The New York herald., 1875-10-23
A New Chapter in the Ocean
Bank Robbery Case.
Conviction and Sentence of Gala
han, the Matricide.
ANOTHER MURDER TRIAL AND ITS RESULT.
Further Argument on Quashing the
Clahin & Co. Indictments.
THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY IMBR0GII0.

In the United States Circuit Court before Judge
Wallace and a jury the suit OF Samuel NJ. Archer
against the Ocean National Bank to recover the value
OF collateral securities deposited with that institution
amounting TO some $40 900 in stocks and bonds, was
yesterday continued. The examination of witnesses
for the purpose Of showing that the robbery the
result Of neglect Of ordinary and watchruncss on
the part Of the officers of the bank has occupied two
days and further hearing will be given on Monday.
No new evidence adduccd. The testimony was a
simple repetition of the facts published in the HERALD
at the time of the robbery, on June 90, 1869.
II will be remembered that counsel for the plaintiff
has stated his ability to prove that the robbery
effected through the connivance of Stevenson, the
cashier of the bank at the time of the robbery, and
further, that the burglars tools by which entrance
was effected into the bank, purchased with the
banks funds Altogether the story is an interesting
in all its varied and conflicting complications.
Meanwhile give below resume of the facts
nected with the robbery
HISTORY OF THE ROBBERY.
On Monday morning, June 90 1862 the porter OF
the Ocean Bank, then located at the OF Green
wch and Fulton streets, opened the bank usual,
but entering found that the vault had entered
by thieves. Scattered on the floor by were nu-
merous burglars tools Of most costly description
several caps oyercoats, overas, rubber shoes &c
There was also strong smell OF burnt powder in the
apartment The burglars tools mixed up gold
pieces railroad bonds gold certificates and other
curtes The bank officials IN order to aIlay the pub
lie excitement gave out that their loss from
SO 900 10 $25 600 although II subsequently ranspired
that the total amount of securities money &c, stolen
amounted TO close upon $500 600 just previous to the
robbery the basement under the bank occupied by
broker named William Okell, who fortnight be-
fore the burglary, rented the rear part of
his apartment TO q man named Charles X.
Cole, who put up outside sign marked 'Newcomb
and +. Nell" Tho man Cole was most mysterious in
his movements Every day he was seen to enter tho
place, but he always avoided with persons
about the building On the Friday before the robbery
Nr Okell endeavored to open tho window separating
his part Of the basement from that rented to Cole but
found It nailed down. BY looking through ciink he
perceived that wardrobe had been placed in tho
Of the room which reached TO within inch two of
the ceiling This II was evident the robbery
was discovered had been placed there to hide the hole
which the thieves had already begun to make in the
ceiling and through which they gained access to the
bank This hole was Immediately behind the desk usu-
ally occupied by the gentleman who was President of
tae bank al that time
The outer door of the vault was found not to have
been injured 1t was evident that the lock Ia combi
na ton one had been either left unlocked on Saturday
night had been opened by persons who had become
possessed Of the secret Of the combination The key
10 the second door found hanging the wall just
under the outer door, The third door had been pricd
open by means oil powerful screw or lever. In the
inner vault were two Safes both of which
had been forced open and their contents
hanled. One OF these safes contained the boxes
OF special depositors From these stolen about
500, 600 worth of money and bonds. From the other
eafe which was used by the bank was taken about
$4,000 currency and legal tenders about $4,000
Ia checks payable to order Between 5000 600 and
500 900 OF Clearing House certificates were left un-
iOached well az about $l00 900 OF gold certificates
Rad other securities The fact that so small amount
of the bank property had been taken looked upon
nj the time slngularly suspicious.
In addition 10 the fact of the quiet opening OF the
twS outer doors of the vault IL found examna
of the hole through the floor that the greater
portion of the work done from below In order to
complete the opening, however. IL had been found
ssary by the thieves to cut away beam about four
icen inches in width In this beam were found numcr-
marks OF an augur mani ipulaed from below, but a
closer examination showed that holes had also been
bored the j0st from above. Here again the carpet
covering the floor above the holes was not cut must
have been had the opening in the floor been made from
below entirely. The carpet had merely been cut on
tao sides OF square Immediately over and on'a line
r.lh the a1gur holes For these reasons the experts
insisted that the burglary had been accomplished by
CONFEDERATE
OF the burglars who had got possession Of the key TO
tae combination lock- and had secreted himself in the
faak when closed Saturday. The fact, too that
s'se bank offered reward or S25 600 for the
apprehension OF the thieves when announced
lsss only 500 600 looked upon strange cir
camstance. Then, again, tho mysterious manner in
wtich part or the securities returned also
freely commented upon. II Will be remembered that
oa June 80 box, addressed to Captain Jourdan, Sixth
ward, was pointed out by two boys to police
ofEcer on Caharine street That box was
ps $26S 02l 29 also box containing large
nRabor OF valuable papers such deeds, mortgages,
&c, belonging TO AIR. Martin, the President OF the
bank The remaining securities, estimated at over
$40, 600 have never been heard Of.
SUITS RECOVERY.
10 the Of the First National Bank OF Lyons,
IoSa vs. the Ocean Bank TO recover $50 900 In United
States iive-twenty bonds, stolen at the time OF the
robbery, which tried before Judge barremore the
iuFy rendered verdict May 9 1873, for the plain
ell for 353 600 being the amount oil principal and in
trsfst claimed During this trial the details of the
tusgary were fully gone into and some ugly facts
brpught out