The Brookhaven leader., 1889-04-04
A cool ROBBERY.

The President Of Denver Bank Compelled
to Draw His Check For sal 900 ard Get
1t Cashed by a Cool But Daring Thief
DEstER, Col, March 30-The boldest
and most suecsssfuI bank robbery ever
reported in the West was peIpetrated
upon the FIRST National Bank at two
o'clock yesterday afternoon, the rob5er
succeeding In getting away with S2l,OO0
The cashier Of the bank gave the follow
ing account of the affairs Thursday
morning Immediately after the opening OF
the bank, a we'll dressed man, with light
mustache aud complexion and Of medium
height, walked into the bank and asked
Assistant Cashier Ross levin where he
could see Mr.. Moffeit, president Of the
bank. Mr.. Levin informed him that he
could see Mr.. Moffett, who is also presi-
dent of the Denver & Rio Graude railroad,
at the presidents office in the Cheeseman
block. Nothing more was seen or heard OF
the stranger until yesterday morning about
ten o'clock when he entered the railway
cffice and asked to see Mr.. Moffett on inn
portant business He was admitted to his
private room and briefly stated that he
lad discovered a conspiracy whereby the
First National Bank was to be robbed OF
a large sum Of money Mr. MofHstt tol d
the man he was very busy at that moment
but would be pleased to meet him at his
private office ia the bank at one O'Clock.
With this the man left the building. A
few minutes after the hour appointed, he
called at the bank and was shown into the
presidents Cffice. While remaining
standing he inquired if the cashier, s, n.
Wood, was in, and was told that he was
at lunch He then asked for blank
check for the purpose OF showing how the
robbery was to be perpetrated.
"The check was handed him. He laid it
upon the desk in front of MIR. Moffett and
said: L will have TO do this myself, and
pulling a large revover from his coat,
placed it at Mr.. Moffetps head and in de-
cdedly earnest but uuexcited manner,
said: Il want 1000 aud am going to
have il. have considered this matter and
the chances l am running and the conse-
quences if fail and am arrested. am
penniless and a desperate man and have
been driven during the past week to that
point where | have considered suicide as
the only means OF escape from the pow
erty and misery in which l exist You
have millions. / am determined to have
what have asked for. II you make
noise, call a man or ring a bell, will blow
your brains out and then blow up the
building and myself with this bottle of
glycerine (Which he at that moment pulled
out of his pocket) Now take your choice
Moffett started TO argue with the man,
but was stopped with the information that
it was useless and that he had but two
minutes in which to fill out the check be-
fore him for $2l, 200 il he desired
to live. NJ ffstt, seeing no other alterna-
native, filled out the check and was then
ordered to take it to the paying teller and
get it cashed. Mr.. Moffett left his Office,
and with the man behind h IN with the
revolver partially concealed under his
overcoat, and with the muzBle almost
against Moffett's back, marched him be-
hind the counter and up to Paying
Teller Kelley with the request that the
check be immedi ltely cashed- They then
marched into Muffett's office without at
tracing the attention of the fifteen or
twenty clerks who were within two feet
of wb b,re they passed.
after they had remained in the private
office three or four minutes the robber in
formed Mr.. Moffett that they were wasting
time aud that he had better step to the
door and motion his teller to come to him.
which he did. MOffett instructed him to
tlo LnIO duu dS tuo
teller turned to go away the robber told
him he wanted twenty 81. 900 bills and
IL 700 in gold. The money was brought
in and handed over to the gentleman
who for few brief moments had owned
III bank, and, waiting until the teller had
reached his desk, he backed out to the
front door, making Mr.. Moffett remain
standing in his door until he had reached
the curbstone. He then raised his hat and
walked around the corner and has not yet
been heard Of"
Mr.. Muffett is completely prostrated
with the shock. Detectives are out after
the man but no trace of him has been
found.
The man who committed the robbery in
troduced himself as C. ]. Wells a re-
ward Of Il 500 has been offered for his ar.
rest.
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