The Indianapolis journal., 1883-12-13
A FAMOUS CRIMINAL.
Retelling the Story of Two Bank Robberies
In Indianapolis.


The Cincinnati Enquirer publishes long
account Of the career of Thomas Rowland,
desperate criminal who, it was supposed,
was fatally shot by officers, few days since,
near Shelby, Ohio. The wife of Rowland
claimed the body of a dead man, saying it
was that of her husband; but it is possible
this action was ruse to enable Rowland to
escape, and that the body was that of one of
his confederates. In the course OF the nara
tive the following details are given concern
ing two banks robbed in Indianapolis;
Early in April, 1872, Rowland landed in
Indianapolis, and, after looking over the
ground, decided to try his hand on the Me-
ridian National Bank. The bank was situ-
ated i'll the business part of the city, but ad-
joining it was an all night restaurant and sa-
loon, which made night operations extremely
dangerous. The bank was new, and its Of
fcers unused to dealing with experts in his
line, so lie concluded to wait his opportunity
and go through it in daytime. He had a
confederate who visited the bank frequently
to get the lay of the land and they soon dis
covered that at noon but one person was left
there while the others went to lunch. The
funds were kept in large safe in the rear OF
the room. and, being behind the counter, was
kept unlocked and open during business
hours. They waited for nearly month be-
fore their opportunity came. Finally, at
noon on the 7th OF May every one but the
teller went to lunch. In a minute
Rowland was in the bank and on his
ha ndS and knees beside the counter. His pal
walked boldly up to the front and asked the
teller some questions about deposits and in
terest and engaged him in conversation.
Meanwhile Rowland lied to the rear of
the counter and reached into the safe aud alb
Strac;ed five packages each containing So, 600.
His pal could see when he had left the safe,
and ther asked the cashier to change bill
for him. Just then Rowland rose to his feet
and several persons came in and the two
robbers passed out together. They went di-
rectly to the Union Depot and took train for
Louisville, KY. From there they went to
New Orleans. The bank officers kept the
matter secret for several days, and when the
robbers read the first notice of it they were
in New Orleans. The bank offered So 900 re-
ward for the detection of the robbers, but as
the boys each had $12 500 they did not think
the bid high enough. Feeling. however that
distance lent safety to their persons, they
made trip to the City of Mexico, and re-
turned by steamer to New Orleans. % y y
- While loafng about indianapolis he dis.
covered that the Central Bank, a new con-
Germ, was arranged very much like the Me
ridian National which he had gone through
some years before, with the advantage in his
favor of an entrance on the side, at the rear
of tue safe. Careful watching showed him,
however that there were always two persons
in the bank, so plan of operations had to
be arranged to suit the situation, He went
to Cleveland and arranged with a slick
bank worker, who had married a beautiful
and educated woman, to assist him. From
what he had seen, he believed he
could make as rich a haul as he had
at the Meridian bunk. The parties all
returned here, and selected a rainy day
for their operations. 1t was agreed among
them that if successful, they were to
leave the city, each on different routes
and all to meet in Cleveland as soon as pos
sible. Rowland had purchased ticket from
Cleveland through Indianapolis to Terre
Haute, his male confederate had one to Lou
isville, while the woman was to buy one to
Chicago. Rowland put on heavy pair of
gum shoes; the woman took cab in front
of hotel and drove TO the bank. The rain
was pouring down in torrents at the time,
and all the surroundings were favorable. AS
the hack drove up the Cleveland confederate
went in the bank and engaged the teller in
conversation The cabman went into the
bank and asked the cashier to step out to the
carriage, as lady wished to see him. While
he was out Rowland walked around the safe,
which was open, and seized upon several
large packages of money, which they
afterward found contained 81, 200.
They went directly to the
depot and each one took trains as agreed
upon. Rowland went to Terre Haute, and
after showing himself there in such way as
to be able to prove Il partial albi returned
that night through Indianapolis to Ceve-
land 1t was a favorite theory with Row
land that the robbery of a bank so astounded
and confused the bank people that they
would wait day or two before making the
fact public, and as he had no fear OF detect
ives he could be so far away by the time the
newspaper reporters heard of it that he
,,1 L.. g
than he did detectives or police. He then
went from there TO Cleveland, marrying
Guy Fosters daughter and settling upon a
small place in the outskirts of that city.
There for a number of years he led a some
what quiet life.