Evening journal., 1889-12-07
LAST EDITION
A DARING ROBBERY.
John c. Patterson Loses Over
Twelve Thousand.
A BOX OF SECURITIES STOLEN.


the Robbery.
A most daring robbery occurred at the
National Bank of Delaware Six tn and
Market streets, this morning, the thieves
getting off with bonds and securities
amounting to $12, 700.
Ex-United States District Attorney
John c. Patterson was in the bank clip
ping coupons from some bonds. He
turned to deposit the coupons and some
unknown person or persons carried away
the box in which he kept the bonds.
The police were notified at once and
officers were Immediately dispatched to
watch all modes of egress from the city.
The officers in other cities have also been
notified by telegraph.
Mr. Patterson is we'll known figure
in this city. He practised at the bar Of
this state for years, and was United
States District Attorney for the term of
four years, preceding that Of Alexander
B. Cooper, the present federal attorney
in this state.
Mr.. Patterson told the following story
of the robbery TO an EVENING JOURNAL
reporter
II went to the bank about 1890 this
morning to get mortgage from the box
and clip some coupons off of the bonds.
/ have kept the box at the bank for
years, and previously, whenever
wanted to get anything from it. l went
inside of the railing on the north side of
the room and opened it at the desk placed
there This morning several of the bank
directors were inside of the railing,
using the desk there, so went to
the desk which is outside of the
railing. | obtained the mortgage and
having the coupons from the bonds
locked the box aud stepped to the paying
teller's window with my bank book to
deposit them to my credit. When l
turned back to tue desk the
box had disappeared. thought for a
moment that had placed it on chair,
but it was not there and l then told the
bank officers that it had disappeared.
81 noticed two or three men, strangers,
between me and the door when | was
clipping off the bonds. There were several
persons in the bank, but l did not pay
any attention TO any of them
When Mr.. Patterson started to open
the box Henry g. Banning, the president
of the bank, cautioned him to come in
side of the railing, but Patterson did not
think it necessary.
1t was undoubtedly one of the strange
men, assisted perhaps by the others as
accomplices, who made off with the box
when Mr.. Patterson turned his back to
deposit the coupons. The daring
of the robbery and the quickness
with which the men disappeared, give
the undoubted impression that the men
were professionals and that the robbery
was planned. Or, that they were in the
city, preparing for some burglary aud
took advantage of an unexpected oppor-
i1Se box, winch was stolen was an or
dinary tin one, such as is used for keep.
Ing securities in. It was about eighteen
inches long and proportionately wide and
deep. It mad a handle on the top, was
furnished with lock and Mr.. Patterson q
name was on the top.
None of the bank officials or clerks no
ticed who was in the bank at the time,
being occupied with their work No one
San be found who saw the theft of the
box. Paul Goslin a thirteen year old son OF
DR.. E. q. Goslin, of Eighth and Shipley
streets, saw a man with tin box in his
arms go up the west side of Market
street, between Seventh and Eighth
shortly after the robbery The
boy was coming down Market street and
met the man who was walking fast anc
who collided with him. The boy says that
he had red face, but could remember
no further details of his appearance.
man named Allowell, from the country
also saw him.
The box was deposited in the Bank o.
Delaware for safe keeping by Mr.. Patter
son, on November, 2, 1877. The securi
ties it contained were all the property o.
Mr.. Patterson.
The box contained the following bonds
and securities:
Debenture bonds of the Equitable
Mortgage Company of Kansas City, No
100, $500; No. 101, $500; No 1913. $500
No. 1893, 5000; No 1877, $500; No. 200
5000; No. 143, $500.
Jacksonville, Tampa and Key Yves
Railway Company, Mortgage bonds, No
$50, $1,000; No. 3632, 500
No. 1853. $1,000: No. 352. 81, 900.
Sanford and Lake Eustis Reilwa,
Company, bonds No. As, $1,000 and No
So, $1,000.
Certificate Of stock of the Equitabl
Mortgage Company of Kansas City, 81,
900.
Private mortgages and bonds as fol
lows: V. H. Stone, $3.50, No. 805; Wi
liam NJ. Walker. $780, No 4,S58; J. r. J
Richardson, 81, 200, No. 4,92S; Jane
Wandra. $3.50. No. TIA Total, $l2 ,70C
The railroad and Equitable Mortgag
bonds are negotiable amounting to $8, 90
or $4,000 of the securities taken Tn
bonds had coupons attached, good 70
thirty years to come, all Of them paya
BILE on presentation.
Henry G. Banning. the president q
the bank tells q story which confirm
the impression that professionals wer
lurking about the city. He was approache
on the street yesterday by tall, vel
dressed man, who said GOOD day" an
vouchsafed the information that he wa
about to purchase house near hin
Mr.. Banning became interested and afte
some further conversation, in which tn
young man did not appear to kno
whom he was going to buy the house from
Mr.. Banning asked him into the Office
The young man declined, saying he ha
not time then and saying furths
that he was nephew of Ed
ward Belts, president Of the FirG
National Bank. Mr.. Belts has no sue
relative as this young man.
There were three strange men in th
bank just before the box disappeared
one OF whom was small man. Whe
Mr.. Patterson turned from depositin
the coupons all the men as well as Il
box had disappeared.
A man named Weir was asked bv son
one, who had tin box, the way TO Wasl
ington street.
The three men were in the bank wht
Mr. paftaraor want -. k,.k