Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-02
The Northampton Mass) Bank Robbers
Arrested.


completely in the robbery of the
Northampton (Mass) National Bank on
the 26th of January, 1876. He was ar
raigned at the Tombs Police Court, and
held to await the requisition of the Gov
ernor of Massachusetts.
1t will be remembered that seven
masked men entered the house of the
Cashier of the bank, John Whttlesey,
on the night of the robbery, found their
way to the sleeping apartmentseof the
family by the aid of dark lanterns and
bound the Cashier and the other occu-
pants. They then got the key of the
safe vault, and, placing revolver atthe
Cashiers head, threatened to make an
end of him if he did not furniah them
with the information necessary to open
| ing the door of the safe. He did so, but
incorrectly. They wrote them down and
then made him repeat them, and on his
contradicting himself expressed their
intention not only TO blow his brains out,
but also those of his wife and children.
Having obtained what they wanted, they
left one man to guard the Cashiers
house, while the others proceeded TO the
bank. There was no difficulty in open
ing the vault door, but to get at the con-
|
to be gone through. The Cashier only
tknew one of these, the knowledge of the
other three resting with the President,
the Teller, and Director respectively;
all of these were left undisturbed, and
! how the robbers succeeded in opening the
door remains mystery to this day.
| The property secured amounted to about
$700,000, 100000 of which was in
United States bonds.
After the robbers had left and the
! guard Withdrawn from Whittlesey's res
idence, Mrs. Whittlesey succeeded in
liberating herself first and gave the
alarm. The other officers of the bank
we're summoned, and with the Cashier
| they went to the bank. Here they found
the safe-vault door open, but the safe, to
all appearances, had baffled the burglars.
Upon trial it was found, however, that
the lock would not work. The conclu-
sion arrived at was, nevertheless, that
the contents were intact. In the mean
time man was telegraphed for from
New York to open the safe, He arrived
late on the 27th of January, and when he,
after some difficulty, forced the doors
ajar, and the various chests and drawers
were examined, the truth that one of the
largest robberies on record had been
successfully accomplished was realized.
1t was at once surmised that party
of men who had for several weeks occu-
pied rooms in one of the public school
buildings of the town, and who were
missing now, were the perpetrators, No
trace of them could be found, however,
at the time. About five months ago the
detective to whom the case had been in
trusted thought he had hit upon a ciew
when he noticed several notorious
cracksmen" hold frequent interviews
with the members of firm of Broadway
lawyers who have been known for some
years to be in the compromise" bust
ness. By following up the thread he
soon became convinced thathe was after
the right men, and notified the officers
of the Northampton institution to that
effect. The Broadway lawyers still had
many meetings with the suspected par
ties, and the detective was requested to
take no active steps for time. The
thieves, however, wanted too high a
price, and negotiations were dropped.
The hunting up of evidence was be
gun afresh, and few days ago it was
supposed enough had been gathered to
warrant the mems arrest. Preliminary
proceedings were begun quietly. At
least three notorious characters we're
known to be within easy reach, one of
them being Connors, the other two being
Jim" Dunlap, the presumptive leader
of the gang, and Bob" Scott, alias
Hurstling Bob" The two last left the
city early yesterday morning, having
purchased tickets for Richmond, Va,
but were arrested at Philadelphia in the
forenoon with a new kit of burglars
tools in their possession, so that sp-
parently fresh robbery has been frus-
trated. They, like Connors in this city,
await Gov. Rice's requisition to go to
Massachusetts.
These three-Connors, Dunlap and
Scott-are well known, and more than
suspected of being concerned in about
half dozen other large bank robberies,
among them being that of the First Ma
tional Bank of Elmira, where the gang
effected an entrance into the safe vault
by cutting through the floor above the
banking. room. This floor was occupied
as hall for meetings, etc , by the Young
Mems Christian Association, and, after
getting through with their nights labor,
they hid their tools under the floor, care
fully covering up everything with the
carpet. On this occasion about $780,
900 were secured. One man, Jim"
Berry, was convicted for it, and is now
serving a term of five years in Sing Sing.
Another was that of the First National
Bank of Quincy, Ill, where they got
away with about $400, 900, $50, 900 of it
being in currency. For his connection
with this, Scott served a snort term in
the Joliet Qll.) Penitentiary. The Falls
City Bank, of Louisville, KY, also suf-
fered from their skill to the extent of
some $500, 900. A reward of $50, 600
was offered for their apprehension, but
the crime could never be traced accu-
rately to them. The gang is also identi-
fed with the robbery of the First Ma
tional Bank of Pittston, Pa, which lost
in November, 1875, some $50, 900, one
third of which was subsequently re-
turned through the Broadway lawyers
previously referred to.
Connors had been living in grand style
in this city lately. He was dressed in
the height of fashion when arrested. He
has been known for many years as a
gambler, high-toned thief and go-between
for other thieves and people who are
ready to compound crime when they
believe it to their advantage to do so.
His specially in the bank burglary line
is said to be that of locating" and of
making the preliminary inquiries. Dun
lap originally halls from st, Louis. He
went to Chicago about year before the
great fire. where he fell in with. Jim"
Berry, who taught him the business. He
there also made the acquaintance of
Scott, and, after the Quincy robbery,
finding the atmosphere too hot, they came
East together.
The detective says he has evidence
which, beyond doubt" will convict
all three men. He admitted that no
money had been found with either of
them, and in answer to the question
whether he expected to recover any he
smiling remarked that he thought he
would.-N Y. World.