Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-26
GaIes NH Sketfkfs.


The burglary committed recently on the
Metropolitan Bank of New Orleans recalls
70 mind similas crime committed on the
Bank Of Yazoo City, on the night Of June
II, 1885,.
At that time was Mayor of the city. as
well n attorney for the bank. and was.
therefore, in position to become infi-
smately acquaintsd with all the incidents
irelating thereto
There stands midway on Main street a
brick building. originally constructed. for
the purpose Of bank, and has served in
that capacity for many years On one
side of the bank. and Immediately adjoin-
ing the same, is a two-story brick store
house. known al the Wilson building.
On the 18th day Of June, 1855. Colonel
Greenleaf sold valuable plantation stu
ated on the Yaz0o river, together with a
number Of negroes. Twenty-three thous-
and dollars OF the pnrchase money was
paid down in cash, the same being duly
deposited in the bank. The door Of the
vault was secured by means Of clamp
fastened on the outside BY patent Chubb
paddock, contrivance that would excite
the contempt Of an expert burglar. No
light was kept burning during the night
Is Ia now the custom with banks. On the
morning following the day on which the
above deposit mad been made the cashier
went to the bank at the usual hour. and
on opening the front door his astonished
ewes saw the vault door standing wide
open and the floor literally strewed with
papers. The alarm was given, and the
widest excitement prevailed. The
method adopted by the burglars to effect
and entrance was very evident An open
ing had been cut through the wooden
doors in the rear OF the Wilson building
and thence breach had been made in the
division wall into the bank, when the
vanlt door waa easily opened. The loss
involved over 1888 900 and many valuable
securities. There did not appear to be
the slightest clue that would lead to the
unravelipg the mystery. no one upon
whom suspicion could rest. A meeting
of the bank directors was at once called,
and was instructed to adopt any meas
ures that would tend to the discovery and
arrest of the guilty parties. l sat down
at once, and wrote TO the Chief of Secret
Service in Cincinnati to send me detec-
tive expert in working up bank robberies.
One night, about a week after | had
written this letter, as | sat in my Office
busily preparing some cases for the ap-
preaching term of court, | became con-
scious that some one was 10 the room, and
looking up. saw man in the act OF
closing the door, and having done this he
deliberately turned the key in the door.
At the same time, turning his face toward
me, I saw the raggedest, dirtiest. most
villainous looking scoundrel | had
ever seen. Instantly, jerked
ont nv desk drawer and seized my
pistol, when the fellow said with the ut
most GOODNESS, Don't be too hasty. Judge
South; Just let me say few words. and
then think will be the last man in the
world YOU would wish to shoot particu.
larly ut this time" While stared in as
Constituent, he continued, 'You are the
attorney for the bank that has been recent
ly robbed here, and you have sent to Gin
cinnati for detective. Well. not TO de-
tain you longer, am the man you sent
for. You see. couldn't come into town
In broad daylight, rugged out in broad
cloth and silk hat, and call around mt the
newspaper Office to give the editor q local
TO the effect that MIR. b.. detective from
Cincinnati. had Just arrived to work up the
late bank robbery No, Judge, that is
not the way men Of my calling do bust
ness. So took the liberty of coming up
here after nightfall and of locking the
door to prevent any casual interruption.
Had not found you here l would have
called at your residence. travelled in a
second-class car to vicksburg, dressed as
you now see me, and loafed around the
wharf until the regular steamboat for this
place was ready to leave, when went on
board and offered 10 work my way up
here as a deck hand. l can tell you
earned my passage. for one time when
was carrying sack of corn up the bank
on my shoulder. slipped and fell. mar
rowly escaping drubbing at the hands
of the mate. who made after me with a
stick, at the same time cursing me for my
awkwardness. Unnecessary as this may
appear to you, l was obliged to use every
precaution in carrying out my role as a
tramp. But here am. at any rate, safe
and sound; came up this morning and am
ready to proceed to work" But" said
/, II don't understand all this mystery.
Why didn't you come to me at once, as
soon as you arrived here?" Then | re-
Elected that he had slipped into my office
after dark, locking the door behind him.
and it occurred to me that. perhaps, he
was one of the burglars himself, come to
rob me, and all this talk was q mere pre-
tence to throw me off my guard. So, still
retaining my pistol, continued. "What
guarantee can you give me to assure me
Of the firth of what you have said 2"
With that he smiled, and. remarking
that It was difficult to evade the caution OF
lawyer, promptly produced from his
pocket paper that he threw over on the
desk toward me. Taking it up saw that
it was printed form properly filled out,
and bearing the seal of the Secret Service
Department, setting forth that the person
therein ,amed was duly authorized agent.
Dropping my pistol back into the drawer,
Iextenled my hand and apologized for
having doubted his identity. '' No apollo
gy necessary. sir" said he; II know |
am suspicious looking fellow, and but
for that very fact you would not see me
now before you. My presence here must
be kept strictly secret, and my only reason
for making myself known to You just at
this time was to get your official protec-
ton as mayor, and to request you to in
struct the police not to modest me under
any circumstances. Should be arrested
as tramp or suspicious looking person
my plans for discovering traces of thisrri
woulda seriously Interrupted. shall LOAF
about ttswn, and you must guard against