The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-21

Ing. ana was naturally astonlshod at being COM
peed TO rearrest the bounty jumper an hour AFTER.
not stones throw from Police Headquarters.
The prisoner confessed that he had paid the de-
authorities refused 10 Believe the charge made
against their subordinate. Indeed, Ar. Kennedy
ling personal integrity and one who was slow TO
lose his confidence In q man when It was once
gwen ne could not be made 70 believe that his de-
tons, ana he always insisted that the charges so
frequently made against members OF she detecuve
squad were base and malicious. He would even
quarrel with personal friends In defence OF his
subordnates who were ali the time laughing In
their sleeves At his innocent trust In them.
THE BOND RoBBERIEs.
Among the many temptations to the detectives
OF the war and the succeeding one Was the occur.
renee OF numerous "bond robberies," as they
came to be called from the fact that the property
At that time these BONDS were consid-
cred by capitalists to be sale and easy methods
WAS sure and ready when due. and there were
many instances OF rich men putting all OF their
funds inro these securities, devoung q few hours
every quarter 10 cutting on the coupons falling
due and collecting their values. The professional
thieves Of the higher class were not slow in dis
covering this new held OF operation. and the COM
munity was frequently startled by the announce
ing run on with $1.00OO00 or $500 900. These
larcenies were usually adroitly performed, and the
bond robbsrs frequently succeeded in disposlng OF
their plumber In The open market before the loss
was ever discovered by the owner Though the
de ectives were fortunate before this in getting
ohandlse, these bond robberes threw all previous
rewards INTO the shade. In every instance the
his money-lor that was really what the bonds
meant to nim-and II he could only get them into
his hands again It mattered little TO him
that the thieves were allowed to 90 forth ana
plumber otner men. One and two per cent was not
an uncommon reward TO be offered or stolen
BONDS, and there is good reason for believing that
bond robberies were either planned or connivcd
at by detectives In order TO secure the reward that
was sure to be onereo. In such cases the thieves
from
ment, and sure to receive their flair" share OF The
reward. There Is, OF course. no legal proof that
such practices were indIlged in, but the charge
was frequently made DIV members OF the regular
police force at the time these bond robberes were
feature OF our criminal record.
GOING LITTLE TOO FAST.
An interesting story was once related TO tho
which shows that the detectives were frequently
privy TO the movements and intentions Of the
the bank on some pretended business with the
President and managed TO carry or under his
time alter the thieves had departed the President
was surprised by an unexpected visit from q de.
tective, VINO inquired II he mad not ost some
bonds. The owner or temporary custodian OF the
securities had not yet discovered the larceny, and
unfortunately, lost his presence oil mind in the
tive an opportunity to hedge little, for ne then
said he had "heard" that some suspicious charac-
tiers had been seen entering the bank, and that
he was not sure there was any occasion
for the step the bonds were, however, recovered
and the thief escaped punishment by some un.
known means. The bank officers, however nrmiy
believed that the ROBBERY had been "discoveredh
no proof, and the matter was allowed TO drop, as
is too often the case in this city. The detective
went on CHASING up bond robbers and was never
A DETECTIVES QUARREL.
One Of the most famous and startling Of these
bond rObberies Was the known IN police circles
as '.the great Lord bond robbery" The thieves In
that instance were never arrested, and they stole
Mr.. Lord was an eccentric Old gentleman and was
remarkably careless IN his handling Of The valua.
day approashed he was won't to 70 to his little
omce IN Wall street and sit Tor hours
wSa paT Of oa IN his hands e.
while into common waste basket. When he G lad
would empty his precious basket into an open
newspaper, and, making It up into bundle,
money, which, OF course. amounted to several
thousand dollars at each recurring visit. One day
by magic, and he aiterward remarked that It was
astonishing to him 10 see how quickly the deiec-
tives discovered his loss. This case created ire
as usual. favored few were put at work upon It.
The reward offered appointed IN round NUMBERS
urai desire TO get q slice Of 1t. The immense re-
ward defeated the end the owner had in
Keep the case extensively exclusives IN their u own Hs
hands ana MAUI rs, n inconsrovertloe TACT
ceavorns to nave nger In the rich p Msfs snsse
ring detectives actually threw obstacles in the
way Of their opponents IN running down the
tain members Of the government secret service,
were eDeaQed In the pursuit Of these Lord bond
with the inside history OF tnat case that had the
Headquarters men proved true to their trust as
sw9ra policemen EN- the ,1ieves would have been ar.
this celebrated case that led to the bitter war
between the Boston detectives and their New
York brethren. B0<h parties accused the other OF
dishonesty and unfair dealings, while there is good
reason for believing that one was as deep in the
mre or corruption as the other. The hue and cry
that ensued rendered the stolen bonds unsafe
property Tor the thieves to hold and consequently
they put the detectives the way OF taking peace
was very little made out OF the job by any one, as
MIR. Lord repudated part OF his offer. upon the
ground that the terms upon which 1t had been
MADE were not complied with, and the detectives
were ootiged to take what they could get Thus q
simply through the greedlness OF policemen, who
we're Supposed to be servants OF the pubic.
ONE RING BROKE TO FORM ANOTHER.
Sometimes there were cases where real ability
was displayed 0y the detectives, and it was these
occasional exhibitions OF genius that saved the
stance OF this kind VIII show pi ecisely how the
present detective system works, for as In the past
so 1t is to-day. The comedy is the same, only
the names OF the characters are changed.
One day gentleman called upon Snperin Lendent
kennedy at the Central once, gave his name and
He stated further that while IN hts ONCE thas
morning strange man had entered and endeav-
what the street termed '1rregularr-t e. stolen.
The broker informed his visitor that he 0id not
deal In sucn paper and was then asked to recon.
memo some one who did,. The broker remarked
that ne might be aoe to do 30 the next DAY. The
object oil MS visit to the Police Superln tondent
was to inquire II he wished to take any steps In
the matter, stipuating tnat beyond giving re-
commentator to the holder Of the stolen bonds
he would not take any part IN any plan OF opera
tons. captain Young was at once summoned by
the superintendent and the case handed over to
him. The only clew he could get was that the
price demanded for the bonds was supposed to be
about $4,000. Taxing tue risk, the Captain hired
and furnished an ONCE IN Wall street, put up y
little sign, and placed his son.in-aw therein as
the ostensible broker. Tne trap being set, 1t was
an easy thing to arrange Tor the purchase OF the
bonds, the PRETENDED broker displaying consider
abe nerve in conducting the negotiation.
The stipulation was that the purchaser was to
furnish the specified amount In bank currency or
small denominations and the bonds were to be
delivered The following day. Young then employed
private detective and one OF his subOrdlnates TO
assist IN the capture, and explaining that he did not
know how much ne would make By 1t, stipulated
with them as TO the precise reward they we're
TO receive The result was the capture OF two
who had robbed "A peUusvlvantn m