The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-07-25
4 BuReLAR's STORY.

4 BUR6LAR'S STORY.
Sequel to the Plundering Of the
Ocean Bank.
Among the criminals recently re-
leased from the Ohio Pen under the
"Good Time" law was George Jack
son a noted burglar, who had COM
pleted an eight-year term.
Jackson had operated with some
Of the most famous and successful
crooks, especially with those who
make a specially of bank robbery.
He was in the city the other day,
looking about for some legitimate
employment, as he claims he has
had enough of criminals career.
While here he told a strange story
about the robbery of the Ocean
Bank, of New York, one of the most
celebrated in criminal records. The
revelations were called forth by the
recent arrest of George Bliss for the
$50, 900 jewelry robbery at Glovers-
vile, New York. Jackson formerly
worked" with Bliss, Mark Shin
burn and other experts. In 1869
the Ocean Bank, which was on the
corner of Fulton and Greenwich
streets, in New York, was robbed of
over 81 100000 in cash and nego-
table securities. The crooks con-
cerned in the big robbery were Mark
Shinburn, Jimmy Hope, Ned Lyons,
George Bliss, Adam Worth and
Isaac Marsh. None of them were
brought to trial for the affair, nor
was any of the swag ever recovered
as far as known. The robbery has
always been considered as "on the
square," but Jackson's story throws
a new light upon it. "The Ocean
Bank" said Jackson, "was an old
established concern. Its depositors
we're principally wholesale butchers,
fish and oyster men. The officers
had gutted the supposed well-flled
vaults, and the time was fast ap-
preaching when discovery seemed
inevitable. In some way they be-
came acquainted with Bliss, to whom
they made overtures to burglarize
the bank. He consented for a good
round sum to make a gang and
carry out the scheme. The basement
beneath the bank was occupied as a
brokers' Office by an old ex-soldier,
who was above suspicion. From
him they rented a portion of the
room ostensibly as an exchange. A
partition was then erected in such a
manner as to make new apartment
directly under the room of the bank
president. Tools were brought, and
behind this partition the burglars
went to work. One Saturday even
ing, after everybody about the bank
had gone, the cracksmen began to
cut through the stone floor of the
bank. Furnished with the combi-
nation of the outer vault door it
was an easy matter with wedges,
powder, six-feet sectional jimmies,
and by hydraulic power to force the
inner door. Once in the vault they
made quick work of the burglar
safes, two in number. Nothing was
left undone to make the job a sue
cess. Strips of rubber were placed
over the windows and doors, and
all the crevices were covered so as
to keep the smell of powder from
escaping and the noise from being
heard. The colored janitor, whose
duty it was to look around every
hour, was evidently having his day
off, practice frequently INDUCED
in and winked at by the officials
from the force of very peculiar cir
cumstances. Government bonds
were in great demand at that time
as investments. Boxes containing
nearly 81 100000 in bonds were in
the vaults; at least the tin boxes
were supposed to contain that
amount. They were on the floor,
and it was not necessary to break
into the safes, but, to completely
SCARE the bank officers, both were
cracked. Between $4,000 and $780,
600 in gold and silver was left on
the bank, it being afterward sup
posed that the coin was too heavy
for the burglars to carry away. The
robbery was discovered the follow
ing Monday morning. The bank
officers squealed for big amount,
although they really lost only what
they paid the burglars. The bank
struggled on for few months and
then closed its doors. There you
have true story. Perhaps it may
not please Bliss, but it's true all the
| same. ."-Cincinnati Enquirer.
A Brides Fine Del1cacy.
| ~,hsoh ho q