The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-03
HE HAD AN IRON NERVE.
THE BoLDEsT BANK ROBBERY YET.
A Bank President Compelled to Issue His
Check For $4,000, Get 1t Cashed and
Turn the Money Over to the Thief,
who Made Good His Escape.

DENVER, Col, March 29.-The boldest and
most successful bank robbery ever reported in
the West was perpetrated upon the First
national bank at . o'clock this afternoon. The
robbers succeeded in getting away with S21, 900.
The cashier of the bank, in an interview with
an Associated Press reporter a few minutes
after the robbery, gave the following account
of the affair:
Yesterday morning, Immediately after the
opening of the bank, a well-dressed man with
light mustache and complexion and of
medium hight, walked into the bank and asked
Assistant Cashier Ross Levin where he could
see Mr.. Moffatt, president of the bank Mr..
Levin informed him that he could see Mr.
Moffatt, who is also president of the Denver e.
Rio Grande railway, at the presidents office in
the Cheesman block. Nothing more was seen
or heard of the stranger until this morning
about 10 o'clock, when he entered the railway
Office and asked to see Mr.. Mofatt on i'm
portant business. He was admitted to nj
private room and briefly stated that he had
discovered a conspiracy whereby the First
national bank was to be robbed of a large
amount of money. Mr.. MofIatt told the man
that he was very busy at that moment, but he
would be pleased to meet him at his private
office in the bank at o'clock. With this the
man left the building.
In few minutes after the hour appointed,
he called at the bank and was shown into the
presidents Office. 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 a blank check for the purpose of
showing how the robbery was to be perpe-
ttrated The check was handed him. He laid
1t upon the desk in front of Mr. Mofiatt and
said: i will have to do this myself and pull
ing large revolver from his coat placed it at
Mr. Moifatts head, and in a decidedly earnest,
but uneXclted manner, said: Il want sd, 600
and am going to have it. / have considered
this matter-the chances / am running and the
consequences if TAIL and am arrested | am
pennies and 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 poverty and misery
IN which / exist. You have millions. | am de-
termined to have what l have asked for. If
you make noise, call man or ring bell l
will blow your brains out and then blow up the
building and myself with this bottle of glycer-
Inc (which he at that moment pulled out of his
pocket. Now, take your choice
"Motfatt started to argue with the man. but
was stopped with the information that it was
useless, and he had but two minutes in which
to fill out the check before him for 81, 900, if
he desired TO live. Moffatt seeing no other
alternative filed out the check and was then
ordered TO take it to the paying teller and get
1t cashed. Mr.. MOffatt lett his Office and with
the man behind him with the revolver partially
concealed under his overcOat and with the muz-
zle almost against MOfatt's back, marched be-
hind the counter and up to Paying Teller
Kelley, with the request that the check be inn
mediately cashed. They then remarched into
Moffatt's Office without attracting the attention
OF the fifteen or twenty clerks who were within
two feet of where they passed. After they had
remained in the private Office three or four min
utes, the robber informed Mr.. Moffatt that they
were wasting time and that he had better
step to the door and motion his teller to come
TO him, which he did. Moifatt instructed him
to bring the money into his Office and, as the
teller turned to go away, the robber told HIM
he wanted twenty One-thOusand-dollar bills
and 81 900 in gold. The money was brought in
and handed over to the gentleman, who for a
few brief moments, had owned the bank, and,
waiting until the teller had reached his desk,
he backed out to the front door, making Mr.
Moffatt 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.. Mofatt is completely Frustrated with
the shock. Detectives are out after the man
but no trace of him has been found.