The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-12
How Plot on the Philadelphia Sub.
Treasury was Fooled.

the mystery attached to the attempted
robbery of the United States Sub-treas-
ury in this city. Up to this time they
have met with Indifferent success, and
the chances. are they will never be able
to ascertain with distinctness who were
in the plot. As the case stands now it is
a matter of suspicion against one of the
boldest craftsmen in the country. None
but thieves were concerned and they re-
fuse to give information which might
lead to the detection of their confeder-
ates. The story is an interesting one.
But for miscalculation on the part of
the robbers they would have succeeded
in capturing some $l2,000,000 of coup
ons and cash. 1t would have been the
largest haul ever made in this country
but for their stupidity. The large vault
in Treasurer Eyster's Office, in the Gus
tom-house building, contains two apart
ments. In one of these it is customary
to store the cash and coupons that are
presented for interest. In the other
small coin is kept. This fact became
known, and a gang was organized to
make raid on the place. Prominent
on the list was Jimmy Logue, now in
the Eastern Penitentiary, who had $780,
600 on hand fresh from bank burglary.
There were couple of well-known New
Workers, and two fellows who had es-
capped from the Kings County Peniten-
tiary-believed to be Porter and Irving.
Another of the party was new man,
for whom the country has been secured,
but without avail. Logue secured fine
residence in West Philadelphia, where
the whole party resided. He was to be
reimbursed for his expenditures out of
the proceeds of the robbery. AS war;
rants and acquisitions were out for the
men on all sides, they feared to come
INTO the city, and selected Paramount
Park as their place of rendezvous. Their
favorite resort was the quiet retreat at
Strawberry Mansion. Here they met
daily, after taking an airing. and
mapped out their plans.
1t was found necessary to have one
of their number inside the. Custom
house, so this happy plan was hit upon:
One day reverend-looking gentleman,
with cierieal-cut garments and white
choler, waited upon Collector Tuition
and informed him that he was Rev. Mr..
Paddock. The official knew of this
clergyman. The sham minister was ac-
companied by an innocent-appearing
young man, who, he stated, was one of
his parishioners. DIR. Paddock would
be much obliged to the Collector if he
could only give the young man some
thing to do-some light work, such as
watchman-as he was in need, and his
health would not admit of exposure.
Collector Tuition was exceedingly
pleased to see DIR. Paddock. Mr.. Tut
toms rector at Downingtown and DR..
Paddock were, in fact, well acquainted,
and Mr.. Tuition talked freely of Down
ingtown's spiritual needs. To the rever-
end gentleman he explained that no re-
lance could be placed on the recon-
mendations of politicians, while a min
ister's Endorsement was nearly always q
safe guide. The sham clergyman got
quite shaky when Mr.. Tuition touched
on Downingtown matters, but soon
switched off the conversation and avoid
ed embarrassment. 1t is now disclosed
that "Shoey" Miller, who was mixed
up in the bogus naturalization business,
and was sentenced to two years. impris-
onment in the Eastern Penitentiary, per-
sonated Rev. DR.. Paddock, and was a
party to the job. The young man rec
commended by him was appointed and
made a Waterman. BY strange coin
cidence the fellow was assigned to that
end of the building where the sub-treas-
ury is located. For weeks he was at
tentive to his duty, but all this time he
was gathering points and familiarizing
himself with every part of the building
and with all the persons employed in it.
These facts were made known to the
gang, of which he was member, and
some of the confederates visited the
place to learn the by-ways.
The robbers exhibited no undue haste
in moving upon their prey, but waited
until the time when the quarterly inter-
est on the United States bonds fell due.
They knew that large sums of money
were stored in the vaults. On Sunday
morning it was discovered that hole
had been made in the side of the Gus
tom-house wall, large enough to admit
of the passage of a mans body through
it. A closer examination revealed the
fact that this led directly into the vault.
The place had been cleaned out, but the
robbers had been fooled. In this apart
ment were stored the pennies and small
coins. Next to it, and with only the
thickness of few bricks, was the huge
pile of interest money. 1t has been pre-
sumed that the thieves believed they had
struck bags of gold, and that in the
darkness they merely felt of them to learn
whether they were coin or not, and i'm
mediately passed them out to their con-
federates to carry to place of safety.
Instead of going further the job was, for
some reason, abandoned at this time,
and after an outlay of thousands of dol
lars the burglars captured but couple
of hundred dollars worth of pennies. 1t
is thought that daylight came too fast
for them, and they were compelled to
vacate the premises, which was good
thing for the Government.
Investigations were made by the Off
Ger, and two of the Fifth and Chestnut
Street detectives were put to work upon
the case. They never discovered much.
Suspicion began to point to the watch
man appointed at the "Rev." Mr.. Pad
docks instance. 1t suddenly was
revealed to every one that no one knew
anything concerning this individual.
He was sent for by the Collector and
told to send Mr.. Paddock to the office.
But he did not. That young man left,