The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-07
CHRISTIAN HINsEN. BURGLAR.
Hts Description Of How ~ Bank wns Robbed
Ills Death In "a Lodging House.

man who had registered In the lodging
house at 249 William street as Christian Han
sen was found dead there yesterday morning.
On Sunday. the 9Th Of March. 1877. Officer Ken
nedy saw Hansen trying to enter the store ut
1l5 Broadway, and he arrested him. To Justice
klbreth in the Tombs Police Court. Hansen
said that he WINS 40 years OF age. that he was
torn in Copenhagen. Denmark and that
he had lived in this city since 1863.
lie said that he wanted to be arrested and tha
he preferred being in State prison to roaming
about penniless. Tho Justice to ok an interest
in him. His story was an extraordinary one
and after the Justice and n few others had re-
tired TO the examination room to hear it. he be-
gan by knoeling down before the safe there.
THE second day after landing here" he said.
" enlisted in Company X. Seventh New York
voluntccrs | went through the war. being
only once wounded. When the war was over
went to Cincinnati to I'LL responsible position.
/ lost II. and having been n freducnter OF the
Buckeye saloon in Spruce street became n
daily hanger-on. A gang Of burglars
frequcnted the place and I was induced
to join them. They had many jobs
in view but tho first I joined them in
was the robbery Of the National Bank Of
Cincinnati. when we carried of tiOO.000. This
was ON the 30 Of February 1866. Ny share wns
only $lO.Wu. ] soon lost that in Erh Hollands
plac" In Bifth street. From there W. went tn
Richmond. Ind. Our next Job was to rob n
railroad ear on the Nnndaiin road. and the
way we did it wns this: Stopping NJ u sta
ton. We opened the ear and pitched the safe
down nm rmhankm"nt. Taking Il into the woods.
we only found $1,000 in IT, We started for ~.
Louis and had only just arrived when | was
arrested and sent back TO Cincinnati to answer
for the bank robbery. Nv pards hlowed on me
but III now do that on them. was sentenced
for twenty years After serving ten wears was
pardoned by Gov. Hayes. When left prison
money giving ont. walked all the way here.
must starve or steal and / concluded had bet
ter do what did and be put out of harms
reach"
Alderman Morris aud DR.. Harris. Registrar
Of Nitnl Statistics. were with the Justice Alder
man Morris gave Hansen t2. Justice kilhrpth
instructed one Of the officers to go TO his house
for suit Of clothes for Hansen. and the Doctor
said that he would get work for him.
Justice Kilhrcth ASKED Hansen TO describe
how the bank was robbed. and the fellow drop
ped on his knees.
After digging into the bank" Hansen said
We got at the safe this way: You see. have no
tools whatsoever. These crevices along the
through them. Well we Just take putty. and
close all the crcviccs except about an inch al
the top and the bottom. We take fine powder
place II NJ the open crpvice beneath. and with
our mouths suck II into the safe hy the top one
The vacuum created 10y this operation draws IN
the powder below. and when we think we have
enough In we set II on fire. and IL never fnils.
Hansen wns placed under the ear" of Warden
Qun. The next day more than 300 persons
including the late Baroness de Bussier"s ant
other ladies. called at the prison Offering sym
pnthy and help. DIR. Harris found a situation
for him in Brooklyn. Since then y" had no
lie wns e-looking man. six feet high. ans
of splendid physique.