The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-03-30
KING OF THIEVES.
The Boldest and Most Successful
Bank Robbery Of the Age Perpe-
trated at Denver.
President Monan Compelled 10 Give Up
$4,000. the Daring Thief Making
Good His Escape.

DENVER, March 2q-The boldest and
most successful bank robbery ever report
ed In the west was perpetrated upon the
First National bank at 2 o'clock this after
noon. by which the robber succeeded In
getting away with s2l. 900. The cashier OF
the bank In an interview with an Associa-
ted Press reporter few minutes after the
robbery gave the following account Of the
affair: Yesterday morning Immediately
after the opening OF the bank well dress
ed man with light mustache and COM
plexion, and OF medium height, walked
into the bank and asked Cashier Ross
Levin where he could see Mr. Moffatt,
who is also president OF the Denver 4 Rio
Grand railway. He was told Mr.
M0ffatt was In the presidents
Office In the Cheesman block. Moth
ing more was seen or heard OF the stranger
until this morning about 10 O'Clock, when
he entered the railway Office and asked 10
see Mr.. Moffatt on important business
lie was admitted 10 his private room
and briefly stated that he had
discovered conspiracy whereby the First
National bank was 10 be robbed OF a large
amount Of money. Mr.. MoffAtt told the
nan he was very busy at that moment, but
would be pleased TO meet him In his private
Office at the bank at I o'clock. With this
the man left the building. A few minutes
after the hour appointed he called al the
bank and was shown into the presidents
Office. While remaining standing he In
quired n the cashier, 5. N. Wood, was In,
and was told that he was at lunch. lie
then asked for blank check. for the pur-
pose OF showing how the robbery was 10
be perpetrated. The check was handed
him and he laid II upon the table In front
OF Mr.. Moffntt, saying, al will have TO do
this myself" and pulling large revolver
from his coat placed IL at Mr.. Mofatts
head and In decidedly ssrnes. 20, oS, S snsx mex
am going 70 have It. have
considered this matter and the chances
auences II i fall and am arrested.
am penniless and desperate man, and
have been driven during the past week 70
that point where have considered suicide
as the only means OF escape from the
poverty and misery In which exist. You
have millions and l am determined 70 have
what have asked for or your life. IL you
make noise, call q man, or ring a bell, l
will blow your brains out and then blow
up the building and myself with this bottle
| OF giycerine (which he at that moment
pulled out OF another pocketl. Now take
your choice" Moffatt started to argue with
ton that II was useless and that he had but
two minutes In which 10 fill out the check
before him for $4,000. II he
desired to live. Moifatt, seeing no
other alternative, filed out the
check and WAS then ordered 70
take II 70 the paying teller and get y
csshed. Mr.. Mofiatt left his Office. and
/ l..A x.flgh hA lVaF
partially concealed under his overcoat. and
with the muzzle almost against Moffatrs
back, marched him behind the counter and
| up 10 Paying Teller Kelley. with n request
| that II be Immediately cashed. They then
re-marched into Motiatps ONCE without at
| tracing the attention Of one Of the fifteen
or TWEEN y clerks who were busy ut work
within two feet OF where they passed.
After they had remained In the private
Office three or four minutes the robber In
| formed Mr.. Moffatt that they were wasting
time, and that he had better step 10 the
door and motion his teller TO come to him,
which he did. Moffatt instructed him TO
bring the money into his office, and "a
the teller turned TO go away the
thousand dollar bills and $1,000 In gold.
The money was brought in and handed
over 10 the gentleman, who for brief mo-
ment had owned the bnnk, and waiting un-
I'll the teller had reached his desk. he
backed out 10 the front door. Mr. Mofiatt
remained standing In his door until the fel.
low had reached the curbst0ne. The thief
then raised his hat and walked around the
corner and has not been heard OF since. Mr.
Moffatt Is completely prostrated with the
shock. Detectives are out after the man,
but there 10 no trace 0f him.
The man who committed the robbery In
troduced himself 10 President Moffatt a. U.
j. Wells. q name, however, probably AS
sumed. A moment after the alarm was
given by Mr.. Moffatt man started rapidly
up Sixteenth street from the bank, fol
lowed by crowd and several officers. He
was followed TO room II Hallack a How
ard block, where he and two companions
were arrested and taken 20 the station
house. Mr.. M0ffatt arrived at the police
headquarters about 1 o'clock and after q
glance at the prisoner said he was not the
man, aud he WAS Immediately released.
The prisoner proved 10 be q well known
business man by the name OF Clark. The
chief OF police has offered ~. 800 reward f0i
the arrest OF the robber and gives tblt
description OF the man: "Age, y2; height
FIVE feet; weight. 140 pounds; heavy brown
mustache; badly sunburned; derby hat;
light brown oyercoat; wears long linked
plated watch chain" The excitement over
the affair is intense.
Up TO II o'clock tonight there has beer
no new developments In the case. The
police while diligently endeavorlng 10 gel
clue 10 the robber are completely bnfilec
and nothing has been heard or seen OF the
man since he walked out OF the bank at
o'clock. \. N. Wood. cashier OF the bank
and Mr.. Kelly, the paying teller, were seer
tonight and when questioned upon th'
case said they could say nothing, AS they
knew knothiDg at all about II until afte
Mr.. Moffatt gave the alarm after the rob