The Portland daily press., 1889-03-30
WITH A REVOLVER AT HIS HEAD.
President Moffatt Gives a Robber
Twenty-one Thousand Dollars.
The First National Bank OF Denver
Loses the Money.
BY Robbery Unparalleled In the An
nails OF Western Crime.

DENVER, Col, March 2o.-The boldest and
most successful bank robbery ever reported
In the west was perpetrated upon the First
National Bank az O'Clock this afternoon.
the robber getting away with $4,000 The
cashiers account says: Yesterday morn
ing Immediately after opening, a well dressed
man with light moustache and complexion.
OF medium height, walked into the bank and
asked Assistant Cashier Ross levin whero
he could see Mr.. Mofatt, the President OF
the bank. Mr.. Levin informed him he
could see Mr. Moffatt, who Is also president
OF the Denver & Rio Grande Railway. at the
presidents office in Cheesman Block. Moth
Ing more was seen OF heard Of the stranger
until this morning at about ten. when he en-
.ered the railway Ofhce, and asked 20 SEQ
Mr.. Molatt on Important business He WAS
admitted to his private room and briefly stated
tnaL ne nad discovered aconsplracy whereby
the First National Bank was 10 be robbed n
large amount OF money. Mr. Moffatt told
t1.s sne man ne was very busy at that moment
put would be pleased TO meet him az bIs
private once In the bank, at one O'clock.
WIN this the man left the building and a
lew minutes after the hour appointed called
az tne bank He was shown into the presi-
dents office. While remaining standIng
he inquired II Cashier S. N. Wood was h,
and was told he was at lunch. He asked
for blank check for the purpose Of Showing
how the robbery was 10 be perpetratsd. al
cneck was handed him and he laid Il upon
the desk In front Of Mr.. M0ifat and said II
will have to do this myself" Pulling a large
revolver from his coat he placed it at Moi
fatts head, and In a decidedly earnest but
unexcited manner said II want S21, 900 and
am going to haYe IT.; have considered the
matter and the chances l am running
If fail and am arrested.
am penniless and desperate, and have been
driven during the past week to a point where
nave considered suicide as the only means
Of escape from the poverty and misery In
determined to have what / ask for. If YOU
make a noise, call a man or ring a bell, will
Dlow your brains out and blow up the build
ing Mg and myself with this bottle Of glycerine.
lake your choice.
Mr.. Moffatt started to argue with the
man, but was stopped with the information
tnat u was useless. He had but two min
utes In which TO ill out the check 70. s2i.-
Wv ne desired to live. Mr.. Moffatt hlled
1Ss pSs .ne Sneck ana was ordered to take i 70
sne paying teller and get 1t cashed. Mr.
Monatt left the Office and the man, follow
Ing with the revolver partially Concealed IN
DER MS 0yercoat with the muzzle almost
against Monatt's back. marched him behind
the counter and up TO Paying Teller KeelV
with the the request that the check be i'm
mediately eashed. Then they marched back
into Mr.. noffatt's office without Attracting
the attention Of the 10 or 20 clerks busy with
In two feet OF where they passed. After
they had remained In the private Office three
OF four minutes the robber informed Mr
Moffatt that he was wasting time and had
better step to the door and motion the teller
70 come, which he did. MOffatt instructed
MIN TO bring the money into the Office. The
robber told him he wanted twenty $1,000 bills
and a thousand dollars In gold. The money
was brought In and handed over 10 the rob
ber. Waiting until the teller had reached
his desk, he backed out 10 the front door,
making Maffatt remain standing In the door
until he reached the curb stone. he raised
his hat, walked around the corner and has
not yet been heard from"