The Portland daily press., 1881-12-05
HEAVY BOND ROBBERY.
A Cleveland National Bank President

A Cleveland National Bank President
Loses Over 100000.
CLEVELAND. Dec. Sat noon to-day one
of the boldest robberies ever known in Ohio,
and the largest, measured by the amount
taken, ever chronicled in Cleveland, occurred
in the Commercial National Bank, the presi-
dent Dan FL Eels being the loser. and Silt, =
900 worth of railroad bonds being the property
taken. At the time Mr.. Eels was talking to-
George Fl. Ely, heavy iron and ship owner,
in rear room of the bank, which is situated
in the national bank building, on the corner of
Water and Superior streets. The bonds had
been brought from the vault in pasteboard
box, and Mr.. Eels had been engaged in cut
ting off coupons. When Mr.. Ely came in the
bonds were replaced in the box and left on the
table. While they were engaged in converse
ton quiet and mild-mannered young man
came in, and as though waiting for a chance
to speak to Eels, sat down in a chair, a few
feet away, and said nothing. Howard Eels,
son of the bank president, sat at desk facing
his fathers, butt with high back between
the two. What then occurred is told in How
ards language as follows: 81 was sitting at my
desk talking with gentleman named Critten-
den. remember the time, because, having
forgotten to wind up my watch last night, L
had Just set it running. 1t was 1l.45 o'clock.
NY father was talking with George 81. Ely.
We were in this position when a well-dressed
young man came in and took a seat about four
feet from my father / remember that he was
gentlemanly appearing man, but remarked
to Mr.. Chittenden that he was rather cheeky,
not because he came into my fathers Office,
bnt because he sat so near my father and Mr..
Ely, who naturally did not wish to have their
conversation overheard. Mr.. Ely stood be-
tween father and the man, with his back to
the latter. FMr. Ely shortly after changed his
position and moved to the desk opposite
fathers and next to the window. Father, in
listening to him, turned around in his revolv
ing chair with his back to the stranger. con-
tinued talking to Mr.. Crittenden, having first
told him that 1 had mind to ask the man
what he wanted was prevented from see
ing what was going on by the tall portion of
the desk between me and my father. Mr.
Crittenden, however, saw the man go out
leisurely, and hesitate once or twice. as it
half mind to come back. When father
turned around, after few inmates talk with
Mr. Ely, he discovered that the bonds which
had been laid at his left elbow before he
turned around were missing" Mr.. EelS, on
finding the bonds gone, rushed into the bank
vestibule, but the man was nowhere to be
seen. The case was at once reported to the
police, Eels offering a reward OF $1,000 for the
recovery of the property and S25O0 for the ar
rest of the thief. The bonds all belong TO
Eels personally. Descriptions of all of them
are in his possession, and were Immediately
given to the newspapers and the Associated
Press. The robber was middle-aged man,
below medium size, thick sat- with sandy
beard, the whiskers being quite thin. MIR.
Eels is prominent railroad man, and is worth
$1,000.000 The robbery has caused greet ex-
element here, as only two weeks ago Presi-
dent Williamson of the Society of Savings had
Sis, 600 in bonds taken from his desk lin almost
an identical manner.