Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-05

BANk-ROBBER DUNLAP.
Ills Tart In TWO of the Most airing
Criminal Fnterpr

His 7 art I'm TWO of the Most airing
Criminal Enterprises.
A dispatch from Boston to the effect that
a pardon has been asked for aud refused
James Dunlap, one OF the Northampton
Mass bank TIL, yea, revves interest In the
particulars OF one Of the most gigantic rob
berries on record, says the Chicago Tribune.
II was committed In 1877 by James Dunl ap,
Robert Scott James Green man named Con
ners, Edward Farrell aud James Brady, all OF
whom are either dead or In prison. Jane
Dunlap is an Illnosan and served through-s
out the war of the rebellion In an Illinois reg
iment. His war record was excellent, and he
Was badly wounded at Mission Ridge. He
came to Chicago in 1864 or 1865 aud entered
the service OF the Rock Island road rs passen-
ger brakeman. Dunlap was at this time
sober, industrious, straightforward man and
enjoyed the confidence OF his employers A
singular circumstance turned him INTO first
class thief. Dunlap was enamored of q woman
who lived on Clark street. A city policeman
was Dunlap's rival, and several times arrested
the brakeman and booked IN at the station
as "a suspicious character and thief" Dun
lap lost his position on the road and began
frequebtipg the notorious saloon then kept BY
Count" Riley. He was induced to JOIN q
band Of burglars aud drified into career OF
crime He met Bob Scott, who was born in
Warsaw H., and the pair became fast friends.
Scott Was a rough country burglar, but soon
showed a progressive turn OF mind. Dunlap
and Scott travelled together for good many
years, and formed the acquaintance OF fell
low named Edison, who was one OF the travel
Ing agents Of the Herring Safe Company ia
New York. Edison went through the country
examining sates, and made diagrams OF all
banks easily robbed. He it was who first de-
vcoped the idea of the use OF an air pump
and tried IL at National Bank 10 Quincy, Ill.
where they got about $35O,0J0 as the result Of
their experiment.
Shortly afterward the air-pump was nsed
at Northampton, Mass, aud about 81, 200 300
In money, coupon bonds and negotiable Sc
surlties carried Off The valuables we're de-
posted with John, alias Red Leary,
notorious New York thief. Several detectives
4 tried TO find out who robbed the bank. They
did nothing, however, and Major Allan PIN
kerton was called into the case. He IN com
pany with his sons, William and Robert soon
learned OF Eison's connection With the
affair. Edison WAS arrested aud Induced 10
confess lie implicated Scott, Dunlap ~ Co.,
aud they were brought into csmp Scott and
Dunlap were tried, and received sentence OF
] imprisonment for twenty years. Leary was
arrested and locked up In Ludlow street jail.
He made his escape from the 6astile, ana
ceeds OF the robbery. He remained abroad
couple Of years and then slipped back to
New York. Leary bad by this time squan-
dered quarter OF million dollars OF the
funds OF the bank. He hid himself In
house on Long Island, where he was occa-
sionallv visited by Que Butch" McCov. This
individual was notorious thief, and being
taken up for shadow by Pinkerton 3 men, was
seen to communicate with m sterous s,ran-
ger. The meetings occurred in the ni.ht at
little hotel IL Long Island The stranger,
who proved TO be Lsarr, was arrested one
cold winter morning by Robert A. Pinkerton.
Leary was muflled up driving along in
sleigh. He ives alone, aud Plnkerton cover
ed him nth pistol and handculfed him In
less than minute. Leary was Immediately
railroaded into Massachusetts and thrown
into jail.
Scott and Dunlap were pennlless and had
often appealed TO Leary for assistance.
! Leary's answer was always tue same. lie
satd he was on the outside, while Scott ana
Dunlap were IN. Tler did not see matters IL
the same light rs himself. II they were with
: him there would De no disagreement as To the
policy to be pursue !, aud would coincide with.
his ideas-that il was best TO give up absol-
utely nothing. Scott and Dunlap were will
! ing TO res ore to the bank all the money and
securities remaining In Leary's hands, but
the fence refused to yield up When, how
ever, Leary was incarcerated, Scott and pup
lap wrote him another letter. They said he
had always referred 10 the difference existing
In their conditions, and refused TO do any
thing because they did not things alike.
Now, since Leary, like themselves, was be-
hind the bars, probably he coui see things IN
the same light as themselves Leary was
told to return TO the bank every dollar In bis
/ possession, or to make up his mind to join his
coDfederates in the penitentiary. Lesry
! weakened, and restored TO the bank bout
500, 0J0 worth Of bonds aud securities He
was made to dlsgorge every thing In his po,s-
ession, and that without pecuniary reward.
The bank never would have gotten q dollar
| but for Scott and Dunlap. as, without their
evidence, there was absolutely no way OF con-
victing Leary Of completely In the crime.
Leary was In CHICAGO two years ago and
made quite stir on Clark street He had
brilliant record as a thief and jail breaker.
| He was dangerously wounded once In
street fight, bu let LODGING In his skull.
Leary carried his bullet TO his grave.
Bob Scott died OF umptiOn in the Mass-
acbusetts penItentiary. Dunlap must be
nearly fifty years OF age now. He is badly
broken down and desires a pardon. His APP
! plication for clemency is one OF the strongest
| ever preseD ted TO the pardoning power 1t Is
signed by the president and cashier, all the
stock holders OF the Northampton Bank, the
: judge and the jury before whom Dunlap was
/ tried and convicted, the states attorney who
| made the prosecution, the warden OF the pen
/ itentisrv, and the Pinkertons. Dunlap has
about four or five years to serve and hopes 10
receive q pardon. He is In receipt OF q small
pension on account of the wound received
while In the armv. Scott left him q little
money. He has at this time probably $1,000,
intends on his release to engage In legitimate
business pursuits. The Pinkertons will assist
and Dunlap, " released. will be- given an OPP
pprfnpifv n mako m hOneat LIVING