The Portland daily press., 1878-03-22
JIMMIE HOPE.
The Notorious Bank Robbcr en- Route for
Dexter-H His Reception in this City-An
Interview With the Detective and Pris-
Oner.

torious bank robber and prison breaker. De-
tective Wiggn was accompanied by Detective
Coles of Hartford, Conn, who was shackled
with the prisoner. But for the shackles no one
would have guessed but that the three gentle.
| men ware companions on visit of business or
pleasure. As they alighted from the train
the crowd at once remembered that the
morning papers had announced that the Dexter
| robber was en- route to Dexter, and there was a
grand rush to get sight of man who was
guilty of such deed. The officers hurried him
into the restaurant and at once ordered roast
| beef dinners. The crowd fiocked about the
| windows and doors of the saloon, and as Hope
sat near one of the wind ows there was an ex-
| cellent opportunity to see him. Notwithstaud-
| ing there were SO many gazing at him he
did not move nerve, but sat chatting with De-
tective Coles about various topics While sit
ting in the restaurant there was an excellent
| opportunity to examine the mao.
His real name is James Hope, but he is
| known to the profession and to officials as
Jimmie Hope. He has often gone by the
| name of James Watson, but that is only one of
his many aliases He is about 40 years of age,
has light sandy complexion, with foil beard
| and brown hair. There is small place on the
the top of his head nearly bald, and mis- hair all
over his head is quite thin. A wig would doubt
less set we'll on his guilty head. He has a full
| and rather pleasant face, although there is a
strange look in his eyes which is noticed after
looking at him second time. He is about five
feet seven inches 10 height and is rather inclin-
| ed to be feshy. He was we'll dressed, but
| there was no sign of display in his manner.
| His black plush hat was pulled down in front,
| not enough to hide his eyes, but looking as
| though he had pulled it on carelessly. He had
| very handsome hand, and it was set off with
an ordinary gold ring, while gold chain was
hanging from his waistcoat
| While at dinner re preventative of the PRESS
entered, and after making himself known asked
Officer Wiggia the particulars Of the arrest
| Mr.. Wiggin said that for reasons which are ap
parent he could not state the whole facts, but
| would state what he was able to- After the
robbery and murder was discovered in Dexter
| Attorney General Emery sent for him to meet
| him at Dexter at once. Detective Wiggin is
| native of Lewiston in this state, where he has
| been City Marshal and Deputy Sheriff. He is
now private detective and 10 his official career
| has done some good work. He worked up the
Lowell murder, where the headless body was
found, and also the Barre, Vermont bank rob-
| berry. He is considered one of the most &C.
| compshed detectives in New England. He is
fine looking man of large form and easy bear
| ing. On going to Dexter after the robbery he
was engaged by the state to look the matter up.
| He looked over the premises and at once made
| up his mind that the job was put up and carried
| out by the same gang or part of the same gang
| as had made attempts upon several other banks
in the state. Different gangs havesentirely differ
| ent ways of operation. Some gangs kill out
| right while others avoid all human beings and
/ run great risks rather than touch man. Still
another class are called "garroters," for as the
name implies they CARROT their victims and do
not intend to harm them beyond the extent of
placing gag in their mouths and handouts
on their wrists Toe man Hope and his
| friends belonged to the latter class. The de-
| tective at ouce made up his mind that he had
met some of the parties before that must
| have been concerned In the plan if not the exc
cution of the robbery and murder.
From Dexter he went to Connecticut and
| there got on the trail of "Jimme.'' Just how
| he got the first clue he does not tell. Before he
| was quite ready to take him he was arrested for
| the Deep River bank robbery in that state, but
| there being no evidence against him he was re-
| leased. Hearing of this and knowing the man
| well, Wiggin went for him and arrested him in
| Haddap, not far from the scene of the Deep
River bank robbery. When told what he was
arrested for he nodded an assent but made no
i ~ l. clo
| proper papers, and accordingly Governor Con-
| nor asked the Governor of Connecticut for
requisition papers, Theywere promptly grant,
| ed and the nan was taken to Boston Wednes-
day night. Notwithstanding he slept under
City Hall, the Boston papers failed to learn
that he was in the city, and the only news
they had of the arrest was obtained from Dex-
ter and still Boston papers talk Of enterprise.
Yesterday morning the officers took the
train over the Eastern road arriving here as
stated above. They took the afternoon train
for Dexter and on arrival there were to arraign
the prisoner if it was not too late in the day.
l. There is this much known of Hope. In
1874 be was one of three who robbed the
Milford, N. q. bauk. They made trade with
the officials and by returning the securities
| were not pursued. The same gang robbed the
Barre Vermont bank. Wiggin caught George
| Miles and the third man and for this job they
| were given IA years in the Vermont States
Prison, where they are now languishing. Hope
escaped arrest in this case In 1S75he with others
| robbed the Winthrop bank in this state, and
afterwards made trade with the officials and
returned the funds. In 1873 Hope assisted in
L L H. 4, - -
Wilton in this state. When comparatively
young in the business he lead a gang of bank
breakers 10 Delaware aud was caught and
sente nced a long term. He escaped owing a
term Of eight years. Not the least frightened
he made another break in New York state soon
after and was given term at Auburn States
Prison. He served all but two years and a
half when he escaped in 1872, and has since
been at large.
Two nights previous to the Winthrop robbery
in 1875 it will be remembered that there was an
unsuccessful attempt made to rob the Dexter
bank and Hope is also connected by very
strong chain of evidence with this job. 1t is
on this and the Winthrop robbery that he will
be held until evidence can be looked up in the
recent tragedy at Dexter. If connected at al
with the latter it will only be probably il
planning for some one else to execute.
1t will be remembered that at the time of thu
late Dexter affair it was reported that suspicion
rested upon well known character who former
ly did large business gambling on the Maine
Central road. Mr.. Wiggin says he does no
think that the m an referred to had anything to
do with thea fair. He does not think either tina
the robbers had any assistance from any one in
Dexter as he thinks they would not dare t,
confide their secret to strangers, and it is no
probable that they have pals located SO fa
away.
Ever since the arrest Hope has refused to
talk about the affair for which he is arrested
Once evidently forgetting himself for al
instant he remarked that he would give goot
deal of money rather than to return to Maine
When asked the meaning of Returning t.
Maine" he cooly remarked that he had nothin,
to say on the subject. He is probably one O
the most expert thieves in the country and
takes the matter of his arrest as calmly a:
could be imagined. After conversng witt