Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-09
The Manhattan Bank.

The Manhattan Bank robbery stands IN
the history Of crime side by side with the
kensington Bank burglary aud the great
burglary Of the bank at Northampton
Mass. The bolduess with which II was ex
ecuted, the success of the effort, the great
amount stolen aud the failure to catch any
OF the men concerned render the robbery
one OF the most prominent the country has
ever known. On sunday morning, the
9Th OF October last, seven men rushed into
the room OF the day watchman of the bank
Louis Nerkle, who lived In the bank build
ing. and forced from him. with threats OF
death, tue secret OF the combustion loci.
While three of the robbers remained In tile
room TO guard the janitor and his family
and 10 keep them from giving an alarm,
the other four went into the bank. opened
the vault and safe doors by the comblna
tlon, and, forcing two compartments OF
the inner safe, secured sll coo In cash
$4,000 in negotiable securities and 81
5O5, 200 in registered securities aud coupon
bonds, mainly OF United States, aud made
their escape. II was right early 10 the
morning when this was accomplished, aud
even the Industrious little barber next
door was not moving until the Shieves were
ready 10 go. and be noted uOtsiHg suspi-
clous. Police officer Kent, pacing his beat
In the gray light OF the early day. glanced
into the bank windows about seven o'clock
and saw a man busting the counters. lie
thought the man was porter and passed
on. and when he was gone the burglars
passed out with their plunder.
HOW THE JANIToR WAS TREATED.
Ii was after nine O'Clock when Werkle,
the janitor. rushed into the little barber's
place, hanjcufed and looking like a man
in deliriun, crying, 'The bank has been
robbed, Call the pollce!' The same eye
ming the bank, over the signature of its Of
ficers, announced the robbery and the char
acter of the bonds stolen, 81 Alb, 900 being
in United States bonds and the remainder
in securities of corporations in aud about
New York. Shortly afterwards the bank
took advantage OF the sixty-day law for
notice OF withdrawal of deposits, which
time expired the last week In December.-
But the thieves have not been found. They
have dropped out OF sight AS effrctually.
apparently. AS the body of A. L. Stewart
or the Nathan murderer. and the thousand
aud one clues to their whereabouts. about
which the New York police have filled the
public ear are heard of as resulting in
nothing. The only tan ible clues were
those growing out of the description OF the
men given by the wstehman, which is ne
cessariy imperfect and incomplete, aud
that iuI nished by the policeman who saw
the cooi thief busting OFF the bank coun-
ters. Until recently nothing has been
heard OF the securities, offers to negotiate
which were sure sooner or later to be
made.
In the midst Of the lull that followed the
scamDering of the detectives and police Of
fcers to find these robbers, distinguished
lawyer, who is understood to have the ear
and confidence of the bank officials, re-
ceiyed a visitor in his Office. IL was
well-knowB criminal lawyer. noted not
only for his skill in defending the big burg
lars of the land but tor his elegant man
ners, great conversational powers and high
social qualities. He had a private erraud
with the before mentioned legal friend of
the Manhattan Bank official. He had been
retained by an eminentIy respectable gen.
tleman. who was friend OF q man VINO
was acquainted with another party who
had connection with the bank robbers. and
through this chain Of proxies he had called
to hear what proposition the bank would
make looking toward the restitution of the
stolen property. The police had exhausted
their efforts unavailiDgly, and the thieves
were willing to talk. Would the legal gen.
tleInan act in the matter2 No figures were
mentioned in this interview, and the law
yers separated with the understanding that
they should meet again. The noted crimi-
nal lawyer took his drive in the park, his
dinner, and occupied, as usual. bis favor
ite seat In the theatre that evening. The
illegal friend" attended to the business 10
hand at once, and there followed several