The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-30
KING OF BANK ROBBERS.
UNPARALLELEo AUDAcITY NETS
S2I,Coo IN CASH.

The PRESIDENT of a Denver Institution
Dances to the Robbers Tune at the
Point of a Revolver with Score of
Clerks Looking on without Know
ing What Was Going On.
DENVER, Col, March 29.-The boldest
and most successful bank robbery ever re-
ported in the west was perpetrated upon the
First National Bank at o'clock this after
noon. The robber succeeded In getting
away with $1,000, The cashier Of the
bank in an interview With an Associated
Press reporter few minutes after
the robbery gave tho following account of
the affair; Yesterday morning Immediately
after the opening Of the bank well dressed
man with light mustache and complexion,
and OF medium hight. walked into the bank
and asked Assistant Cashier Ross Le win
where he could soc Mr.. Moffatt, the presi
dent of the bank Mr.. L,win informed
him that he could see Mr.. Moffatt, who is
also president of the Denver and Rio Granis
railway, at the presidents Office in the
Cheesman block.
CALLED AT THE oTFICE.
Nothing more was seen or heard Of the
strangerss until this morning about 10
ocl ck, when be entered the railway offices
and asked to see Mr.. Moffatt Immediately.
He was admitted to his private room. and
briefly stated that he had discovered a con-
spi acy whereby the First National
Bank was to be robbed of
large amount of money. Mr.. Mof-
fatt told the man that he was very
busy at the moment but would be pleased
to see hi at his private office in the bank
at 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 standi & he inquired il Cashier
s. N. Wood was III, and was told that he
was at lu ch.
STARTLING STATEMENT.
He then asked for blank check for the
purpose of showing how the robbery was
10 be perpeuated. A check wa handed
him, he laid 1t upon the desk in front OF
MIR. Moffatt, and sid; 81 will have TO do
this myself" and pulling large revolver
from his coat placed it at Mr.. Mofatt's
head, and in a decidedly earnest but un-
excited manner, said: 81 want So 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 a penniless and desperate
man, and have been driven 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 l am dete rmined to
have what have asked for. If you make
n moi o, call man, or ring 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.p
MoFFATT oBEYs ORDERS.
Mr.. Moffatt started to argue with the
man, but was stopped with the information
that IL was useless, and that he had but two
minutes in which TO Till out the check be-
fore him for S21, 900 II be desired to live.
Mr.. Moffatt, seeing no other alternative,
filed out the check, and was then ordered
to to take it 10 the paying teller and get it
cashed. Mr.. Moffatt left his Office with
the man behind him with the revolver
partially concealed un Ter his overcoat, and
with the muzzle almost against Mr.. Mof-
fatts back the robber marched him behind
the counter, and up to Paying Teller Keely
with requ sst that the check be immedi-
ately cashed.
SCORE OF CLERKS UNDIsTURBED.
They then remarched into Mr.. Moffatt's
office without attracting the attention of
the fifteen or twenty clerks, who were busy
at work within two feet of where tnev
passed After they had remained in the
private office three or ur minutes the
robber Informed Mr.. Moffatt that they
WtFb WhBOliR bltlt, anu JHhb us uhu UbDtcT
step TO the door aud motion his teller to
come TO him, which he did. Mr.. Moffat
instructed him to bring the money into his
office, d as tue teller turned to e way
he robber told him he wanted 81 900 bills
to the number Of twenty and 81 900 in & Id.
The money was brought In and ha ided
over TO the gentleman who for q few brief
moments had owned the bank.
THE RETREAT
He waited until the teller had reached his
desk and then backed TO the front door,
making Mr.. Moffatt remain standing in his
door until he reached the curb tone. He
then raised his hat aud walked around the
corner
THE RoBBER PURSUED.
The man who committed the robbery at
the First National bank this afternoon in
troduced himself TO President Molfatt as G.
j. Wells. The name. however, is probably
assumed. A moment after the alarm
was given by Mr.. Moffatt the
man started rapidly up Sixth street
from the bank followed by crowd
and several office s. He was followed
TO room Ia, Hailock &c Howard block,
where he, it was supposed, and two COM
panions we're arrested and taken to the
station house. Mr.. Moffatt arrived at police
headquarters about 4 o'clock, and after n
glance at the prisoner said he was not the
nan, nd he was Immediately released
The prisoner proved to be a well
business man by the name of Clark. The
S.hf oF has oF