Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-04-03

Mr.. Moffatt, President of the First
National Bank, in the Midst of q
Score of Clerks, Securing the Money.
A Denver dispatch of the Goth tells
the following interesting story of crime:
The boldest and most successful bank
robbery ever reported in the West, was
perpetrated upon the First National
Bank &C O'Clock this afternoon. The
robber succeeded in getting away with
$21, 900. The cashier of the bank, a few
minutes after the robbery, gave the fol-
lowing account of the affair: Yesterday
morning, Immediately after the opening
of the bank, well-dressed man with
light mustache and complexion, and OF
medium height. walked into the bank
and asked Assistant Cashier Ross Levin
where he could see Mr.. Motfatt, presi-
dent of the bank. Mr.. Levin in
formed him that he could see Mr..
Mohatt, 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 the stranger until this morning about
10 o'clock, when he entered the railroad
Office and asked to see Mr.. Mofatt on
important business. He was admitted
to his private room and briefly stated
that he had discovered conspiracy
whereby the First National Bank was to
be robbed of large amount OF money
Mr.. Moffatt told the man he was very
busy at that moment, but would be
very pleased to meet him at his private
Office in the bank at o'clock. With
this the man left the building.
A few minutes after the hour appoint
II l., - l. l. Il
into the presidents Office. While re-
naming standing, he inquired if the
cashier, s. N. Wood, was in, and was
told that he was at lunch. He then
asked for blank check tor 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: 81 will have to
do this myself" and pulling large re-
volver from his coat, placed it at Mr..
Moffatt's head and in decidedly earn
est, but unexcited manner, said: 81
want $21 900 and am going to have it;
I have considered this matter and
the chances am running, and the con-
sequences if fail and am arrested. I
am penniless and a desperate man, and
to that point where / have considered
suicide as the only means of escape
from the poverty and misery in which I
exist. You have millions. [ am deter
mined to have what / have asked for.
If you make noise, call man. or ring
q bell, will blow your brains out, and
then blow up the building and myself
with this bottle of glycerine (which he
at that moment pulled out of another
pocKet). Now take your choice"
Moffatt started to argue with the man,
but was stopped with the information
that it was useless and that he had but
two minutes in which to fill out the
cneck before him for $21 900 if he de-
sired to live. Mofatt, seeing no other
alternative, filed out the check and
was then ordered to take it to the pay
ing teller and get it cashed. Mr..
Moffatt left the Office and with the man
behind him with the revolver partially
concealed under his overcoat, ard with
the muZzle almost against Moffatt's back.
marched him behind the counter and
up to Paving Teller Kelley, with the
request that the check be immediately
cashed. They then re-marched into
Moffatt's Office without attracting the at
tention of the fifteen or twenty clerks,
who were busy at work within two feet
of where they passed.
After they had remained in the pri-
vate Office three or four minutes, the
robber informed Mr.. Mof1att that thew
were wasting time, and that he had bet
ter step to the door and motion his
teller to come to him, which he did.
Moffatt instructed him to bring the
money into his Office, and as the teller
turned to go away the robber told him
he wanted twenty ST. ,000bills, and a thou
sand dollars in gold. The money was
brought in and handed over to the
gentleman, who for few brief mo-
ments had owned the bank Waiting
until the teller had reached his desk. he
backed out to the front door. making
Mr.. Mofatt remain standing in his door
until he had reached the curbstone.
He then raised his hat and walked
around the corner and has not yet been
heard of. Mr.. Moffatt is completely
Frustrated with the shock. Detectives
are out after the man, but no trace of
him has been found.
The man who committed the robbery
introduced himself to President Moffatt
as g. j. Wells. The name, however, is
probably assumed. A moment after the
alarm was given by Mr.. Moffatt man
started rapidly up Sixteenth Street
and several officers. He was fol-
lowed to room IA, Hallock & Howard
Block, where he and two COM
panions were arrested and taken to the
station house. Mr.. Moffatt arrived at
police headquarters about O'Clock, and
after glance at the prisoner, said he
was not the man. and he was immedi-
ately released. The prisoner proved to
be well-known business man by the
name of Clark. The chief of police has
offered reward of $3.50 for the arrest
of the robber.