The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-22

formation as TO which banks were practi-
cable and which not. He gave his ASSOC
catcs impressions OF bank keys, diagrams
Of bank vaults, and an air pump by
which powder could be introduced into
n safe at the rate of pound in six minutes.
In return he was to receive n percentage Of
all the money obtained. 1t was the biggest
cracksmcn's job ever planned in this or any
other country" says one Of the detectives.
Their first attempt at Elmra, In Scptcm
bcr 1873, miscarricd. They were interrupt
ed, and one OF the gang, BERRY was caught.
He Is now imprisoned at Auburn. They
were more fortunate in the cases Of the
First National Bank of Quincy, ILL.,. in 1874;
the Covington, Ky, National Bank in 1875;
and the FIRST National Bank of Pittston, Pa,
in the same year. Attempts were also made
or planned upon the Third National Of SYRIA
cuse, the First National Of Saratoga, the Long
Island National of Brooklyn and upon banks
in Rockville, Conn, Wilkcsbarre Pa, and
Nantucket, Macs. The last-namci place wns
saved by an opportune storm, in which the
burglars nearly came to shipwrcck. In all
these attempts Epson was the real chief Of
the gang, is brains and right hand. A
quarrel with his associates over the divi-
sion Of the spols after the Quincy burglary,
seems to have left bitterness and distrust
on both sides; but the partnership was not
to be dissolved just yet.
The Northampton burglary was under
consideration as early as August, 1875. Ed
son was known TO the bank officers as an
agent OF HERRING's, and very knowing
fellow in his line of business. lie worked up
the job patiently and thoroughly. lie per-
suadcd the officers that it would bc safer to
let the cashier have both the combinations
than to intrust one of them to boy. He
told them their vault keys needed filing, and
obligingly filed them, taking impressions Of
the three which were not In the cashiers
keeping. Then duplicate keys were made
and all was ready. After the burglary, II
was Epson who opened the negotiations,
and introduced Nicc-Prcsidcnt WILLIAMS to
Mr.. WILLIAM CoSNI.Rs. But in an unlucky
hour for themselves, his associates became
suspicious of him, quarrcllcd with him, de-
| clarcd that he should not have cent II the
money. and oven threatened him. Irritatcd
and alarmed at this treatment. after weigh
ing the whole subject in his mind, lie decided
to be beforehand with them by turning
] Stft' : 'Nld'uce nliuS'U. HAVING l'ath'l
| this decision. he had the shrcwdncsS to make
a clean breast Of ii, not seeking To conceal
or cXtcnuatc his own part in the business
but telling the whole story with noncha-
liant irankncss almost unprecedented Oh the
witness stand.
or course SCoTT and DUNLAP were con
victcd on the main charge. In fact, THEN
counsel practically abandoned the case IN
despair. A stay Of sentence until Scptom.
Der was granted, but they can hardly get
oil under twenty years apiece. The present
trial il on the charge of breaking and enter
ing Cashier WHIrrrLsEy' house, and tn,
impression is that the jury will disagree
Indeed, the opinion gains in Northampton
that. notwithstanding the conviction on tn,
first trial, SCOrr and DUNLAP will In SON,
way get out Of the scrapc This opinion /,
based not upon any weakness In the cvi
dence. or any doubt as to their guilt, hu
upon the anxiety of the dopusitors To re-
cover their securities The belief is tina
these securities are hidden within cas-,
reaching distance If the Hampshire count.
Court House; that Sourr, his wife. au'
CoNNERs know where they are; aud tina
EDISON does not know.
Altogether, it s one Of the most curiou
chapters in the history Of American rob
berries.