The true northerner., 1878-11-15
Big Bank RObberies of By-GOne Days.

In 1870 man dressed in the uniform
of police officer went into the Ken
sington Bank of Philadelphia, and said
to the cashier: 81 am Lieut.. -, of
- precinct. There's plan ON foot
to rob your bank tonight. l want you
to have your watchman here and will
have my men to assist. Do not say
word, and by tomorrow the game will
be bagged" The cashier extended his
hand and thanked the officer, and left
all in his charge. The night came, and
the Lieutenant with his men were adj
mitted to the bank. There was parley,
and three of the officers and one watch
man of the bank were detailed to take
walk to shadow some of the men out
side. The watchman was sent back
after a certain time had elapsed, and
when he returned he found his partner
handcuffed and tied, the vaults open,
and $500,00O in negotiable paper and
money gone. When the cashier came
around he found ont that there had
been robbery, and then he suddenly
remembered that he didn't know the
Lieutenant-didnt even know his name.
The trick was very clever, and the Ken
In 1872 three men went to the owner
of the Third National Bank, in Balti-
more, and hired a room adjoining the
bank. Gentlemen" inquired one of
the bank officers, what are you going
to do with it?"
"We are spectators now," they said,
"and if we succeed in our business we
think of opening bank. The papers
were made out, the rent paid. and busi-
ness commenced. In two weeks they
did open bank-the Third National
Bank, next door-by burrowing under
the vault. They left the country with
100000, not dollar of which came
back.
The vault of the Ocean Bank, of New
York, was opened by one man-Maxi-
milan Shinburn, and robbed of $780,
600. He frequented the bank until his
acute ears learned by the peculiar click
of the combination precisely how to
work it. And he made it, after listen
ing for months, the very first time. He
fled to Belgium, where he purchased
title, and is now living there as one of
the nobility.
About eight years ago several men
hired room under the Boylston Bank,
of Boston, opened business as the trio
did in Baltimore, and dug up into the
vault at their leisure. The amount
which they dug out was $S50,000.
The Beneficial Savings Fund, of Phil
adelphia, was robbed of $1,600,000,
few years ago, by holding up" the
cashier, who gave the combination.
Every dollar of the amount was recov-
cred by negotiation, and the cracksman
retired on a competency.
The Northumberland (Pa.) vaults
gave up their treasures on account of a
visit which masked men made to the
cashiers residence, where he kindly
handed over the combination, and went
to the bank with them, because he
couldn't help himself.
The First National Bank, of Whining
ton, Del, was entered, and the attempt
to rob it was precisely the same as that
worked on the Manhattan on last Sun
day morning. The cracksmen went
into the janitor's room and gagged him
and his family. An old woman crawled
under the bed, but forgot to pull her
heels in after her. One of the men
dragged her out. A door chanced to be
left open, and through it she sped like a
creased arrow. She was chased almost
to the police station, and her fight saved
the institution.