The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-10-04
THE CINCINNATI BANK ROBBERY.

CINCINNATI, Oct, IA most audacious
and successful bank robbery was commit
ted at the National Lafayette and Bank of
| Commerce, on Third street, this city, be-
tween 10 and II o'clock this morning. A
package of $4,000 was stolen before the
very eyes of the owner and in the presence
of the president of the bank. The facts, in
brief, are as follows: Mr. S. II. Burton,
of Clifton, a well-known ex-State Senator
and one of Cincinnatis solid citizens, went
into the bank about 10 o'clock this morn
ing for the purpose of cutting the
coupons from. the Government bonds, a
qnantity of which were deposited in the
Safety Deposit Company's vaults beneath
the bank, After getting them he went to
the presidents office with them, is the
custom, and began cutting off the coupons
due day. After he had been at this
| work little time, chatting meanwhile with
the President, Mr.. Goodman, who sat at q
desk near him, three well dressed and gen
| tlemanly appearing men came into the of
| flee. One of these, bowling to Mr.. Good
man, asked if he were the president, and
receiving an affirmative reply, asked the
privilege of a few minutes conversation
on business. Mr.. Goodman acqusesced
and invited him to seat, which he accept
ed, and drawing up asked him some ques-
tions about a deposit which he (the stran
ger) proposed making. As the converse
ton progressed, the second gentleman,
who had followed closely, stepped up to
Mr. Burton, who sat with the box of bonds
directly in front of him on the table, and
! leaning over in front of him asked if he
could speak to the president. AS this was
being done the third man stepped careless
ly to the other end of the desk where Mr..
Bnrton sat. On hearing the question Of
No. 2 Ga person in red whiskers) Mr.. Bur
ton looked up, and turning his head to-
ward Mr.. Goodman, who sat at his right,
said There is the president" At this
the man excused himself. and drew back,
| as if waiting for the first man who entered
| to get through with his conversation with
| the president. In a moment the latter
rose, and asking another question or two,
politely bade the president goodbye,
and walked out the other also passing
quietly out. 1t was then discovered that
a package containing $4,000 in govern
ment bonds was missing. The alarm was
at once given, but though the thieves had
been gone but few moments they were
/! out of sight. The job was good one on
| the part of the men who planned and car
ried it out. To-day being the first of DC
| tober, they knew that bond owners would
begin clipping coupons from their govern
ment bonds, as Tic qua1t tetiy 1nlefesb Is
due to-day. The principal place of deposit
of this nature in this city is the safety de-
posit vaults under and connected with the
hank named. This these men doubtless
fully understood, and well knew that OPP
portunities for sneak job were likely to
be had at that place and time. This even
ing two men were arrested by detectives at
the Grand Hotel on suspicion, but they
have since been released. The entire de-
tective force of the city are at work on the
case, but they are thus far without any
definite clue