The New York herald., 1878-03-26
DARING ROBBERY.

THIRrY-oNE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BONDS
sNATcHED FROM THEIR OWNERS BAND IN
BROAD DAYLIGHr-cAPrURE OF THE THIEF.
robbery occurred on the streets In broad daylight
yesterday which for boldncss OF conception and
rapidty OF execution deserves place the history
OF crime, and which visited by consequences Just
as sure and speedy. The stake was high for
which the cuprt strove, and tho man hs at
tempted TO despoil was one In whom tho vigor OF
early years had in no way diminished, and who
bad before suffered from a robbers hand.
The result aight pursuit and capture. The
person on whom the felony was attempted is Mr..
John P. Moore. OF No. 12l Madison avenue, gentle
man OF wealth and standing who from 1922 TO 1857
was engaged In the gun business in lower Broadway
and who the latter date retired trade with
ample competency. Mr. Moore, although seventy
years OF age still wlry aud robust aud yester
day he performed some feats that many young man
would envy.
About noon Mr., Moore went down town to have
some papers registered. They bonds OF the
Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, numbering from
161 to 1876 inclusive and amounting In the aggregate
TO $31, 900. He had purchased them at q bargain
about week ago for $17500, and yesterday
he had determined to have them properly en-
tered At the office OF the company. That
zone he repaired up town and was passing along
Thirteth street when the robbery occurred He
distance from Fifth avenue, going in the
direction OF Broadway at the time. The bonds were
wrapped up in piece OF brown paper, which he had
secured with ndiarubber bands, and ho carrying
the bundle in his lett hand when he suddenly felt mis-
thrown forward aud the papers snatched from
his grasp.
AN EXCITING CHASE.
Mr. Moore turned in surprise, but realized the situ
alton In an instant young man was hurrying away
At the top OF his speed and the were In pos.
session. The first Impulse was TO draw revolver
and fire at the hef but the old gcntleman's pistol
had boen left at home, SO nothing left for him
but pursuit Ho WIS away IN an instant the others
tho later turned INTO Dariin's Flats, a new
building in course OF erection aud dashed through
and as he sprang after the robber some one. SEEM
ngly an accomplice, called TO him that the bundle
had been dropped the cellar. He did not stop for
that, however, but plunged through the iaths and
mortar with the fugitive in sight, The latter crossed
the yard and hcstoted moment before the tall fence.
But Moore was nara upon his track, and tDging his
booty over II, he caped tor the top, vaued and
was away with the bonds INTO Twenty ninth street.
u hard tas, TO essay, but the old man did not
delay moment. He jumped for the fence, clambered
up and fung himself after the dying thief
Meantime Omcer James +. King. OF the Twenty-lfth
precinct, was stopped by a lady. who SAID she had
seen an old gentleman pursuing thief through the
new building. King hurried into rwenty.nnth street
thief toward Broadway and away went the old man
after him. he officer now came up upon both, and,
",
The thiei turned into Broadway ana pressed
through the crowd. AS Mr.. Moore and the officer
here and there short distance off. Then he plunged
In among mass OF vehicles and was lost To signt.
The pursuers hurried after HIM, but he gone, and
Onicer KING was calculating ON the shelter Broad
way car VIII ch was coming along might afford tho
fugitive when the voice OF Mr.. Moore confirmed
his Suspicious Ihat's mis- hat, cried the OLD man.
pointing out conspicuous "Alplne" the car, and
the policeman, waiting 10 hear more, plunged after
the owner Of the headgear. He tound hun quietly
man, who seemed utterly UNCONSCIOUS Of guilt, but in
whose hands were the bundle with the $3l, 900 worth
Of bonds.
ARRAIGNRD IN COURT
He was arrested and 1T once identified BY Mr..
tiiying the Central Once they took the Offender 10
the Jefferson Market Police Court. Judge Dun, was
on the aE bench nsn when the and inc prs
ieats did not seem TO have disturbed him greatly
and he told the story OF the robbery
with fuluess OF detail that might be look ed Tor
In person VINO must necessarily have borne IN uch
mental excitement He described The manner OF tho
theft quite clearly, showing tho position OF arm as
the time, how tho bundle hastily drawn from ms
hand and then his impressions al the moment.
The prisoner m can time had furnished his address
George Mercer alias George eyers, aged twentynne
wood carver by trade aud residing at No. 3l1 East
| Seventy.lourth street. He was a medium sized, dark
cOmplexoped young man, fashionabiy attred and
with general air Of responsibility he listened TO
the compainant's narrative with evident interest,
but spoke himself only whom question ID and then in
monosy abies. When asked II he guilty or not
he SAID calmly, al have nothing TO say"
Judge Duly then committed him IN default OF s. 600
bail
roDber to his bold step. Ihe appearances OF Mr.
Moore's parcel, round bundle OF papers, In no way
indicated the nature OF their contents and II would
seem that he had been subjected to Surveillance
while transactlng his business In the Office Of
the Missouri Pacinc RAILROAD Company and
altcrward shado~ed TO the point where
the robbery was attempted. The existence OF an
that he accosted by a stranger as he pursued
Mercer into the new building, who attempted TO divert
Il, lI,nar thtaf
wallet OF course the IN after Is as yot only subject
Tor speculation but IN the light OF Investigation
which doubt will be turned upon the robbery, It's
motives and plans may be made clearer.
MR.. MooRE's FIRST EXPERIENCE.
Perhaps one oil the most remarkable facts In con-
necton with the bond robbery is that is the second
Mr.. Moore has suffered from under circumstances OF
precisely similar character. In 1866 he passing
through the street with parcel containing $15 900
IN government bonds, together with preenDacks
and negotiable securities, the whole amounting to
several hundred thousand dollars. AS in the
present instance Mr. Moore was probabIv
shadowed aud the valuable bundle was stolen Mr.
Kennedy was then superintendent, and some OF tho
detectives whom he put upon the case oded IN
obtaining little Information regarding the criminals
but II cost Mr. Moore many thousands of dollars to
effect their ultimate arrest and conviction. The rob
bers found to he a pair OF cracksmen known
as 'Cue" Clark and Charles Dennis. They tried
property was recovered Dennis ana Clark, II ap-
pears never gave over their cv ways, but went from
bad TO worse. The police in time determined upon
summary dealing with them and constant espion-
age exercised over them Under these depressing
circumstances they parted couple Of years ago. each
man TO shut for himself Soon after that a be-
lieved TO be Clark committed suicide on New Haven
steamboat In the fall OF the same year . at-
TEN pied 10 break into house In u fash ionabe quar-
ter OF this CITY. He had learned, secms that some
valuabes We're stored upon the second hoor, and
with temery not SO common In old CT racks.
men he determined effectng entrance
by the prccarious method OF scaling the window Hc
had partly succeeded when portion of the masonry
gave way, and losing hts hold the daring criminal
dashed 10 the ground. IL was Dennis the robbcr and
burglar. Ho was removed 10 the hospital. where he
ultimately died OF his injuries.
The police, IT is understood, will make exerons to
unravel the history OF George Mercer and how he
came 10 be concerned In yesterdays transaction.