The morning times., 1896-02-23
famous CRIME RECALLED
Yesterday the Anniversary of
the COIfax Bond Robbery.
CREDIT MOBILIER SCANDALS
Vice President Room Was Looted
of SI50,OO0 in Securities-Strange
and Ugly RumOrs That the Robbery
Gave Rise To-How the Fortune
Was Recoy yered.

Yesterday was the anniversary of more
Than one famous event. 1t was the twenty
third anniversary OF the Colfax robbery"
This was the largest robbery in the history
OF crime In the District OF Columbia.
Bonds to the face value OF S125,000 were
stolen, and if the premiums on them be
taken into account, the amount OF the theft
would reach S15O,O00.
The victim OF the robbery was the Vice
President of the United States. The bonds
were recovered next day by Detective Nc
Dewitt The thief. Charlie Holt, one OF
the best-known hotel sneaks of the time,
was not prosecuted, at the suggestion OF the
Vice President.
Because of the amount stolen, the promi-
nence of the victim, the prompt recovery or
the plunder. the notoriety of the offender
and the refusal 10 prosecute, itwas the most
momentous theft ever known 10 have Oc-
Cured in This city, and one OF the most
celebrated criminal cases in the country.
Then aside from it's criminal significance,
Its political significance was great. II oc-
CURED at the time when the Credit Mobiler
scandal was uppcrmost in the minds OF the
people and the columns OF the press. The
booty consisted of bonds. 1t was charged
IN many quarters that the robbery was
inspired to discover what kind Of bonds
Vice President ColfaX had, and particu-
larly to find whether be had any Credit
MODilier bonds.
CAUSED LOTS OF TALK.
This charge was not denied. and the
Character Of the bonds stolen and recov-
cred was never disclosed by the police
authorities.
II was charged that the refusal of the
Vice President to prosecute the thief was
because IL the case came into court The
character Of the bonds would be made
public.
Representatives of some OF the great
papers of the country are said 10 have
Offered big sums OF money for list of
the bonds, but the secret was locked in the
memory Of three men Detective NcDevitt,
Chief Of Police Richards ard a local re-
porter, who. in obedience 20 the request of
the authorities, never turned into his paper
the list of bonds.
All this seemed suspicious and was taken
advantage Of lay the people who were charg-
ing C0lfax with being Influenced" 10y the
Credit Mobelier ring.
il was the year of the epizootic epidemic
horse in the fire department was in hos
pital and the department could not turn Il
wheel. In this extremity, the fire com
missioners of the District OF Columbia APP
Piled TO the paid and volunteer fire depart
mcnts OF Alexandria for the loan of sew
er8l hand reels and engines. When the
Washington horses were able 10 go back
into the traces the fire commissioners re-
turned the Alexandria paraphernalia with
resolutions OF thanks.
Fire Commissioner McDevitt was as
signed the duty of presenting the resolu-
tons The firemen OF Alexandria, in
conformity to their custom, were "whoop-
ing up Washington birthday celebration.
BOLTEDe FROM THE STAND.
McDevitt was presenting the resolutions.
he was making u whirlwind speech. Just
as his eloquence was soaring TO heights
that were out Of sight, a messenger dashed
up from Washington. News from the
city cried the messenger. Alexandria
stood still.
Rushing 10 the platform he interrupted
the presentation OF those resolutions, Nc
Dewitt ran from the speakers stand. No
explanation was given, for for instruc-
tlons were to keep the news from the
press. What that messenger had said
20 McDevitt was this:
''The Vice President has been robbed OF
half a million dollaFs.'
This was startling. Detective McDevitt
and Chief Richards held council of war
1T was learned that the trunk OF the vice