The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-02
THE WINTHROP BANK ROBBERY.


100000 of the Stolen Bonds Recovered
$4,000 Paid the Burglars History of the
Transaction-The Exploits Of Philadel-
phia Detective.
On the night of July 8 last, the rooms of
the Winthrop national and Winthrop
savings banks at Winthrop, Maine, were
entered by burglars, who blew open the
safes and obtained and carried away be-
tween 800, 900 and 100000 in currency,
government railroad, state and municipal
bonds Of this amount the national bank
lost about $4,000, the remainder being
funds of the savings bank, which, in con-
sequence, was obliged to suspend business
and place its remaining assets in the hands
of receiver for the benefit of its creditors.
Strenuous efforts were made to capture the
robbers, but they were evidently
EXPERIENCED oRAoKsMEN, AND SAFELY
ESCAPED
with their booty. A reward of $4,000
was offered for their apprehension, and de.
tectives were engaged to ''work up" the
case, but their efforts TO capture the ras-
calls have thus far been fruitless. The
officers Of the banks, however, knew that
on account of the character of the bonds
stolen it would be exceedingly difficult for
the robbers to negotiate their sale, that in
due time they would get some trace of the
stolen property, so they kept their own
counsels and allowed matters to take their
own way, in the meanwhile keeping secret
ly at work to reach the robbers, and es-
pecially to recover the property. In this
they have been partially successful, as
Saturday the bank received back $50, 900
of the stolen property. The history of the
method by which this result was effected,
is quite interesting, and may be sketched
us IOiOws:
r.. TUE FIRST CLEw
was discovered by Detective Joshua Tag
CART of Philadelphia, who, being in Boston
on business some ten days after the rob
berry, extended his trip to Winthrop to look
up the affair. The case had been given ex-
clusively into the hands of other detec-
| tives 80 that the bank officers could make
no ATTHDHtIIlcuL Will ilihl Dub uV lVdI bCN
what he could of the affair, examined the
safes, which had been sent to Boston IN
exchange for new ones, and became con-
WINGED that the job was done by one of two
professionals whom he knew. On return
ing to Philadelphia Taggart wrote for and
received a description of the men seer
about Winthrop the day previous to the
robbery, and soon after wrote TO the bank
| officials stating his belief that
THE ROBBERS OR THE STOLEN PROPERTY
NIGHT BIZ REACHED,
at the same time wishing for few days tC
become fully satisfied. When he wrote
again he asked the bank officers to sent
one of their number TO Philadelphia a
once with authority TO act. This mission
was given to Col. Charles A.Wing of Win
throp, and on Sept. 9th he went to Phila
delphia, where Taggart told him he hat
been approached in the interest of tn
burglars concerning the restitution OF |
portion of their spoils. An arrangement
was made for the robbers agent to NEE
Col. Wing on Sept. 9th, and the intervie'
occurred. The go-between or mlddlemal
who acted for the burglars informed tn
colonel that the government bonds and cur
rency stolen would, under no consideration
be restored: but he was willing to receiv
PROPOSALS FOR TURNING OVER THE oTHEI
BONDS. q
After some conversation the middle
man said he would restore the bonds for 2
per cent. OF their market value, and re
tired, giving Col. Wing until afternoon t
consider the proposition In the afternoo
Taggart appeared for the mddleman an
informed Col. Wing that for 10000 al
the stolen funds, except the currency an
government securities, would be returned
Col. Wing then returned to Winthrop an
reported progress, and on consultation tn
trustees unanimously agreed to pay tn
amount, but waited until receiver was ap
pointed by the court, 80 that he could at
with them. After the receiver was az
pointed the doings of the trustees were RI
ported to him and met with his approva
An order was obtained from the court at
thorizing him to offer reward not exceed
ing $40 900 for the recovery of all secur
ties embraced in the schedule OF propert
which the robbers proposed to return. Tn
receiver then designated Col. Wing 10 con
plete his lnd9
NEGOTIATIONS WITH TIE ROBBERS
and furnished him the necessary funds. Il
gether with an agreement TO the effect th'
the trusteesof the bank should return
the receiver the stolen property recovered
or, if it could not be recovered, the none
constituting the reward. All preparation
having been completed. Col. Wing left fo
PHILADELPHIA once more on the Goth of I'll
month, and on arriving met Taggart, WI
at once telegraphed the robbers agent the
in New York. The latter replied, appoin
; ing an interview at the st. Nicholas hote
in New York. on the night of the 9th
D last Wednesday. Col. Wing and the d.
tective at once went TO New York, ar
: that evening Taggart alone met the agen
when the previous agreement was final
agreed npon also time and place thu
r same evening, when the stolen proper
I should be delivered to Taggart, and by hi
J, placed in the hands of Col. Wing, who
= return should
HAND OVER THR $4,000 {
+, to Taggart, who should give it to the agen
= The meeting was held that evening, a
= cording to agreement, in small ba'
: room In the third story Of building occ
pied as q saloon. The burglars sent q
: other man than the one who had done Z
I preliminary talking, and when he enter
a he wore heavy overcoat, the collar
which was turned up,a broad brimmed &C
U hat with the rim turned down, and held
bocIl<aeoh;af avor hia fapa (ol WI