present"
That is at least a compliment Il
your success in Disgusting yourself,
l returned.
"Yes-that's true. l learned
something at the 'Three Swans last
night, Mr.. Archer, which nearly
concerns US"
"Indeed," !" Ireturned pricking NJ
my ears.
i'You have heard of White Hair.
ed Bobby?'" said Mr.. Braintree-
"Do you mean the great bank rob.
ber?" 1 asked.
ayes. he himself He has robbed
more banks than any ten men in the
| United States. He has never failed
in one instance. His success in
breaking into safes and vaults has
! something marvellous in it. He
works generally m company with a
friend of his who goes by the nom
de yuerre of Slippery Jim"
al have heard OF that rascal, too, "
'FWeiI, now for my information.
learned last night that White Hair
ed Bobby and Slippery Jim are
about TO visit Milwaukee for the ex-
press purpose of depriving the Citi-
zens' Bank of its specie and Valu-
ables." 49,. .,.--
'The duce they do" was all ] could
say. -r-..r. ..-.s 1000.
this worthy pair shall accomplish
their purpose, SO / shall visit the
Three Swans nightly for some
weeks, to find out if possible, the
moment they arrive"
Six weeks passed away and we
heard no more of "White Haired
Bobby" or slippery Jim." Mr.. Brain
tree continued to visit the "Three
Swans" nightly, but heard nothing
further. We came to the conclusion
| that the two famous bank robbers
had changed their minds, and had
| gone to exercise their enterprising
| profession in another field.
We had forgotten all about the
matter, when one Saturday, in the
middle of the month of September,
while we were busily engaged in
our variou duties, clerical individ-
ual entertered and asked to see the
President. The request was ad-
dressed to me, and 1 had an excel
lent opportunity of for observing
his external appearance.
He appeared to be about forty-five
| years of age, of commanding pres
ellce. His face was fresh. fair and
exceedingly good looking. His hands
were very white. and he wore q fine
diamond ring on his little finger of
the right hand. He was dressed in
a suit of black which fitted him per-
fectly, and must have been made by
| a first-class tailor. 1t W as this black
suit, together with the Whitest and
| stiffest of craVats, and a short-sight-
| ed eye-glass which dangled from his
neck, and which he every now and
then raised to his eyes that gave him
the intense clerical appearance to
which have referred above.
fsDo you wish to see Mr.. Brain
tree on business?" l asked.
"Here is Mr.. Braintree now"
replied, as the president stepped out
of his private room into the bank.
Mr. Braintres,' said the stranger,
courteously removing his hat and
speaking in the most polite tone,
allow me to introduce myself. My
name is Elliot, the Reverned Robert
Elliot. | am an Episcopal clergy
man, lately appointed pastor to a
church in ST. PauPs. / am now on
my way there, but cannot leave un-
til Monday. At my hotel, to day,
heard the landlord speak of the ex-
traordinary safety vault you have
attached to this bank. AS 1 have q
penchant for seeing such you
structures l have thought perhaps
would allow me to see yours, OF
which l have heard so much"
Certainly, sir, with pleasure, re-
piled Mr.. Braintree, who by the way
was particularly partial to clergy
men, doubtless because they formed
such a striking contrast to the in
habitants of the frontier cities. Mr.
Archer added my chief, ''will you
be good enough to light the darb
lantern and accompany us!"
1t wanted about twenty minutei
to our usual hour of closing the
bank and | had Just finished my
work. Had such not been the case
| should in all proability have sen
one of the clerks in my place.
There was nothing, however, Il
nreyent me ftom doing as the Presi
dent reQuested; 1 therefore lighted
dark lantern, and we all three de
scended the steps leading to tht
vault.
The specie and valuables OF tht
bank were kept in an immense irOl
safe which was placed in a ston
: chamber. The wall of this cham
Der were Of extraordinary thicknes
and the entrance to it was througl
, a massive iron door, which was Sc
cured by thick bar of iron fasten
ed by an immence paddock.
By this means the specie of tn
bank was doubly protected, for, eve
, supposiug that rObber should sue
ceed in obtaining an entrance int
, the stone vault, he would still hav
; to force the immense safe, matte
| of impossibility, unless he happen
, ed to possess the secret, which wa
| turning the handle around exactl
, ! seven times. Once more or les
! would be of no avail.
r unlock the paddock, and we a
entered the stone vault. The Rev
Mr.. Elliot appeared to be strangel
interested in the place. He gaze
, around him in seeming wonder; b
| measured the thickness of the wal
! and the length and breadth of til
? stone room.
, Very secure! very secure, indeed
he murmured. "You can set ban
/, robbers at defiance with room lik
= this, Mr.. Braintree."
r Yes, sir; l believe we can, fC
= even if any one should succeed j
getting into the stone vault the
4 would still have the safe to force
; True, very true" responded Il
reverend gentleman, "but l mott,
q one popularity about your safe"
h added, glancing towards it as /
e spoke, "you have no look on it."
= '.It is not necessary" returnG
"a Mr.. Braintree, "for unless q persC
= happens to know the secret of ope
" ing the door, 1 would defy him
n open it." You see," added Il
II president, suiting the action 10 Il
world, in order to effect an entran
p 1T is necessary to turn the hand
"a around exactly seven times"
After the seventh time, Mr.. Brai
. - -, q srvOnor null and q