The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-11-16
THE PRINCE OF BURGLARS.
Interesting Career OF n TastidiOns
bank RObber.
tfrom the New York SUM-

IJurlnp tne last SIX weeks BrOau-
way has lacked one of its handsomest,
best-drcssed loungers, and the theaters
one OF their most regular attendants
Peter Curley. The reason il that he Is
In Vermont prison, awaiting trial as
the leader In the Barre Bank robbery. Mr..
Curley has for many years made u BUSH
ness Of burglary, anassing thereby a for
tune estimated at several hundred thou
sand dollars and his money aud adroit-
ness have, until now, got him out OF
every trouble with the law. His under
takings have invariably been OF great
magnitude, like the Waterford and other
profitable bank robberies. Although
many times arrested. he has never been
brought to trial. In most instances, Il
return OF part Of the spoil. through
rogues among the detectives, has been
his way to freedom. His exploit ut
Barre, however. is likely to bring him to
justice, for the queer reason that he and
his comrades in the burglary got no
| plumber. The bank lost nothing. and so
has no incentive to compound felony
consequently, he can only use his money
in corrupting public officers. and there
are no indications that he is accomplish.
ing anything in that manner.
Peter Curley came from Troy, \. y,
| y city That has sent q noteworthy COM
pany of thieves and gamblers to New
York. lie is an uncommonly handsome
fellow. about thirty-ilve years old, dresses
elegantly, and is in appearance what the
masses call "aristocralic." lie has never
mixed socially with thieves, is personally
doubtless entirely unknown to most OF
them. aud only during the last four OF
| five years has he been known with Ger.
a N a. n hat.,e st...t A.,
| only suspected, not because he had beer
definitely implicated In any crime, but OF,
| account OF his lavish way of spending
money. lie still lived in Troy then. and
had no ostensible business. He lived lux
uriously. but without dissipation, was
always gentlemanly in demeanor. dressed
in careful, good taste, and was excess
sively generous. often contributing 70
funds for laudable public Uses. His nc.
( emulation OF property was steady and
| rapid. lie owned the st. Charles Hotel.
In Troy, and resided in it, occupying
sumptuOus apartments.
One night the hotel was set on fire
while being reconstructed, but not badly
damaged, and 1t was found that phospho-
rus had been scattered about it TO hasten
the combustion. An investigation show
ed that the insurance was high and that
valuable contents included In the sched-
ules had been secretly removed. The
general belief was that Curley had
planned, II not executed, the incendar-
Ism Dut when local newspaper said so
ne pretended TO be unJustly accused,
threatened Il libel suit, and secured re-
traction.
His first arrest was for burglary in
west Troy, when he took $4,000 in cash
ana Government bonds from safe in the
Roy Shawl factory. lie was not pun
isheu, however, ana tiie facility with
when he GOT Out OF .hat diiiiculty has
since Deen repeated often. lie is sup
Poseo 10 nave been the leader IN eleven
Dank roDperies, planning the crimes, FUR
hishihg tne money Tor heavy expenses
,ha ,, nmg purxiaIy inncillnery, directing
.ne WORK. anu taking mons shares OF the
Dooty' Inc detectives cay that he mas
never Deeh suspected oi me robbery OF
ahythihS except saies, ana that MS enter,