The New York herald., 1877-01-10
THE PETERSBURG BANK ROBBERY.

RETURN OF rHoRBuRN-HE GIVES HIMSELF UP
TO THE AUTHORITIES, DECLARING HIS INNo-
CENCE-NoTHINa AscERrAINED OF THE Sew
ENTEEN THOUSAND DoLLARs-How THE
HERALD ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN DErEC-
TIvEs AND SPECIAL AGENTS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
PETERSBURG, Va. Jan. 9, 1877.
To-day ushered another startling sensation for the
community and records another triumph Tor the un-
ceasing enterprise of the HERALD. Al O'Clock this
morning samuel II. Thorburn, former clerk in the
Citizens Bank, who hed this city ON the 30th
OF December, and who is charged with the
theft of nearly $4,000 belonging to the
Bank OF Petersburg, and also with conspirng
with Richard Bagby to deiraud, by false entries, the
Citizens Bank of 600 more. arrived and surron
dered himself to the authorities His appearance at
the station house was surprising as II was unex-
ported, yet he was . welcome caller, for the local
ponce have been stranng their every energy to DIS
cover his whereabouts for the past ten days. Not
witnstanding their vigilance Thorburn made his way
through tie city from the depot, distance OF quar-
ter OF mile unrecognized, and could not effect the
object OF his until he had OBTAINED the assist
Ance OF citizens, to whom made himself known, to
pilot him TO the station house.
GIVES HIMSELF UP TO rnE POLicK.
AS soon he WAS taken into custody search OF his
person and effects was made He had with him "A
small black gripsack, containing Tow articles OF
wearing apparel anu vial ot solution OF morphine
and in his pocket was found wallet IN wnicu there
was 50 so in money and the remnant OF a New York
Central Railroad Hcket with coupons attached. tor
trip from Sunbury, N. y, TO suspension Bridge. The
station house was soon boslcged by reporters aud
Thorburn seemed willing to be Interviewed
WHAT HE LEARNED FROM THE HERALD.
said he first learned OF tho charges OF robbery
and spracy preferred against aud the
Richard BagDy from The HERALD, having seen that
paper In Harrisburg, Pa, on Sunday, with lul!
induced him 10 retrace his steps homcward Tor he
asserted his innocence OF the charges ana his deter
mination TO come and confront his accuscrs. Thor
burn, wnile denying his guilt, said he would be enabled
10 throw great Ueai OF light on the ovcrchecking
transactions oil Bagby, put hrmly declined to sta,c
where he had been, or why he ici. the city, and ON
these two points depended important disclosures
COMMITTED PRISON.
When in Richmond he went TO the railroad Office to
buy ticket TO Petersburg and there met lace To face
an cx-Mayor Of hs city, who strange to say, did not
recognize hin. This morning at ten O'Clock he was
carried before tho Mayor when hc prefcrring request
by counsel his examination was postponed until to-
morrow when probably It Will take pace TLorburn
was committed to jail and soon alter was visited by the
HERALD correspondent, whom he willingly admitted.
Nothing further OF interest than already stated was
learned from him. his repeated assertions that the
HERALD first furnished hm with information from
home and induced his return to this city. 1t is also
stated that he advised certain officials BY letter oil his
intention TO return among them, but the letters have
not AS yet come TO hand
WHERE HAS HE BEENy
When Thorburn's flight was discovered the most un.
firing efforts made discover his route travel
all OF which proved unavailing until some low days
since 1t is now believed, and with corrOoOratine
facts, that he went first to Burkeve, thence 10 Dan-
vile, where, striking the trunk line north he went to
Baltimore or New York and, II Is supposed, remained
day or two IN one OF those cltcs. awaiting develop
mcnts and maturing his plans. The general lmpres
sion was that nc South aud this would seem u
account Tor his escape IRON arrest during that time
Some people here assert that he Of the
city until Monday; that he was h'd IN the Eagle Mills
OF T. &. Yates II Co., and that he went 10 kcumonc
on Monday night to return and surrender himself lC
release his friends from the suspicion OF having har
bored him. THIS is simply theory and nothing more.
REPORTED CONFESSION.
This evening II was currently reported that Thor
burn has made cOniession and the funds OF the banl
would be returned Your correspondent immediatci,
waited on prominent official OF shc Bank OI Peters
burg, and learned from him there was no authorit!
Tor the statement In regard to Thorburns confess
but he stated. however, he was perfectly satisfied
through Information by him received. that tho banI
would recover nearly the whole amount before Frida.
next
WHAT HAS pEcoM. or THE MONEY
Tho inference Is tnat Thorburn has deposited tn
money In some Northern bank ing ins ution. and ha
drafts tor IL route 10 that point, the
of winch IS at present Withheld The bank Official
seem positively certain but lIttlc fany, OF tho
has been sauandcred. The Official referred wa
very active IN his efforts to effect rnorburns arrest
OCTwIrrING THE DETEcrIvEs
lie says that they got on his track on Friday last
when be was III Elmlra. On saturday they lost bi
again, but sftcrward learned he was making Tor New
York. PnscrtoD's detective agency at onc
called into service but the Information proved to b.
erroneous aud again he evaded arrest. The banI
Ocer sent his photograph on postal cards TO all polc
headquarters North, South, East and West; were II
direct communication with the Canada police an,
sent special officers alter HIM. He passed them al
and made his way nome without recognition or chal
lengc IL reserved for the HERALD TO confron
hIm with tho charge preferred the efforts maxim,
Tor his apprehension, and orcrd HIM to the dctcri
nation, II nnocent, to return and meet his
or, II guilty, To make such reparation as lay in hi
power.
THE MILLER AND HIS MAN.
The joint affair OF TEorburn and BixDy creates TIT
greatest excitement here, aud II rs hinicd and
missed that astounding developments are yet come
1t Was stated TO your correspondent this evening h
q full erposf OF the affair will react in rhorburns favo
ana may show that he is more sinncd against thai
shining. The banks and banking institutions ar
seemingly disposed TO profit by the experience OF th
past two weeks and general OverhanlIng OF natter
financial appears to be the order OF the day.