St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-09-10

of the Wolfboro bank with the cracks
man Campbell both we're arrested, the
latter sentenced to 10 years, but Miles
acquitted. Returning to New York, he
called his gang about him, and dis
guised as Il policeman in uniform bOr-
rowed from one of the station houses,
lie patroled in front of the national
bank of Commerce while his confeder-
ates rified its safe. The GOODNESS and
daring of these king burglars seems in-
credible. A few years ago Shinburn
and Miles decided to rob bank in
Philadelphia. They chose Sunday and
church time for the hour of work, and
with two of their confederates dressed
as liveried servants, drove to the bank
in handsome equipage, opened the
doors and walked boldly in. Miles
worked the combination, but did not
find the million dollars that he had
understood had been deposited the day
previous by the Pennsylvania railroad
company. They closed the doors and
drove off, overlooking a sum of $780,
900 on depOsit-or else leaving it un-
touched in expectation of securing the
larger amount. They remained in the
city u few days, and had planned to de-
scend upon the bank by night, having
bribed the watchman. The latter
changed his. tactics, however, and in
formed his employers of the plot.
Their contederates were captured, but
the two lucky chiefs escaped. One of
those captured was Harry Mccoy, who
subsequently, inherited large fortune
and was pardOned.
The longest lane has a turn, and in
his next attempt at robbery Miles was
arrested, tried and sentenced to 10
years. Imprisonment in Sing Sing peni-
tentiary. But his visit was eompara-
lively short. He struck up prison
acquaintance with DR.. Cramer, one of
the felons. This ingenious individual
had invented a rubber apparatus sup
piled with breathing tubes and resem-
bling Il decOy duck. Miles secured it,
and while working on the docks with
the other cOnvicts, adjusted it, slipped
overheard and flOated down the Hud-
son, past the guards, undetected. The
next phase of his adventurous career
was his pardon. Whitley, the ex-chief
of secret service, the coffin faced en-
ploye of the corrupt Grant dynasty,
obtained immunity for Miles, ostensi-
bly, to use him as witness in counter
feiting cases, but really to put him at
work on the famous safe-burglary con-
spracy in this city. He, with his asso-
ciate, Benton, were arrested, but, fur
nishing bail, he jumped the city. The
safe burglary marked out the turning
line in his run of luck. He returned to
New York, and then went to his native
state to ply his trade. Living in splen-
did style in the city, he made criminal
excursions, until finally he made one
too many.
One night, few years ago, the cash
ier of the Barre (Vt.) bank was awak-
ened by four masked men, who COM
PEELED him, at the point of pistols, to
accompany them to the bank, and de-
manded that he open the safe. This
even he could not do, as it was guarded
by Il time lock, and could not be open
ed until 9 o'clock next day so the re-
ward of their work was merely some
1890 in unsigned bills. With these
they returned to New York, and began
putting them on the market. The
state of Vermont, incensed at the in
creasing number of crimes of this char
|
| lection of the criminals. For months
the detectives worked up the case, and
finally we're convinced that the leading
spirit in tie robbery was none other
than George Miles, alias White, alias,
Bliss, alias Myers, alias Albeit Will
Jams. He WAS traced to his New York
residence-a magnificent brown stone
frOnt-and, after several days of close
watching, was finally arrested. A le-
gal fight occurred as to the surrender OF
the prisoner to the Vermont authorities,
and pending it, to make certain of their
man, the detectives abducted him, and
carried him by force to Vermont. He
essayed to bribe them, offering S75, 600
for his release, but in vain. He was
tried and convicted to IA years impris-
Onment-a term which he is at present
serving. Every effort was made to Sc
cure his release. His wife, to engage
assistance and sympathy, has joined
tho church, and has enlisted a large
number of influential ladies and church
people in his behalf, and most strenu-
Gus efforts are at work for his pardon
Among other points made are number
of affidavits-his wife's among them
that be is not George Miles, the burg
lar, as that character is dead. This
will not work, however, as Major Rich
ards, ex-chief of the district police
identified him, while in New York, as
the safe burglar. Notwithstanding the
immense sums of money stolen by Miles
he is comparatively poor, as lawyers
and detectives bled him heavily tC
pull him through his many difficulties