Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-03
The First National Bank OF
Denver Loses $4,000
i'm Cool Cash.
THE ROBBER's BOLDNEss.
a Well-Dressed Stranger Calls
Twice on the Cashier
of the Bank.
Inc LAYS BARE A PLOT.

to be RObbed-He Then AniOrWs lin
that He (the Strangely Might as
Well Perform the Deed Himself-He
then Gees Ahead-A Marvel of Des-
perate Goodness.
DENVER, March 29.-[Special to Tit
Miner. 1-One OF the most daring robberies
known in history occurred to-day here
President Moffatt OF the First National,
while in his private office, was accosted by
q young nal, who gave the name OF CD,
| Wells, who said his business was OF a pri'
yate nature. Moffatt could not see him
then, but made an appointment to meet
him to-day at / O'Clock at the bank.
Wells was promptly on hand, and when
inside oil Moffatt's office he pulled out a
revolver from his pocket, saying: Il am
desperate this morning; was going to com
init suicide, but on second thought con
cluded that the First National had plenty
of money, and would nelp me out OF my
desperate difficulties"
He then told the president to fill out a
check for t%wenty-one thousand dollars,
which was done, when he asked Mofatt to
20 to the teller and get it cashed, all
the time covering him with a revolver.
The teller asked Moffat what denomina.
ton OF bills he wanted, when the robber
said one thousand in gold and the balance
in large bills. This was complied with.
The robber before leaving said to Moffatt,
Make an cutlery, and I will blow up the
building and all OF us with this bottle OF
nitro-glycerine.
When the robber had gone Moffatt called
to the clerk, saying: THAT man bunkoed
me; follow him." ban
Twenty-Five hundred dollas reward is
offered. The robber is still at large.
PARTICULARS OF THE CRIME.
DENVER, March 1e.-The boldest and
most successful bank robbery ever re.
ported in the West vas perpetrated upon
the First National Bank of Denver, at 2
| o'clock, this afternoon, by which the rob-
Der succeeded in getting away with $21,'
| 600. The cashier OF the bank, in an inter
/ view with the Associated Press agent, 9
few minutes after the robbery, gave the fol
lowing account of the affair:
Yesterday morning, imm, diately ate,
the opening of the bank, a well-dressed
man with a light mustache and complex
ion, and of medium hight, walked into the
bank and asked Cashier Ross Levin, where
he could see Mr.. Moffatt, who is also
president of the Denver & Rio Grande
railway. He was told that he might find
him at the presidents Office in the Chees.
man block.
Nothing more wal seen or heard of the
stranger until this morning., at about IL
O'Clock, when he entered the railway office
and asked to gee Mr.. Moffatt on important
business. !
HE WAS ADMITTED
to his private oom and briefly stated that
he had discovered q conspiracy, whereby
the First National Bank was to be robbed
OF a large amount OF money. Mr.. Moffatt
told him he was very busy at that moment,
but would be pleased to meet him at his
private office in the bank at 1 O'Clock. With
this the man left the building.
A few minutes after the hour appointed
the man called at the bank and was
shown into the presidents Office. While
remaining standing, he inquired if tie
cashier 8. N. Wood was in, and was told
that he was at lunch. He then asked for
q blank check for the purpose of showing
how the robbery was to be perpetrated.
The check was handed him. He laid it
upon the desk in front of Mr.. Moffatt, and
said:
II will have to do this myself" and
PULLING A LARGE REVOLVER FROM HIS
COAT,
placed it at Mr.. Moffatt's head, and in de.
cidedly earnest, but u~nexcited manner,
said: Il want $4,000 and am going to
have it. I have considered this matter and
the chances ] am running and the conse-
quences. II I fail and am arrested, l am
penniless and a desperate man, and have
been driven during the past week to that
point, where l have considt red suicide
as the only means of escape from
the poverty and misery in which l exist,
o have millions, and l ain determined to
what l have asked for or your Lille,
Ii you make a noise, call a man, or ring q
bell, L will blow your brains out, and then
blow up the building and myself with this
bottle OF glycerine (which he at hat
moment pulled out OF another pocket).
NOW, TAKE YOUR CHOICE"
Moffat started to argue with the man,
but was stopped with the Information that
it was useless, and that he had but two
i'll which to fill out the check he.
Tore him for $21 900, il he desired to live. |
Mofat seeing no other alternative filled |
put the che'k and WAS then ordered to |
AXE it to the paying teller and getit cashed.
Mofat left his Office and with the |
a behind hitp and with the revolver |
concealed under his overcoat. |
with the muzzle almost against Moi.
ats back, marched him behind the coup-
;er and up to paying teller Kelley, with the
'equest that it be Immediately cashed.
hey then remarched into Moffatt's Office
attracting the attention Of one of
1t work within two feet OF where they
,assed.
After they had remained
IN THE PRIVATE OFFICE
hree or four minutes, the robber informed
ir. Moffatt that they were wasting time
nd that he bad better step to the door
nj motion his teller to come to him
'hich he did. Moffatt instructed him to
ring the money iuto his office, and as the
eIIer turned to 90 away the robber told
im that he wanted twenty 81, 900 bills.
a thousand in golt.
TIT money was brought in and handed
yer to the gentleman who, for a few brief
,oments, had owned the bank, and wait.
'g until the teller ad reached his desk, he
acked out to the front door, making Mr..
loffat remain standing in his door until he
ad reached the curbstone, then he raised
is hat and walked around the corner and
as not vet been heard of.
Mr.. Moffatt is completely FRUSTRATED
18th the shock. Detectives are out after
he man but with no trace of him, go far. (,
AN ARREsT-THE WRONG MAN. 6
DENVER, Col, March 29.-The mar Who 7
the robbery at the First Ma. !
this afternoon, introduced himself ,
, President Moffatt as c. T.. Wells. The ]
anne, however, was probably assumed
A nsoment after the alarm was given Nv :
IT. Moffatt o man started rapidly nm s;r. :
zenith from the bank, followed by a cro-d =