The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-08-09
The Northampton Bank Burglar,

Inc NOrCnalnptOnA bank l3urglars
The trial Of Scott and Dunlap, the
two arrested participants in the North
ampton bank burk larry OF year and q
half ago, proceeded rapidly TO. convic-
stances and scenes of dramatic interest.
The testimony for the prosecution
consisted in the Identification of the
prisoners with the parties who made
the assault on the family of Mr.. Whit
telsey, the cashier, In order to get the
keys 10, the vault and their combine
ton, with clothing that they had pur-
chased in Springfield, and with their
tools that they had left behind them,
and. next AMI chiefly, in the confess
sions Of Edison, the lOcksmith who was
the confederate Of the robbers, and
now told with bold frankness the ex-
traordinary story of. his association
with them for many years In this and
many other attempts upon banks
whose vaults and locks he was repair
ing or constructing as the workman
for safe and lock manufacturers. The
completeness with which he told his
story discOncerted and broke down the
whole defense; prompt verdict of
guilty was rendered.
Among the facts brought out in the
progress of the trial was that the whole
amount of money and securities, in
Guiding the private deposits, stolen
from the bank, was between one mil
lion and one million and quarter of
dollars; also that at one time, soon
after. the robbery, nearly successful
negotiations were completed through
COnnors and Edison for the return Of
the property, but that they failed, and
that since the bank has addressed itself
vigorously with the help of Edson TO
securing the arrest and the COnviction
of the robbers. ls y
William ID. Edison is 50 yeaSs old A.
though he appearsl but as aud spent
the first 50 years OF his life In Philadel-
phia, where he was q boot and shoe
dealer after coming of age. Thence he
went to Boston and was in the same
business for Is months, then to Mon
treal for year and u half, where he
was unemployed, then to Minneapolis,
where he was i'm the harness trade, and
then to New York in June. 1871. He
began working for Herriug & Co. the
following year, with whom he contin-
ued till last January. He first met
Scott in September, 1873, Mt the Rath-
burn house ut Elmira, N. ", one Sun
day at dinner, COnnors having arrang-
ed meeting, though he was not pres
ent, and became acquainted with Dun
lap at ConnOrs's rooms couple of
weeks later He previously male the
acquaintance Of COnnOrs through a
New York stable-keeper whose place
he was wont to frequent. In Decem-
Der, '73, the three came to his house at
23S West 10th street and made q con-
tract with him to use his business OPP
portunities to inspect the banks he Wis
tied and report to them such as could
be cracked, they to do all the piping"
that Is, unlawful Watching of persons
and places, furnishing the tools, and
give him half tile plumber. They inn
mediately began work on the Second
national bank of Elmira N. Y, he
having furnished them with drawings
of the vault, and kept up the attempt
to cut through the vault till Decem-
Der. The chief result was the impris-
onment ola confederte named Berry
in the state penitentiary. Then fol-
lowed attempts on banks In quick sue
cession; Quincy, ILL, where there was
an actual robbery, and Edison +" had 81
900 "a his share; First national fSar-
atoga, N. ~. Long Island national of
Brooklyn; at Covington, KY; Rock
vile, Ct; Pittston, Pa; where he got
about 5000; at Nantucket, and the First
National at Northampton. The witness
also looked over q bank at Wilkes
barre, Pa. He superintendent the put
ting In Of new vanlt-doors, for, the Old
Northampton bank in July, 1876, and
came to town the following month to
inspect that and the First National,
in order tofeport to bis pale. fFinging
the keys Of the new door did not work
easily, he took them TO New York to
file them, and also allow Scott to make
duplicates. He also furnished him
with dial like those on the bank,
with which to practice. Scott. Dun
lap and Corners then began to work
up the job, making frequent journeys
to Northampton and getting posted on
the interior arrangement of the Whit
tlesey house, the habits Of the local po-
lice, etc. Everything was ready for
by chance the hank received letter
from q discharged workman, Of, tl,e
Herring safe company, who wrote
that the new lock was insecure and he
could pick IL. This letter caused the
bank TO put new dials on the door and
use new Keys. The job had to be aban-
doned, and the prisoners began work.
ing on the vault of the first national
bank, but left off after a. time, because
they met. with unexpected distractions.
In November, Edison came to North
ampton again, Ostensibly on business
ut the first national, called at the Old
bank, and took an impression of the
new keysinwax, given him by Scott
for the purpose, while having the keys
i'm his possession IN the directors room,
that he might file them. He also adj
vised Mr.. Warmer, the vice-president
while taking ten with him at the Man
aion hoIlae To faka the c0mhin alton of