The Osceola times., 1878-12-21
AfMystery of Crime.

The complete details OF the recent
robbery OF the Manhattan Savings Bank
in New York, says cotemporsry, show
II TO have been one OF the most skilfully-
planned operations that has ever been
known In the records of Crime. 1t may
be observed at the same time that there
has never before been crime committed
that was 30 absolutely free from the
dhapces of detection, either in its perpe-
tration or after its commission. The
seven masked burglars were ss secure as
II they were r0bbiDg a lonely farm.
house, with not another house ior miles
around, In. tead Of bank in the heart OF
. great city, in broad daylight, with
people constantly passing and repassing,
who could look directly into the room
where the thieves were at work. 1t is
one OF the most startling curiosities of
crime that these seven men could enter
this bank in daylight unperceived, over
power family and obtain the keys ard
combination that guarded millions OF
dollars in cash, bonds and securities,
enterthe bank and spend an hour or two,
In plain sight from two streets, packing
up its assets, and then leave 1t through
an exit into one Of the most frequented
streets Of the city, and escape with their
booty without attracting the attention Of
any one, although several patrolmen
passed and repassed the building and
lOoked'in, as was their wont, to observe
time by the clock on the larger vault
which the thieves at that very time were
wrecking. The circumstance Of that
bold robbery argue either an incompre-
bepsible lack of observation upon the part
Of thoae whose duty 1t is to have their
e5esi opel or the possession upon the
part Of the thieves Of invisible powers
not hitherto known outside Of the
"Arsbian Nights" Had a write. 81
fiction invented similar situation for
his Villains, the book reviewers would
have accused him of inconsistency and
want b, fidelity to. Ifature.
II adds " the dsspsif ct This situation
that the only danger to whic the thieves
exposed themselves was in the commits.
sion of the rct. When once they had
escaped and concealed their plunder
theyewere secure. The very nature of
fbe property which they stole rendered
them free from any liability of arrest.
The Manhattan Savings Bank cannot
afford to prosecute them II thereby it is
to lose three and half millions OF dol
lars. II does not alter the situation that
the bulk of the Assets consists OF bonds
the thieves cannot negotiate. The bank
nesds them, and must have them for
conversion, and private depositors are in
the same fix. The thieves we're wise
enough to steal sufficient TO save them,
selves from the penitentiary. They will
be at some little trouble to answer letters
rom the bank and depositors, in fixing
the details OF the return Of the property
and the amount of commissic- ,san ~ n
70 receive Ior inelr vi s%%iiiingness to return
certain s,si6n Of it, which Is Of no
va. sa'ue 40 & them. However deplorable all
va msy be from the moral point If
view, 1t is a case of hard necessity and
involves the salvation of the bank A
there 10 any responsibility fors this, 1t
must be fastened upon the bene ficieut
tendencies of modern civilization which
have brought us to that standard of
moral ethics where we can punish
man who steals dollar out OF anolher's
rocket or q loaf OF bread eat of a window,
but cannot punish q man whose theft
involves millions. The magnitude OF the
crime oversweeps the limits of the law
and successfully de6es the processes of
the courts. The. mills OF justice grind
the petty rogue exceedingly fine, hut the
colossal rogue clogs the wheels with his
huge load of plunder. 1t is not imposs-
BILE as civilization progresses that We may
reach that point where person dssatis-
fed with the management of bank may
steal the assets and open new bank
with them over the way. The only con-
ditioh Of succerir magnitude. 'fal / 4