New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-17
PLANNING TO ROB THE BANK.
TESTIMONY OF THE wATCHMAN, sHEvELIN, Az TT
TRIAL OF JOHN uoPE-DETAILs OF THE Man

TESTIMONY OF THE wATCHMAN sIEyEIIN, Az TUs
TRIAL OF JOHN uOPE-DETAILs OF THE MAN.
HAITIAN BANK BURGLARY.
Yesterday was the fourth day of the trial
OF John Hope in General Sessions for robbery In The
first degree in taking the key of the bank valued at II.
from the person presence Of the Janitor Of the Man
haitian Savings Institution.
The first witness President Edward Schell. He
identified the photographs Of the bank and its surround
ings. On crOss-examnation Mr.. Sohell testified That
Wercke the anitOr had been the employ Of the bank
for fourteen years. Beside Wercke, having the comb
nation the lock OF the outer door OF the vault four
Others possessed 1t the teller, bookkepcrs and
the secretary. Mr. Brooke counsel for the defence then
stated Mr.. schell had been subpenaed TO produce
doors OF the bank and asked order OF tho
to have them brought in. Mr.. Russell. for the
prosecution said that they real estate aud could
not produced but he suggested that the Judge and
Jury should inspect tho promises. II decided that
this should be done. The jantor, Louis WercSc, and
the porter OF the st. Charles Hoto James II. Jennings
were recalled in regard to certain points OF their cs-
mOny.
Patrick shevelin.the Sunday watchman Of the bank.
who confessed his comp lefty with the burglars,
then testified that he wentylght years old, acarman
in Washington Market and iron mOuider by trade. In
October 1875 ne Waterman at the Manhattan Bank
for four hours each sunday. He sometimes on duty
In the evening. He was brOtnerin-law Of keely the
night Waterman, and went to the bank on October 20.
=,
came back the bank about o'clock The ianitor was
there during part OF the evening He saw, about
minutes before IL o'clock, after the jaDtor went
up stairs two persons the weather door on tho
Bleeckerst. side. They were Jimmy" Hope and % Big
Pete" and stood by the window below the door. They
beckontd twice with their hands " hun 10 let them ln
When they beckoned he walked up the Waterman,
"pan." who Jumped up when he was called. Outside
the witness saw Abe" Coakley and John Hope the prs
oner at bar lie went across the street and Oakley
came over to him. lie also Jimmy Hope and
Big Pete" and another man. who he heard was
Brooklyn jimmy" On the Monday night before no
had met the prisoner and BROOKLYN Jimmy" in
B'eecker-st. Later" Jimmy" Hope, Coakley aud A" Big
Pete met him Mulberry and Bleecker-sts lie spoke
with them. On Thursday night before the robbery he
met CoaKey and the prisoner. The Others on the
other side OF Bleecker-st. He coming from the
Bowcry and met them, and spoke 10 Jimmy Hope
and Big Pete" Johnny Hope he had before
the Monday night before the robbery.
the Saturday night, October 20. the witness spoke
street. He asked VINO was with them and told that
IL Johnny " Hope. Crossing over be spoke TO
jimmy Hope All these meetings were IN regard 10
robidng the bank. On that night he heard jimmy"
Hope say: Z" You have been foolug with Ms long
enough" Coakley aud the Others wanted to know what
time he would 20 Waterman. Then be went home.
did not know that the jluIor had the combination
Although 1t not stated by sheyen yesterday, IL Is
believed that ne thought the plan 10 rob the bank had
been given He did not know IT was TO be done the
Continuing his testimony, shevelm said he first met
| Jimmy " Hope about three years ago at Thrdave.
and Nnth-st Hope then told him ~ would be easy 10
get away with the swag from the Manhattan Bank
that within an hour he could open the vault door 50
sheven agreed 10 let him try. IIe again met Jimmy
Hone AZ SecOndave and Ninth-st sometime after and
they talked tine subject Of opening the bank vault
He Hope dozens Of tunes after that. Others were
| IN the matter; the Biz KID" Jimmy Tracey and a
man named George, who tall and had scar on bis
face shevelin afterward let " Jimmy Hope In tho
bank one SUNDAY and h" tired the combination tho
others We're outside Three or four weeks after Hop9
was again admitted and he took of the combination aud
| began drilling hole.
| The next SUNDAY ne came in again with Johnny"
Dobbs One OF the conspirators followed Werckle TO
church. The others stayed outside. Hope SAID they
would bore hole through the ir0n and open the door,
ana It was begun This was two years ago. The door
was not opened Rt that time although the robbers
worked an hour aud q quarter. They lett the bank DO