The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-21
AN oLD-TlME ROBBERY.
How Bank Was Cleaned Out in Pitts
burgh Seventy-Three Years Ago.

AN OlD-TlME ROBBERY.
How Bank Was Cleaned Out in Pitts.
burgh Seventy-Three Years Ago.
A local journal in writing up the
banks of Pittsburgh recently overlooked
very interesting point-the first bank
robbery, that of the Farmers and Me-
chanics' Bank in 1916.
Mr. Morgan Neville, member of the
notable Neville family that figured so
prominently in the early history Of
Pittsburgh, was cashier of the institu-
ton. The bank was located on the first
floor of two-story building on the
corner of Third avenue and Hay Scales
alley. This latter thoroughfare was
abandoned long ago. 1t ran from Third
to Fourth avenues, and the Iron City
National Bank occupies portion of it's
location.
In 1916 there came to Pittsburgh two
men named Plumarth and Lemon. Plu-
marth was an educated fellow, very
dashing and stylish, and soon succeeded
in obtaining the entree to Pittsburgh's
best society.
These two men cOncOcted a scheme to
rob the Farmers and Mechanics Bank.
In those days matters were not con-
Quoted as carefully about banks as they
are at present. The keys of the bank
were left lying around loose. Those of
this particular bank were not taken out
OF the door from morning until night.
Lemon succeeded in getting into the
good graces of woman who worked
about the bank and who lived in the
dwelling part of the building. He per-
suaded her to purloin the keys and he
took an impression of them and had
duplicates made.
This part of their plan accomplished
Plumarth and Lemon went up to the
village of Elizabeth and had skiff
made with false bottom in it. Thev
brought it down to Pittsburgh and Sc
cured it to a post at the foot of Ferry
street, making it secure with lock and
chain.
The two men and women waited until
dark and rainy night, when they drove
a wagon with the wheels muffled to the
rear of the bank building. An entrance
was easily effected by means of the
duplicate keys. The robbers secured
all the valuables in the bank, consist
ing OF $4,000 in cash and many metals
and heirlooms of the Neville family,
presented by General Neville to his son
Morgan. The plumber was taken out
by the rear way, over a high fence, and
placed in the wagon, driven to the river
and placed in the false bottom of the
skiff. The boat was rowed down the
Ohio river, and in the hills in the
vicinity of Beaver the treasure was
hidden.
1t can well be imagined the commotion
bank robbery would create in those
days. Two months passed without any
clew to the robbers having been dis
covered. Plumarth and Lemon still
moved around as usual, being enter
tanned by the best people in the town.
The woman, however, did not seem to
get along well with the men, and at
last, after quarreling with Lemon, gave
away the secret. Lemon escaped, but
Plumarth was arrested.
The prisoner was confined in the old
jail on Jail alley, now Decatur street.
He retained John Henry Hopkins as his
attorney. Mr.. Hopkins afterward be-
came an Episcopal minister. and was
rector of the old Trinity church on
Sixth avenue, and later on in life was
first bishop of Vermont. Against Mr..
Hopkins advice Plumarth made pub
lie confession of the robbery on the
steps in front of the old court house on
Market street. He laid in jail for some
months, when one night he broke out
and was never heard from. 1t was
stated at the time that he was aided in
his escape by some of his old comrades.
While in jail Plumarth told Lazarus
Stewart, who was sheriff of Allegheny
County at that time, where he had hid
den the treasure. The sheriff, with his
deputy, took the prisoner down the
river, to point out the place. 1t was
found near the mouth of Raccoon creek,
below Beaver. The money was found
intact, except $3.50, which the men had
used. The relics belonging to Morgan
Neville were found carefully wrapped
up in buckskin bag and all safe.
This was the first bank robbery in
Pittsburgh, and probably the first in
the State. The Farmers and Mechanics
Bank never opened it's doors again.
Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette.