The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-06-12
THE MANHATTAN BANK ROBBERY.

THE MANHATTAN BANK ROBBERY.
How the Manhattan sank We
Robbed q Nearly d, coo, OO-Full.
Confesslon BY One = tAs ReEpstra.
tors. $3.50 Ii. . ss4,
NEW Fesx. June /.
The whole story of the Manhattan
Savings Bank burglary is at last out,
through the confession Of one of the
burglars. Saturday night Capt. Byrnes
and his detectives arrested Henry
Glenn, Patrick Slevin and William
Kelly, on . charge of being implicated
IN the robbery, whereby money and
securities worth nearly $S, 600, 900 were
stolen on the night of the 9th of Octo-
Der, 1873. One Of them has confessed
the whole plot to Capt. Byrnes. A.
burglar known as Little Tracey first
concocted the scheme, and organized .
band to rob the bank. It was broken
up, however, by the arrest and convic.
ton OF most of the members Of the gang
tor other crimes. Then he organized 3
second gang, in which were Jimmie
Hope, George Howard, John Dobbs.
Jim Brady and others. They also had
IN league with them q man employed
g Waterman at odd hours in the bank.
Two attempts were made by this gang
TO rob the bank, but each failed through
the inability Of the Waterman 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
e. Big kid'O. who was "on FOOT
again, and others equally skilled and
desperate, joined him, and work be-
gan in earnest. On Sunday morn
ing, when the friendly Waterman 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 returned.
and taught the Waterman how to use
wax in taking an impression of the
keyhole. The Waterman (Patrick
Slevin) was an apt scholar, and soon
returned the lump which the burglar
had brought, with an impression from
which the latter was able to make .
key for the outer street-door on Bleeck-
or street, which was found to fit, and
was put by for use. This attempt also
failed for want of time, but an entrance
to the vault containing the safes
was effected. Eight months later
negotiations were again opened
with Waterman Slevin. Finally
the job was put up for Sunday
morning, the 9th Of October, and
in it were Jimmy Hope. Kelly and
Dobbs, together with the night-watch-
man, Slevin. It was thought Slevin
would have charge of the bank that
night, but an accident frustrated it.
The gang resolved, however, to carry
out their plans after the night-watch-
man had left and when the day-watch-
man came on. How well it was carried
out every one knows, and nearly $3,-
OOO, 600 were carried away. Kelly
stood guard over the manacled janitor.
He gave them the combination to the
safe, being in mortal terror of his life.
The detectives went hard to work, and,
after long search. John Dobbs and the
younger Hope were arrested. Watch
man Slevin was Swallowed early and
late, and was found drinking hard and
spending money lavishly. He was az
E6SCeO D lew OayS ago. anu unally con.
fessed the whole plot to Capt. Byrnes,
and Kelly was arrested on his return
from jerome Park. Slevin says each
member of the gang was assessed 5000,
after getting their money share, which
was sent to Washington to defeat the
bill introduced in Congress to dupli-
cate the stolen bonds, as, if it
passed. it would be difficult to nego-
tiate the originals. Meanwhile, the
various town bonds stolen were nego-
tiated, and Slevin got $4,000 as his
share therefrom, and Jimmy Hope
went to Washington to have the bill
stopped. Kelly, when arrested, denied
his guilt, but, when confronted with
Slevin, he burst into q fit of swearing,
and said: "The bank has to pay a
dividend ON June 1, and, to do it, will
have to come to terms and settle with
u.s."
There are three more members of the
gang yet at large, but they are known
and will soon be arrested. The trial Of
the younger Hope begins Wednesday.