Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-02-27
THE BANK BURGLARS.
Big Franks Capture in
Philadelphia.
HOW THE GANG LEFT new CASTLE.
BIG FRANK SHIFTS FOR HIMSELF
He CONSIDERS HIMSELF "DIsGRAcKp Foh LIFE
BY HIS RECENT PUNISHMENT AT THE
WHIPPING PosT-HIs MIND
,oScIpvprn

BY HIS RECENT PUNISHMENT AT THE
WHIPPING PosT-HIs MIND
CONSIDERED AFFECTED.
Ye terday we briefly mentioned "Big Franks
capture, 10 Philadelphia, and also published a
,heo.y Ct the robbers departure iroll New Cas-
lie II The effect that portion OF ihem went a.
far a. bclly Oak station, iu the team which
was found there the next morning. and sdver-
tised in the GAZETTE. This theory was correct
as will be found by reading the following ac-
cunt big Franks arrest. as taken froin the
Philadelphia Press:
A citizen of Wilmington, Del namei Will
liam ColliIs was proceeding out Master sirset
in car, aud when near NineIeeuth h-ppehed
to glance cut of the window, aud there 10 his
astouished gaze, was the DO orious cracksnan
and "pal' promensdiug. Havitg seen Frank
while on trial and on the iay OF bis whipping,
NJ. Collins was certain Of the individual 1poa
the .tIeet aud Big Frank, the burg ar, being one
and the same person, and retaining his seat in
the ,ar, rode to Alderman Charles Jennings Of
fee, at Ridge avenue and Master street, where
be procured ibe services OF Constable Capt.
William Bate, and the two men then repaired
in search 0: the robber. They proceeded down
Master street to Eighteenth, and on looking
norlhward saw Frank tnd bis companion stanc
ing on the steps of a lager-beer saloon, al the
corper OF small street below Jefferson street.
At this time the pal moved of and Frnk went
into the saloon and was followed by Messrs.
Babe and Collins. The escaped convict took a
seat and called for beer, as lid also his follow
ers. short time afterwards he arose. went to
the door, and walked Out, and was met by the
man who had left him short time before. Babe
then stepped up to Frank and told him be wish
ed bin 10 walk around to the Aldsrmsn's Office.
"For what Purpose" said Frank. "Matters will
L. I.al IDnLo Al,o,
the charger rejoined Franl, This gentleman"
replied Babe, turning to Mr.. Collins We'll,
what is his charge?" asked Frank. He says you
are bank robber," was the reply. ''Ihats
A PRETTY SERIOUS CHARGE
said Frank; 81 guess I'll go with you
During this dialogue The accomplice of Frank
bad slipped away, going in northern direction,
and has not since been seen or heard OF.
7 At the Alierman's Office the charee was pre-
feIred sgainst him by Collins, and the alder
man committed him under the name Of Frank
Macdonald. He was very reiesnt while 10 the
effice, aud would answer no questions.
The news of the capture Of this celebrated
william soon spread, and in short time the
neighborhood was in an uproar. A large crowd
congregaied around the alderman's Office, and
the grea'es anxiety was manifested by all 10
catch glimpse Of the man. Information was
Immediately sent to Lieutenant Crock, Of the
Twenty third district, for officers and in COM
pliance posse was sent, and the
ELEPHANT CT tbs PERIOD"
was conducted % the station-house, on Jefferson
street, above Twentieth. Uron searching him
it was found that be had 50 10 in currency,
small clothes-brush, aud some papers in his
pockets He was then registered and locked
up iu one Of the inside cells, where a watch
could be kept upon him from the main room
Cuiei OF Detectives Helms, was immediate =
ly notified of the capture, and in company
with Detectives Wood, Levy and McKib-
ben, proceeded at once to the station house
10 identify the prisoner.
A conversation was carried on between
the prisoner aud the detectives, from which
it was learned or Franks statements can
be relied upon that the rescuers proceeded
to Wilmington, ami took the train north
ward, which passes through that city at 2
O'Clock, A. NJ. The prisoners took a wagon,
and commenced their journey, also, in the
same direction. After going soout fifteen
miles the wagon broke down, and they
struck for the railroad, and took passage on
a freight train. Below Darby they left the
train, and headed for Wes. Philadelphia,
which they reached some time during We'd
nesday, and hid themselves during tho day.
q the evening there was
A DISAGREEMENT AMONG THEM,
from some reason not given, and Frank
left the other three, and determined to shift
for himself Late In the evening he crossed
the Schuykill and came to the city, and
went to The residence OF some OF bis confed.
crates 10 crime.
He ridicules the idea of escaping in a tug
boat, and says the party were not fools
enough 10 trust themselves 10 the caro- of an
engineer and deck hands. The idea of fe-
males, whom he denominated "molls," )" as
sisiing in their escape, also afforded him
considerable amusement, and he said they
only brought the boys liltlc whiskey to
cheer them up" Regarding his hogging.
he said 1t did not burt him much, and thatit
did not even make his back sore, but the
only thing lie regretted in the matter was
the public exposure, and he considers him.
self
DIsGRACED FOR LIFE
by the eastigstion. He does not VOW ven-
Reance upon the authorities. but chuck les
when he speaks OF it, and rolls his bright
little eyes In very mysterious manner.
Preparation had been made for the party
10 proceed to Elizabeth, New Jersey, where
a carriage would be procured and thence
they would all go to New York. This
Frank Objected to, "since," he said I" all the
conductors on the road knew him, and he
was afraid" but advised the others to 20 TO
Gotham, as but very few detectives In that
city are acquainted with them. He said he
wiSbou w oNoiu 1niihooIpuid, III possloiei hS
his former acquaintance with her detecti YES
had not resulted in manner calculated to
please him.
During this interview. Frank acted in o
rather strange, wandering manner, and the
detectives think his mind is affected
Sheriff armstrong was promptly notified
OF t'.s arrest, and would have gone up after
Big Frank !" to day, but for the fact that
he has large sale In Appoquinimink Hun
dred. This afternoon he Will send Deputy
Masten to Philadelphia. who VIII return to
New Castle with the prisoner. Meanwhile
the Philadelphia detectives will search for
the remaining robbers.