The Southern herald., 1881-02-19
"The Rev. DR.. Paddook-'
A LUCKY MISTAKE THAT SAVED THE
GOVERNMENT Sl2,0OO,0OO.


attached to the attempted robbery Of the U
S. SubaTreasury 10 Philadelphia. Up to
this time they have met with Indifferent sue
cess, Snd the chances are they will never be
able to ascertain who wsrs 10 the plot. As
the case stands now. says a correspondent OF
the New York Express, il is a matter Of
suspicion against some Of the bOldesi cracks
men in the country. None but thieves were
concerned, and they refuse % give infOrma.
tiOu which might lead to the detection Of
their eOnfsderstss. The story is an interest.
ing one. But for a misealcuatiou on the
part Of the robbers they would have sue
ceeded in capturing some $l2OOO.OOO Of
coupons and cash. 1t would have been the
largest haul ever made in this country but
for their stupidity. The large vault 10 lhs
Tressurer's office, 10 the custom house build
ing. contains two apartments, To one Of
these it is customary to store the cash aud
coupons that are presented for interest. 10
the other small coin is kept This tact be-
came kuOwn. and gang was organized to
make a raid on the place. Prominent on
the list was Jimmy Logue, now in the Eastl
ern Penitentiary, who had $4,000 on baud
fresh from a bank burglary. There were
a couple Of well known New Yorkers. and
two fellows who had escaped from Kings
county penitsntiary-belsvsd to be Porter
and Irving. Another Of the party was a
new man, for whom The country had been
secured, but without success. Logus secured
a residence in West Philadelphia. where the
whole party resided, He was to be REIN
bursed for his expenditures out Of the pro.
cssds Of the robbery. As warrants and re-
QUESTIONS were out for the men on all sides.
they feared to come into the city, and Sc
lectsd 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, aud
mapped out their plans.
1t was found necessary to have one Of
their number inside the custom house. so
this happy plan was bit upon: Que day a
reverend looking gentleman, with clerical
cut garments and white checker, waited upon
Collector Tuttun. aud informed bin that be
was the Rev. Mr.. Paddock The official
knew of this clergyman. The sham minis,
ter was accompanied by az innocent appear
ing young man, who be stated was one Of
his parishioners. DR.. Paddock would be SO
much obliged to the collector If he could
only give the young man something to do
SONS light work, such as watchman-as be
was in need, and bis health would not ad,
1. init of exposure. Collector Tuition was ex.
-, ceedingly pleased to see Dr. Paddock Mr.
ot Tuttou's rector in DOwningtown and DR.
-. Paddock were in fact well acquainted, anC
Mr.. Tuition talked freely of Downugtown'
= spiritual needs. To tbs reverend gentleman
:. he explained that no reliance could be placed
on the recommendation of politicians, Will
minister's Endorsement was nearly Away
safe guide. The sham clergyman go
quite shaky when Mr., Tuition touched oil
Downingtown mstteIs. but soon switched oi
The conversation aud avoided embarrassment
1t is now disclosed that Shoey" Miller
who was mixed up 10 the bogus naturnliza
tion business, aud was sentenced to tw
~ years Imprisonment in the Eastern peniipu
tiary. personated the Rev. DR.. Paddock an
: was party to the job. The young ma
- recommended by him was appointed an
made a watchman By strange coinc
dence the fellow was assigned to that end
the building where the sub treasury is L
:, Gated. For wesks be was attentive to b
;, duty but all this time be was gathsriu
points aud familiarizing himself with ever
part of the building, and with al fbe pc
SOUS employed in it. These facts were mat
known to the gang OF which he was men
ber and some Of the confederaies visited Il
= place to learn the byways. The robbie
exhibited no undue haste in moving upr
!. their prey, but waited until ihs time wb
the quarterly interest on the United Stat
o. bonds tell due. They knew that lar
sums Of money were stored in the vaults
~ Que Sunday morning it was discovered th
a hole had been made 10 the side Of /
custom house wall, large enough to adm
the passage of a mans body through ii
closer examination revealed the fact ID
this led directly iato the vault. The pls
had been cleaned out, but the robbers b
y been fooled In this apartment were stor
ar'h tbs pennies aud small coins. Next to
ee's aud with only the thickness Of few brcl
'ans was the huge pile Of interest money.