New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-30
ROBBED IN HIS OWN BANK.
PRESIDENT MOFFAT, OF DENVER. THE
VICTIM
HIS STRANGE srArEMENT or TERROR TRoM
REVOLVER AND NITRO o-GLYcERINE IN THE
HANDS OF QUIET YOUNG NAM
TwEETY.oNE THOUSAND DOLLARS
THE pRIcE or HIS LIFE.
rsr rpIrsaArH 10 rnr rnlnuanI

9HE PR1OE OF HfS LIFE.
rsr rBLEsRaPH TO THE rB1RunEl
Denver, March 2o-David II. Mofat,
president Of the First National Bank, was robbed
OF s2i 900 to-day. The robbeR escaped. but an
alleged accomplice, w. II. Clark, real estate
dealer, was captured. President Monas tonight
made public tho following statement;
yesterday afternoon weiLdresaed stranger called a.
my once In the railroed building Ny clerks informed
him that not IA, and ne said that he would cau
again tho morning he wished 70 see me on nporan'
busines6 Thls morning about 10 80 o'clock he called
again ana insroGuccd himself A. O. J. Wens. sskee
him his business and be replied that It Of privats
nature. took him into my private ONCE where no seao
that certain prominent business men Of this cT Wer
utHng up Job TO defraud tho Birzt National Bank he
said that It would require some time 70 nyuige ens
particulars Of the and wanted 10 know II he could
not have private conference with me htss In the DAY.
I made an appointment 10 meet him s my once IN 1ne
Birst National Bank at o'clock this Msernool
Promptly the appointed hour he appeared ~ the oank
and shown 70 my private once when ne openoo
the conversation hy ssking II had blank check with
me was rather surprised but told him that ceuld
set him one. When the messenger who brought tne
check had retired he suddenly drew revolver Scm ns
inside coat pocket and leyeling t At my head exemeo
nIf you make Q move speak word VIII XII you
on the spot in desperate circumstanees, ana you
must give ne e21, ,00os
OF course / was completely taken by surpriss and
after looking the fellow In the eye concluded nas
uotninB
manaed me to mako out and sign check for tbs desired
amount When this done be commanded mo 70 taSo
t to tho paying teller and bring HIN the money 20
marking, ~ he eid sol
al have counted all tho risks In this undertaking,
and have thoroughly Laid my plans. II you say Two
words or By any convey 10 any ems any sign swan
70 much a. q wink VIII hu ycu In "A Instant
He tAen pulled from his hippockst what BE- claimed
bOtls of nitreslyessins and which fs0m is AZ
pcarAnce should Judge was such, ara SAD:
sI now thas II am caught in this act my Life u NOS
worth one breath am. said before, In desperate
circumstances and this morning contemplated suicide
bot concluded that you and the First National BANK
aad planty Of money, and could get some OF IL
propose 70 have IL az risk Of my life. aud II In sny
way you give alarm win shoot you dead and tnsn
blow up this whole building with niz@glycerine.'
with this he told me TO take ths ehcck to the paying
telIer get tho money and bring It 70 him He said that
he Uonld follow mo snd II / made move 1t wond be
instant deash Concluding that there wss nothing else
10 be DONE dd as he commanded but IS passed up
20 the paying teiers window endeayored 20 give ns
cnpgoyos wink and even went % far Is 70 whisper
b tie taller,
s,FhSa man 4. a thief He Is robbing meH
Mr. King ala not hear me, however, and none Of the
employees appeared to catch my tip hen presented
the check 10 hs teller and instructed him to bring the
amount % my private otpce. All thi' amo ht. mens
wa foaIowfng immediately behind mo with revolver
icssed st my head skiful were his actions and
20 weu ala no conceal tho under his coat that
no one appeared 10 notoe the aeA We hen returned
private once and sat down % avail t1e coming OF
she teller In his actions Wells perfectly calm and
deliberas and when we seated ourselves again
TONED me against any act that might raiss suspicion
as 70 my intentions Upon the penalty Of instant death
Alter waiting few minutes, which TO me seemed hks
hours, he asked ma Il the money was NOS
coming. assured him that bad
ordered IL ~ he had commanded and that would 90 and
ssu cor It again. Il he wshsA he saad 70 wait fsw
nnutas longer As The msney did not conn., he tad trs
% step 70 TIE and command the telisr 70 hurry up
81 he was "a great hasts did and Mr. KING, the
tIa cana door and asked him what denominations
Of bills he wanted. Mr.. Wells informed him that he
wished mostly large bills WITH s10oo In gold All tails
TINA the eyes Of robber were upon me. and dared
mako no Esn Presently Mr.. King returned with tbs
money and a. soon he had returned to his desk. Mr
wells rose and saying that he would return ana kin me
rave sn alarm before be oct Of the building he
quietly and ponehaAnty walked 10 the door and dsap
psared As soon he passed out of the door, rushed
out and gave the alarm. exelaimnR. THAT fellow has
robbed mo-"
President Mchat called al Police Headquarters |
this evening. and after taking look at w. II. |
Clark who had been arrested as an accomphce, |
said that he was not the man. Clark was at once |
released BY the request Of Mr.. Moffat, the Chief |
of Police this evening issued proclamation offer
ing So 500 reward for the capture OF the thief |
David II. Moffak besides being president OF the |
First National Bank, is president Of the Denver |
and Rio Graude Railroad, and is large stakeholder
in many prominent reads The money will not be |
missed, as the loser is one of the wealthiest men
In Colorado.