Evening journal., 1889-03-30
"HELD UP" BY ONE MAN.
Bold Daylight Robbery OF a
Bank in Denver.
HOW THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED


The Robber CooIiy Compels the President
to Make Ont a Check for @eI, 900, Gets
II cashed and Walks Away Before tho
Clerks Knew Anything About IL.
DENVER, March 80. "A robher entered the
First National bank here at 1880 yesterday
afternoon, held up the officers and robbed the
institution Of S2l goo. The cashier gives the
following account Of the robbery:
Thursday morning, just after the bank
opened, well dressed man with light nous
tache and complexion and Of medium height,
walked into the bank and asked Assistant
Cashier Ross levin where he could zee Mr..
Moifatt, president OF the bank Mr.. levin in
formed him that he could see Moifatt who is
also president Of the Denver and Rio Grande
railroad, at the presidents office in the Cheese
man block. Nothing more was seen or heard
Of the stranger until Friday morning about
10 O'clock when he entered the railroad office
and asked to see Mr.. Moffatt on important
business.
He was admitted to Mr.. Moffatt's private
cred a conspiracy whereby the First National
bank was to be robbed Of large amount Of
money Mr. Moffatt told the man that he
was very busy at that moment but would be
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 appointed be called at the baak and
was shown into the presidents ofilce While
remaining standing he inquired if the cashier.
$. N. Wood, was IN, ami was told that he
was at lunch. He then asked for blank
check for the purpose of showing how the
robbery was to be perpetrated The check
was handed to him. He laid it upon the
desk in front OF Mr.. Molfatt and said: i will
have to do this myself;' and pulling a large
revolver from his coat, placed it at Mr.
Moifaits head and in decidedly earnest but
unexctel manner said: want sci 900 and
am going TO have it. l have considered this
matter and the chances / am running and
the consequences if / fail and am arrested.
! am penniless, and a desperate man. and
have been drieen during the past week to
that point where have considered suicide as
the only means Of escape from the poverty
and misery in which | exist. You have
millions. / am determined to have what
have asked for. If you make noise, call
man, or ring a bell, / will blow your brains
out and then blow up the building and my
self with this bottle Of nitro glycerine pull
ing bottle from his pocket Nsw take
your choice
Mr.. 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 check
before him for sci 900 if he desired to live
! Mr.. Moifatt seeing no alternative, filled ont
the check, and was then ordered to take it 20
the paying teller and get it cashed. Mr..
Mofatt left his office, and the man behind
him with the revolver partially concealed
under his overcOat and the muzz almost
against Moffat's back, marched the president L
behind the counter and up to Paying Teller
Kelley with the request that the check be
Immediately cashed. They then remarched
into Moffatt's Office without attracting the
attention of the fifteen or twenty clerks who
were busy at work within two feet of where
they passed. After they had remained in
the private Office three or four minutes the
robber informed Mr. Moffatt that they were
wasting time and that he had better step TO
the door and motion the teller to come to
him, which he did. Moffatt ordered him to
bring the money into his office and, as the
teller turned 70 go away, the robber told him
be wanted twenty 81 900 bills and 81 900 in
gold. The money was brought In and hand
ed to the robber, who backed ont Of the front
door, raising his hat, as he reached the curb
stone. He then walked around the corner
and disappeared.
The detectives have as yet been unable to
find any trace of the man. Mir. Moffatt is
prostrated with the shock.
Tho rohbpr introduced hfuae.lf ~ NJ. nv
att as c. J. Wells. After the aarm was given
a man who had been seen walking rapidly
from the vicinity Of the bank up Sixteenth
street was followed to a room in the Hallocls
g. Howard block, where he was arrested with
two companions, but on seeing him Mr. Moff.
att said he was not the robber, and it was
soon learned that the prisoner was well
known business man named Clark He and
his companions were released. A reward o.
$500 has been offered by the police for the
arrest of the robber.