New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-15
"sHAYGn DRAPERs MANY CRIMES.

THREE FORTUNES LOST At GAMING-sUCCEss as A
PANEL-THIEF-LEADER IN MANY BANK RoBBER-
IFS.
One of the four burglars arrested in Brook
lyn Sunday morning. identified by Detective Robert
A. Pinkert0n as the notorious "Shang" Draper at one
time called the king Of the New-York paneLthieves.'
''I never saw such n change in mans appearance IN
all my ie" aferward said detective. Look at him
now. ragged dirty and unkempt. and compare him with
Draper who In 1871 aud 1872 used 10 walk daily mp
aud down Broadway dressed In the finest broadclOth
and with a large cluster diamond pin on his bosom
That man has made three fortunes In his time What
has become Of his money Why, he has lost 1t all at
faro"
Draper stI bears traces OF better days He IA large,
powerful man. but sickness and dissipation have left
their marks upon him. His covered with heavy
growth OF red Whiskcrs while hts hair Is cropped close
10 his head. He talks well and has evidently received
good education lie was born In Brooklyn Of respect
able parents his father the time OF ms birth holding
poston OF trust under the local government HIS his
tory from bis birth up the time that he first came In
contact with the police is unknown Draper originally
started m a gambler He had his headquarters at No.
ia Ann-st. In this city. He soon f0rsook gam
bling however, and entered upon more lucrative
employment He associated himself with Charley"
Lobdell and Joseph Wilson, alas Lover Joe,' and
opened several panelhOuses In tho Eighth and Four
eenth Precincts. He employed some twenty or thirty
women ence strangers into his houses, where they
were robbed and often beaten. He stationed men at all
the principal hotels n the city TO ascertain aud report
the arrival OF prominent or wealthy men. The women
were all neatly dressed the majority OF them widows,
in deep mourning II possible. Draper would form his
intended victims acduanlanee-which was not very
difficult considering his tine appearance ana lavish
manner OF spending mOney-and under the preteXt or
taking a short walk would conduct the person 10 where
he had ordered carriage containing the woman to be In
waiting. His operations generally successful His
F.l.If..r k.F o.
notoriety they seldom. II ever made report to the
police.
For several years Draper continued In this business,
during which time II estimated that he accumulated
over $500, 600 Ultimately, however, his business
broken up the police and be joined the Scot and Dun
OF tho Northampton Bank DrapePs first attempt at
robbng a hank was vita scot aud Dunlap at the time
that the Fall City Tobacco Bank, Of Louisville, KY was
entered by thieves Here the robbers obtained SOOOOO
HIS next robbery was Of the FIRST National Bank OF
'Dave" Cummings, alias Little Dave" Tom Bge-
M present IN state Prison. Draper succeeded IN
taking from the bank $4,000 IN currency aud about
1850 900 IN railroad securities. Neither tine money
lie bonds were recovered. After this robbery
Draper returned New-YOrk. and for time lived In
great styl. His money expended upon th9 hOlcest
wines aud cigars fast horses and women. Scot one OF
The principals In lhe robbery, about this time purchased
much attention the COueY Island Road. In the Fall
of 1874 Diapers money gave out He determlnsd 70
the assistance OF scot DUNLAP aud the other members
d band. the bank entered. In charging tho
safe with dynamite, however tho thieves put In more
than was required, ana The explosion almost blew out
the 'front.' OF the building. This frightened them
and they fed without committing Tho robbery
The same band led by Draper, then robbed the
First National Bank Of PtsOn, Penn OF $4,000 IN cur
rency aud $4,000 securities Then followed the rob
perry of the Rockwell Savings Bank, or Rockwell. EOnn
the Second NatiODal Bank OF ElmIra, NJ v; the Long
Island Bank Brooklyn, and the Northampton National
Bank all by tins band Of burglars. Although Draper
was not convicted Of the robbery Of the Northampton
Bank Is little doubt thst he assisted IN the crime
Scot and Dunlap arrested In philadelphia as the
leaders In this robbery and sentenced 70 twenty years
Imprisonment each This practically broke up the band
Oscar Peterson, alias Jim Brady, at time n
member OF Diapers band, as wero also John Irving
Bl " Porter Z" Rec" Leary aud Wi liam Forester.
Draper after Scot and Dunlap imprisoned, opened
panel house in Clreuarave., Saratoga It was soon
closed. however. by the Saratoga police on the COM
paiut of a man who had been robbed there.
Previous joining Scot and Dunlap's band OF bur
glare Draper made his headquarters at Patsy EaRans
saloon at Broadway HOustOn-st. lt here that
freddy the Blacksmith" shot and killed Haggerty.
Draper II 70 said the cause Of Haggerys death.
Tue trouble between HagRerty and Reddy originated
In the Florence salOOn HOusOn-st. aud Broadway,
opposite Eagans place. Haggerty VINO considered
one OF the best rOugh-and-tumble lighters In the
country, gave ReddY" terrible beating In this
saloon. About two weeks subsequent tins affray,
Haggerty, ID friend named Tracy, Reddy and Draper
met In Eagan's saloon. Draper, who was personal
friend OF Reddy," mrtcned TO fight Haggerty's
friend Tracy. The doors were closed and during the
scuhie " Reddy and HaggertY quarrelled. Haggerty
under the influence OF liquor and threw his enemy
on the floor 10 prevent himself, he claimed from
being killed, "Reddy" drew his pistol and shot Hag
gerty.