Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-19
INCIDENTS OF CRIME.
Some Notable Cases Recalled =
"reminiscences OF the Late
Detective Bangs.
How He Discovered, Captured
and Punished Phenomenal
Robbers.
Nov York Tines.

company AZ montgomery, Ala. ~
was in 1853. The Company missed
$4,000 in bills from one of the pack
ages. There we're no olews, no sus-
picions. The Vice President, the late
4. 5. Saniord,set q careful watch upon
the office at Montgomery, to ascertain
who OF the employees could have com
mitted the crime, as it could not have
been done outside. Shortly afterward
& sealed pouch passed through Mout>
gomery from Savannah bank 70 Now
York containing $4,000. When the
pouch reached MONTGOMERY, which
was q transfer office. the local agent,
Nathan MAroney, gave receipt for
the money to the messenger. But
when the pouch reached New York
the package OF money was gone and a
square hole, as clean cut as il made by
a razor, was in the side of the bag,
concealed from the public view BY the
outer pocket Of the pouch. At FIRST il
was supposed that this was the work
Of a messenger. Each OF dozen mes.
sengers were examined, questioned,
aud watched. But to no purpose.
Finally Mr.. Bangs went to the Geor-
gia bank aud had another parcel made
exactly the same size as the missing
one. The bag was then produced and
the package would not pass through
the hole. 1t must therefore have been
taken from the pouch before it was
sealed at Montgomery. The only
man who had access to it was Maroney
who, up to this time, had borne
an excellent character for sobriety,
propriety and frugality. Moths
ing was said to him of the
suspicious, but he was watched. A
detective secured employment in the
office aud female detective entered
his house as dress maker. But in
spite Of the watch nothing important
was ascertained. 1t was learned how
ever, that he had bet heavily on horse
races and was part owner in race
horse; but there was nothing crimina
ting in that. Fortunately, tho bank
had the denomination of nearly all the
bills in the forty thousand dollar pack.
age, and Maroney expenditures were
carefully traced, but none of the sto-
len money was found. Finally,within
a few months, he left tie employ OF
the company aud began travelling, A
detective kept close watch of his
movements. He spent money freely,
but none Of the missing wealth could
be discovered. In the meantime he
sent his young wife to Jenkinville, Pa,
where she had relatives. The late
Kate Warren, the chiei of the female
department OF the agency, was sent to
board at the same house. Finding none
Of the stolen money, Bangs became
convinced that Maroney had stolen
both packages, and was now using the
proceeds Of the $4,000 robbery, and
was saving the $4,000 for future use.
After following him for several weeks,
Mr.. Bangs thought it safe to arrest
him on a civil action to recover the
money which it was alleged had been
lest through his carelessness. This
was done 10 New York. and he was
lodged in the Ludlow street Jill. A
month before a detective was also
thrown into the prison on the charge
OF debt. This officer soon ingratiated
himself into Maroney's favor, and in
five months succeeded in getting out
OF hi.h the statement that he had a
large sum OF money. On a plea OF be.
ing able to assist him to a fortune
through cotton speeulations, the de.
tective obtained note from him tc
his wife telling her to give him q
book" which Maroney had previous.
ly explained TO her meant the package
Of money. According to the arrange
ments the detective met Mrs. Maroney
on lonely country road at night, but
the wife had consulted with her uncle,
who was acquainted with the theft,
ard refused 10 give up the book. ["
The detective urged her SO strongly,
however. that she concluded to ask
the advice Of her female friend Thi.
advice, it is needless to add secured
the money to the officer. Only Eve
hundred dollars had been taken from
the parcel. MarOney was subsequently,
taken to Montgomery and convicted
He did not know, however, Of the evi
dence against him or the recovery Of
the money until the officer walked
into the courtroom and took the wit.
ness chair.
The great Adams Express robbery
at Cos Cob bridge, on the New Haven
road, when $4,000 was taken. was
entirely under the supervision Of Mr.
Bangs, who recovered nearly the en-.
tire amount. He also planned the
working Of the discovery Of the Mollit
Mcguire plots, and il was through the
fertility Of his genius that the perpe
traitors were brought TO the gallows.