The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-04-11
BOLD BANK

one OF the 1OSC. Darln& bADk 4IOU.
berries Ever Committed, Successfully
Worked at Denver.
DENVER, Colo, March 29.-The boldest
and most successful tank robbery ever re-
ported in the West Was perpetrated upon
the First National bank to-day. Tn robber
succeeded in getting away with 10000.
The cashier of the bank gives the following
account of the affair: Yesterday morning
Immediately after the opening of the bank a
we'll dressed man with light moustacDe and
complexion and of medium height walked
into the bark and asked Assistant Cashier
Ross Levin where he could see Mr.. Motfatt,
president of the bank. Mr.. levin informed
him that he could sec Mr.. Moffatt, who is
also president of the Denver & Rio Grande
railway, at the presidents Office in the
Cheesman block. Nothing more was seen or
heard OF tho stranger until this morning,
when he entered the railway Office n asked
to see Mr.. Moffatt on important business.
He was admitted to his private room.
and briefly stated that he had dis
covered a conspiracy whereby the First Ma
tional bank was to be robbed of q large
amount of money. MIR. Moffatt told the man
he was very busy at that moment, but would
be pleased to meet him at his private Office
in the bank at l 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 OFFICE.
While remaining standing, he inquired If the
cashier, s. N. Wood. YVES in. and was told
that he was ut lunch. He then asked for a
blank check for the purpose of showing how
the robbery was to be perpeJrated. The
check was handed him; he laid 1t upon tho
desk in front of Mr.. Moffatt and said: II will
nave to do this myself" a pulling q large
revolver from his coat placed it at Mr.. Moi
fatt's head, and in q decidedly earnest but
unexcited manner said:
want &21 900. and am going to have it: I
have considered this matter and the chances I
am running and the consequences II I fail and
Am arrested. I am penniless and q desperate
man. and have been driven during the past week
TO that point where I have considered suicide
as the only means Of escape from the poverty
and misery in which I exist. You have mill
ions. I arm determined to have what I have
asked for. II You make q noise. call o man or
ring q bell. I will blow your brains out and then
blow up the building and myself with this bot
tie Of glycerine.
He at that moment pulled the explosive
out Of another pocket and concluded; @Now
take your choice" Moffatt started to argue
with the man, but was stopped with the in
formation that 1t was useless. and that he
had but two minutes to fill out the check be-
fore him for $21, 900 If he desired to live.
MoHfatt, seeing no other alternative, flied
out the check, and was then ordered to take
it to the paying teller and get It cashed. Mr..
Moffatt left his office and, with the m an be-
hind him with the revolver partially con-
cealed under his overcoat, and with the
muzzle almost again.t Moffatt's back.
marched him behind the counter and up to
Paying Teller Keeiey, with the request that
the check
=. BE IMMEDIATELY CAsHED.
They then remarched into Moffatt's ofic %
without attracting the attention OF the If
teen or twenty clerks who were busy at
work within two feet Of. where they passed.
After they had remained in the private Of
6cs thres or four minutes, the robber in
formed MI. Moffatt that they were wasting
time, and that he had better step to the door
and motion his seller to come to him, which
he did. MofRatt instructed him to bring the
money into his office, and as the teller turned
to 70 away the robber told him he wanted
twenty 81, 900 bills ind 81 200 in gold. The
money was brought In inc handed over to
the gentleman who, waiting until, the teller
had reached his desk. baekedont to the front
door, making Mr. Moffatt remain standing In
his door until he had reached tho cnrbsto one.
He then raised his hat and walked around
the cor1er and has NOT yet been heard 2ot.
Mr. Moffatt 10 completely prostrated with the
shock. Detectives are n after the man, but
no trase-ofhamphas been found. A moment
after tho alarm WIZ xfyeh-DyYrMf N. 1koffatt a
nan started rapidly up Sixteenth street. from