The morning call., 1894-10-20
BY DIVINE ORDER.
Draft Presented by a
Crank
BACKED BY A REVOLVER
Upon the Clinton Place Bank in
New York.
TOOK A SHOT AT THE CASHIER.
After Which He Was Escorted to
the Police Station and
Locked Up.

NEW YORK, Oct. ia crank entered
the Clinton Place Bank this afternoon
and demanded $1,000 from Paying Teller
Hind. The teller told the crank to wait.
As Hind turned away the crank fired
revolver point blank at him and the bullet
flew by Kinds head. burying itself in an
adjoining woodwork. The crank was
seized and turned over TO the police. The
bank officials three days ago received
postal card from man saying he would
call in few days for $1,000. For the past
four days the cashier of the Astor Place
Bank has been receiving threatening let
ters from a man who signed himself
"Charles Freeman" The letters de-
manded that the bank give the writer
$1,000 or the cashier would be killed.
The first of these letters was received
last Tuesday. In fact the prisoner had
delivered it in person. BE had walked in
and left it at the window without saying
a word. 1t was as follows:
To the Cashier OF the Astor Pldcs Bank:
This certifies that I shall call upon you, the
cashier Of the Astor Place Bank, tomorrow
and will present a note for $1,000 ana demand
from you or whoever shall be at the window of
the cashier, and shall force them, under penalty
of being shot instantly, without moments no.
l.
tiiy you of your danger do not want TO Kill
any man without first giving him warning;
then il be does not heed the warning his life
shall! pay the cost. and. If required, 1 would
take 1000 lives in order to fulfill the plan that
God has laid out for me. For further informa-
tion call upon the editor OF the World. Very
truly yours. CHARLES FREEMAN.
God Almighty, The protector. In order not
to cause any panic against the deposltors 1
shall only draw $1,000 at one bank. which can
easily be made good by the bank.
Inspector Mclaughlin was Informed
and he placed Detective Freer at the bank
to watch for this curious individual. On
Wednesday the man did not put in an ap-
pearance, but the following postal card
was sent:
Owing to the lack of arms that need to
make my word good have postponed my plans
until to. morrow. CHARLES FREEMAN.
The detective continued his wait On
| Thursday this card was sent:
Mu Dear SIR: In order TO give you the chance
! OF considering for your own good l will call to-
| morrow without fail. Please have the money
all counted out and ready for me. Remember
| your fate depends upon it or that of the paying
| teller. Very truly yours,
CHARLES FREEMAN.
! To-day he presented this draft:
| Wednesday, October 16, Astor Place Bank.
After date promise to pay to the order Of God
| Almighty the sum of $1,000 when presented by
Charles Freeman. Penalty, il not forfeited,
| death.
On the back Of the draft the following
| inscription was written:
Notice-The draft of $1,000 will be all that I
| Will claim from one bank.
| Notice. am authorized by God TO draw
upon all banks for whatever amount see lit,
| aud the penalty 10 refuse me that | have the
right TO shoot the person dead that refuses,
and by the power of GOD no man can stay my
| hand.
This draft. along with the letters.lwas
| taken with the prisoner to the Jefferson
| Market Police Court, where Justice Voor-
hees is acting. Besides the revolver there
was found on him bottle Of strong solu-
ton of carbo,c acid and a few pawn
tickets for articles of small value.
When questioned by the Judge as to his
conduct, he answered: Il acted under
the instructions of God"
How did you receive your instruc-
tions?'
"My instructions were inspirations and
came from God through my heart"
'Do you think you are sane?" asked
Judge VOORHEES,.
81 think my mind is superior to any in
this room," he murmured. He was taken
to Bellevue for examination.