Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-18

The story told by VIM. d. Edison, in thu
trial last week Of the Northampton Banl
robbers, is most extraordinary one. HI
was n man of unsupported character, agen
for one of the leading safe firms, and Will,
enjoying the entire confidence of his EN-
ployers. he used all the opportunities O
his position, which gave him access to III,
locks and vaults of the banks, 10 carry ou
a compact made with Il gang of burglars,
by which their operations were rendered
comparatively easy and safe The part
nership continued through several years
and eliminated early last year in the rob-
berry of the National Bank at Northamp.
ton, Mass where between one and two
millions of dollars in securities were
taken. A quarrel over the spoils. and the
chief criminals fear of detection, led to
the development of all the astonishing
facts. Two of the criminals, Scott and
Dunlap, are at the bar of justice, while
he whose guilt is far greater than theirs
goes Scott free on the consideration of
bearing witness to his own ignominy and
their confederated guilt Edison, who is
tifty-two years old, although he appears
but thirty-live, spent the first thrty-live
years of his life in Philadelphia, where he
was boot and shoe dealer after coming
of age. Thence he went to Boston and
was in the same business for fifteen
months, then to Montreal for Il wear and A
half, where he was unemployed. then to
Minneapolis where he was in the harness
trade, and then to New York in June
1871. He began working for Herring &
Co., the following year, with whom he
continued till last January.
The following is summary of Edson's
testimony: He was travelling salesman
for Herring & Co., safe manufacturers. He
enjoyed special facilities for ascertaininp
what the cracksmen wished to know about
the vaults, bank locks, etc. of these banks,
all of which he visited actually or ostensi
bly, on business for Herring. He had been
concerned in robbing, or in attempting to
rob, the Second National Bunk of Elmira,
n. Y; the First National Bank of Quincy,
ILL.,. the First National Bank of Saratoga.
the Long Island National of Brooklyn. the
Covington (Ky). National. the Third Ma
tional of Syracuse, n. Y; the Rockville
(C"nn.) National, the First National OIL
Pittston, Pa, and the Northampton Nation.
al. The gang also had designs on banks
at Wilkesbarre, Pa, and Nantucket. Mass
all this time covering three years, from
1873 to 1876.
The Quincy, Pittston, Covington and
Northampton banks were successfully
cracked. AT WilkesbaTe the chances off
the robbery were not very good, and
Edison told his fellow burglars so. Nan.
tucket escaped visitation on account of Il
storm which nearly shipwrecked the pro-
iessionals. Edison got $1,000 out of the
Quincy robbery, and only $3.50 at Pittston.
The thieves had falling out in 1874 and
again after the Northampton robbery. lie
took, in wax, impressions of the three
fold key which opened the inside vault off
Northampton Bank. These impressions
and all the Information obtained he gave
to the craftsmen, Scott and Dunlap, and
the consummation Of the robbery was an
easy matter. The details of the North |
ampton Bank robbery are given very
in Edson's evidence. rs well rs
the manner in which the division was
made, and the quarrel which arose between |
the thieves and which ultimately led to his |
turning States evidence and exposing his
Edison does not profess any repentance
or religious motive. and claims 10 expect
no reward. lie feels the robbers have not
treated him well, and is also largely
moved to his course by the fact that many |
are suffering for lack of their securities
and the impossiblity of Il settlement.