New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-30
MARK SHINBORN ARRESTED.
THE NOTORIOUS BANK ROBBER CAPT
URED IN THIS CITY.

HIS EXTRAORDINARY CAREER-BuRGLARrEs By
WHICH FORTUNES WERE oBTAINED-Es-
CAPEs FROM PRIsoN-IIFE IN BEL
GUM AS A MILLIONAIRE WITH
THE TITLE OF COUNT
Mark shinborn. whom Robert Plnkerton
speaks Of as the most remarkable bank burglar
ever known in police history. was arrested on
Friday morning, at Seventh-ave. and Thirty
ifth-st.. by Pinkerton detectives. under the
charge OF Detective Butler. on a charge OF
robbing the First National Bank. Of Middle
burg n. Y. on April 16 last. Shinborns career
has been In many respects extraordinary and
his life offers a striking instance Of human
perversity In devoting exceptional skill, inge-
nuity and cleverness to criminal uses
Shinborn. who Is a man OF good education
came to the United States in 1860. fugitive
from Germany. On his arrival In this city he
made his home at the principal hotels. at that
time, In Broadway. between Canal and Hous-
ton SITS. and quickly acquired notoricty as an
inveterate gambler. 1t was not long before
he became connected with some OF the notori-
Gus criminals who frequented the sporting re-
sorts In that part of the city. Most Of these
crooks" gained wide notcriety as bank burg
lars. but. with the exception OF one or two. are
now either dead or in prison in this country or
In Europe Shnborn chose his regular asso-
cates in crime George Bliss and Fairy Nc
Gure and occasionally. they required an
other man, they would make selection from
this party OF criminals. Shinborn had as
confidential agent and go-between bright
young Englishman, who had arrived in New
York years previous. and taken an in
terest In some of the gambling houses. and
whose acquaintance Shinborn had made at one
OF these houses. He afterward used this Eng
lishman as n go-between in negotiating back
the securities stolen in the various bank rob-
berries he was connected with In doing this
Shinborn made a fortune for himself. IA we'll
as his confidential agent, and when the former
was forced to fee from the United States In
1869 both he and his agent were very wealthy.
In order 70 perfect his knowledge OF the
mechanism Of combination locks and the work
ing OF safes. Shinborn for some time took en-
ploymcnt under an assumed name. In the
works Of the Lilly Safe Company. In 1865 the
Lilly safes and vaults were considered among
the best and most secure made. and had an ex
tcnsive sale throughout the United States. The
combinations made at that time were not as
perfect as they are to-day. and Shinborn Dis
covered that n person with acute hearing by
putting hts ear to the safe and turning the
dial. could discover at what numbers the tum-
blers dropped into place He also discovered
that by knocking of the hinges OF the ordinary
Lilly safe. and using n powerful Jimmy, the
door could easily be pried Of. 1t was by the
knowledge which he gained AT that time. and
through the work ~ himself and his associates.
that the Lilly safe as a source of protection
was eventually driven out Of the market. II
was said at this time that Shinborn could
study out n combination II he had time 10
do IL.
LIVING At EASE ~ BELGIUM.
When shinborn fed to Belgium In 1853 he Il
said 20 have taken with him no less than mill
ion dollars as the result ~ exploits. When
America grew tco hot 70 hold him he selected
Belgium as his place Il refuge. because no treaty
Of extradition existed with that country. After
living quietly retired In Brussels for few years
he purchased estate and an interest I'm a large
silk MILL and also the tife u Count" The
news reached this country that he was living
Count" Shinborn IN Belgium. After Shinbon
had taken up his residence IN Belgium he dls
continued his connection with all his previous
criminal associates. and In fact. outside of hts
young English confidential agent. he allowed
none Of his old associates to know where he had
gone. 1t was only by accident In later years that
one Of them ran across him and brought the
being titled. residing in belgium and moving in
good society. For fifteen years Shinborn Is sup
posed to have led n respectable nfe. It is said
that he operated heavily on the Bourse and also
gsmbled freely. and in this way lost his fortune
and business Having no other means Of making
money easily ~ went back into the bank and
safe burglary line again. with associate
named Charles Bullard. he broke into the Pro-
Win al IA of I.ig N
consequence Of leaving his boots in the entrance
way where they were found By a policeman. he
was caught and sentenced 20 five years i'm
prisonmcnt. HIS companion. Buard. got ten
years and died In prison. Upon Shinborn's rc
lease he came to this country and resumed his
old safc-breakIng career.
SOME NOTABLE CRIMINAL EXPLOITS.
Among the banks robbed by shinborn from
1860 TO 1869 was the Walpole Savings Bank. In
Walpolc. ~ H. In April lS65. and for that rob
berry he was arrested and sentenced 10 ten years
imprisonment. Soon after his conviction he cf-
fected his escape in very bold manner. In the
daytime from the State Prison at Concord. y. II.
He was not apprehcndcd again until 1868, when
with others he attempted TO rob the St Adams
Bank at ST. Adams VI The burglars were sur
prised by the watchman. and fled. Shinborn
boarded a train at the Vermont Central Railroad
station and was recognized by one OF the jury
men who had convicted him for the Walrole rob
berry. He was captured and sent back To JAIL
but after serving nine months of his sentence ne
again escaped. with. II Is thought official assist
ancc.
In 1867 he engaged In the robbery OF the vault
Of the Lchigh and Wilkesbarrc Coal Company. AT
Whitehaven. lr some way he studied out the
combination OF the vault. and such was his
daring that twice ne entered the vault. and. be
cause there was not sufficient money to satisfy
his cupidity. left 1t without taking anything
more than his bare expenses and the cost Of his
railway ticket He robbed the vault however,
upon a third occasion. and took from II over S4o-
600 Other depredations committed by him were
the theft from "A bank at Cadiz Ohio. Of about
$50 00O and the great robbery of the Ocean Bank
In this city from which. II was asserted he
stole in money and securities upward of $1,000
A reward of $50. 900 was offered for the return OF