The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-22
THREE FAMOUS ROBBERS.
'Pinkerton's Sudden Descent on the
Northampton Bank. Breakers Three
Captured and Probability otRecov-
ering,a Part of the $3.50, 900 Stolen.

William Connors, alias "Billy," was ol
Wednesday arrested while coming out
Solari's restaurant on University Place
New York, for completely in the robber,
of the Northampton (Mass) Nationa
Bank, on the 26th of January, 1876. FL
was arraigned before Justice Kilbreth, a
the Tombs Police Court, and held t,
await the requisition of the Governor 0
Massachusetts.
1t will be remembered that sever
masked men entered the house of tn,
cashier ofthe bank, John Whittlesey, OF
the night of the robbery, found their wa!
to the sleeping apartments OF the family
by the aid of dark lanterns, and bounC
the cashier and the other occupants
They then got the key of the safe vault
and placing a revolver at the cashier
head threatened to make an end of hin
if he did not furnish them with the infor
nation necessary to opening the door o
the safe. He did so, but incorrectly
They wrote them down, and then made
him repeat them, and on his contradict
ing 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 opening the
vault door, but to get at the contents Of
the safe four combinations had to be gone
through. The cashier only knew one OF
these, the knowledge of the other three
resting with the president, the teller, and
a director, respectively; all ofthese three
were left undisturbed, and how the rob-
bers succeeded in opening the door re-
mains a mystery to this day. The prop
erty secured amounted to about 500, 900,
$4,000 of which was in United States
bonds.
After therobbers had left and the guard
withdrawn from Whittlesey's residence,
Mrs. Whitlesey succeeded in liberating
herself first, and gave the alarm. The
other officers of the bank were summon
ed; 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 conclusion arrived at was
nevertheless, that the contents we're in
tact, and a dispatch to that effect was
sent by the local agent of the Associated
Press. In the meantime man was tel
egraphed for from New York to open
the safe. He arrived late on the 9th of
January, and when he, after some diff
Guilty, forced the doors ajar, and the vari-
lus chests and drawers were examined,
he truth that one of the largest robberies
On record had been successfully accom-
olished was realized.
1t was at once surmised that a party
IF men who had for several weeks oCcu-
Died rooms in one of the public school
buildings of the town, and who were
missing now, were the peri etrators. No
race of them could be found, however,
1t the time. About FIVE months ago
detectives, to whom the case
lad been entrusted, thought they had hit
ipon a clue when they noticed several
notorious "cracksmen" hold frequent in
eryiews with the members of a firm of
Broadway lawyers who have been known
or some years to be in "compromise"
business. BY following up the thread |
hey soon became convinced that they
we're after the right men, and notified |
he officers of the Northampton institu-
ion to that effect. The Broadway law
,ers still had many meetings with the |
Inspected parties, and Pinkerton was re-
uested to take no active steps for time,
he thieves, however, wanted too high a
rice, and the negotiations were dropped.
The hunting up of evidence was begun
fresh, and about ten days ago it was sup
,osed enough had been gathered to war
ant the mems arrest. Preliminary pro-
eedings were begun quietly. At least
hree notorious characters were known
o be within easy reach, one of them be-
ng Connors, the other two being "Jim"
dunlap, the presumptive leader of the
ang, and "Bob" Scott, alias "Hustling
}ob." The two last left the city early
esterday morning, having purchased
ickets for Richmond, Va, but were ar
ested at Philadelphia in the forenoon
nth new kit of burglars tools in their
ossession, so that apparently fresh
obbery has been frustrated. They, like
onnoIs in this city, await Gov. Rice's
equisition to go to Massachusetts.
These three-Connors, Dunlap, and
cott-are we'll known and more than
of being concerned in about
alf dozen other large bank robberies,
mongst them being that of the First Ma
onal Bank of Elmira, where the gang
fected an entrance into the safe vault
Y cutting through the floor above the
anking room. This floor was occupied
hall for meetings, &C., by the Young
lens Christian Association, and after
citing through with their nights labor
ley hid their tools under the floor, care
lily covering up, everything with the
lrpet. 0nthis occasion about $500, 900
ere secured. One man, "Jim" Berry,
as convicted for it, and is now serving
term offive years in Sing Sing. A letter
ON him was found on Connors's person.
mother was that of the First National
ank of Quincy, ILL.,, where they got away
ith about $500 900, $4,000 of it beingi in
irrency. For his connection with this,
,ott served short term in the Joliet ILL.,,
The Falls City Bank, of
KY, also suffered from their
ill to the extent of some 100000. A
ward of $50 900 was offered for their rap-
but the crime could never be
aced accurately to them, The gang is
so identified with the robbery of the
rst National Bank OF Pittsburgh, Pa,
hich lost in November, 1875, some $780,
%, one third of which was subsequently
turned through the Broadway lawyers
eviously referred to.
Connors has been living in grand style
this city lately. He was dressed in the
light of fashion when arrested He had
ZEN known for many years as gambler
gh toned thief and go between for other
ieves and people who are ready to com
und crime when they believe it to
cir advantage to do SO. His specially