The daily gazette., 1879-06-03
FIRST EDITION.
THE sToRY OF A C1IME.

HOW A GANG OF BURoLARs ROBBED
THE MANHATTAN SAVINGS BANK.
NEW YoRx, juno 1.-The whole story
Of the Manhattan bank burglary has at |
last come out through the n'ession Of |
one Of the burglars. On Saturday night
Captain Byrnes AMI his detectives, who |
have worked increasingly ON the case,
arrested Henry Glenn, Patrick Slevin,
and William Kelly, on . charge Of being |
implicated In the robbery, whereby mo-
ney aud securities worth nearly $3,000,-
700 were stolen on the night OF October |
n, 1878. One Of them has confessed the |
whole pot to Captain Byrnes. The rob |
berry was planned more than three years
ago. A burglar known - Little Tracy"
frst cOncocted the scheme and or
sanized band Of burglars 10 rob the
bank. 1t was broken up h0wever,by the
arrest and conviction Of most ol the nAem-
bers Of the gang for other crimes. Then
he organized second gang In which were
Jimmy Hope, George Howard, John
DObbs, jun Brady aud others. They
also had In league with them man who
was employed ~ watchman vt odd hours
Ia the bank. Two attempts were made
by this gang TO rob the bank, but each
failed through the inability Of the watch
man to meet his engagements. This gang
also broke up. But Hope, thoroughly
convinced Of the feasibility Of his scheme
lost no time In reorganizing his forces.
Dobbs, 'Big Kid" who was on foot again
and others equally skilled and desperate
Joined him and work began in earnest.
One Sunday morning, when the friendly
watchman was on duty In the bank,
Hope was let into the building and used
his opportunity to thoroughly examine
the vaults. The next Sunday he return
ed and taught the watchman how to use
wax in taking impressions of keyhole.
The watchman, Patrick Slsvin, was an
apt scholar and soon returned q lump of
wax which the burglar had brought with
an impression, for the outer door on
Bleecker street, which was found to fit
and was put by for use. This attempt
also failed for want of time but an en-
trance to the vault containing the safes
was effected. Eight months latter nego-
tiatiOns were again opened with the
watchman Slevin. Finally the job was
put up for Sunday morning, October n,
and in it were Jimmy Hope, Kelly and
Dobbs, together with the night watch
man Slevin. 1t was thought that Slevin
would have charge of the bank that night
but an accident frustrated 1t. The gang
resolved, however, to carly out their
plans after the night watchlnan had left
and wheifthe day watchman came on.
How well 1t has been carried out every one
knows and nearly three millions of dol
lars were carried away. Billy Kelly
stood guard over the manacled janitor.
He gave them the combination to the
safe being in mortal terror of his life,
Deteotivss went hard to work, and ~Ho.
long search John Dobbs and the young.
er Hope were arrested. Watchman Sle-
vim was shadowed early and late and
was found to be drinking hard and spend
ing money lavishly. He was arrested 6
few days ago and finally confessed the
whole plot TO Captain Byrnes and Billy
Kelly was arrested on his return from
the Jerome Park races.
Slevin says that each member of the
gang was assessed $500 af:er getting
their money share, which was sent on t.
Washington to defeat the bill introduced
in Congress to duplicate the stolen bonds
as if it passed it would be difficult 70 ne
gotiate the originals.