The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-20


IN New York, says contemporary, show
3 70 have been one OF the most skilfully-
MANNED operations that has'ever been
known in the records Of crime 1t may
ba observed at the same time that there
hos never before been a crime committed
that wss so absolutely free from the
obarc, of detection, either in its perpe-
,rstion or after it's commission. The
seven masked burglars were On secure as
;f they were robbing q lonely farm
borse. with not another house for miles
ground ins tead of bank in the heart OF
q GREAT city, in broad daylight, with
neople constantly passing and repassing,
,rbo could look directly into the room
.,bere the thieves were at work. 1t is
one Of tae most startling curiosities OF
crime that these seven men could enter
,bis hank in daylight unperceived, over
,,ower a family and obtain the keys ard
combination that guarded millions OF
dollars in cash, bonds and securities
enter the bank and spend an hour or two,
in plsiu sight from two streets, packing
~ ;+s assets. and then leave it through
on exit into one Of the most irequented
streets of the city, and escape with their
bootv without attracting the attention. .oi
env one. although several Patrolmen
nasaed and repassed the building and
IookedFin. as was their wont, to observe
time bv the clock on the larger vault
which the thieves at that very time were
wreckiug. The circumstances OF that
bold robbery argue either an incomPre'
bansible lack of observation upon the part
of those whose duty it is to have theli
eves omen. or the possession upon the
narr of the thieves of invisible powers
not hitherto known outside OF the
arabian Nights" 81 Had writer o.
fiction invented a similar situation ioi
his villains, the book reviewers "oulo
have accused him of inconsistency ano
want of fidelity to nature.
II adds to the despair OF THIS sltnatlon
tfsssO- -sIssa5sr - - --iN --'-
exposed themselves WAS in the commits
sion of the set. When once they had
escaped and concealed their plumber
tbevHwere secure. The very nature OF
the property which they stole rendered
them free ron any liability of arrest.
The Manhattan Savings Bank cannot
afford to prosecute them if thereby 1t Is
81 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
needs them, and must have them ior
conversion. and private depositorS are IN
the same fix. The thieves were wise
ononob to steal sufficient to save them
selves from the penitentiary. They VIII
he at some little trouble to answer letter.
from the bank and depositors, In hxine
,ba details of the return Of the property
and the amount of commission they are
to receive for their willingness to return
certain portion of it, which is OF nc
value to them. However deplorsble al
this maV Dc IEOm lhC htO-e'-
view. it is a case of hard necessity anc
involves the salvation of the bank. 1
there is any responsibility for this
must be fastened upon the benefcien
tendencies of modern civilization Whlci
have brought us to that standard o
moral ethics where we can punish
man who steals dollar out of another
,ocket or loaf of bread cut of window
r but cannot punish man whose thet
: involves millions. The magnitude OF tn
crime oyersweeps the limits of the lay
and successfully defies the processes 9
the courts. The mills of justice grin
( the petty rogue exceedingly fine, but tn
$ Colossal rogue clogs the wheels with NJ
hinge load of plunder. 1t is not imposs
! bIe as civilization progresses that we ma
D reach that point where person dlssati
> fed with the management OF bank ma
!, steal the assets and open new ban
> with them over the way. The only col
. a;t;on. Of success is magnitude.