Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-13
BANK-THIENES.
Recent BnnIs-Of-EngIand Robbery
Was Only One of "a Clever Series.

Was Only One of IA Clever Series
Experience has certainly demonstrated
that bank-robberies are generally tn
work of gangs" said an old detectiy'
with whom representative of the Lon
don Daily Telegraph was discussing tn
ms and outs of the recent theft of bal
containing G1,O0O in gold at the Bank o
England. Nor" he continued, "ar'
these crimes committed without a grea
deal Of preparation on the part OF those
concerned. Clerks are so careless in th'
city, and valuables pass from hand t
hand so lightly. that / often wonder tina
more attempts are not made on the par
of the expert thieves to teach bankers
TO take more precautions.
ut was not until walk-clerk employ
ed by the Bank Of Scotland had had his
wallet stolen from him. when he laic
IL on the counter and incautiously turned
round upon some one touching him or
the shoulder, that the protective chaln
which is now common, came into genera
use. AS far as l understand, the CLERK
who was the victim few days ago
did not have his attention diverted from
his business in this way. The bag OF
gold simply disappeared from the place
where the cashier put ii. OF course, the
clerk may have fancied that as he was
drawing the money in what is called the
bankers department-tQ which the pub
lie is not admitted-there was no need
for extra vigilance. But the fact that
the bag was seized at the critical mo-
ment, just when the clerks were hurry
ing with their work al the stroke of
2 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, points
TO a complete knowledge of the habits
of persons usually to be found in this
part of the bank. At the same time, 1t
is difficult 10 imagine that Il stranger
could go there day after day TO learn
the ways OF the clerks without being
detected. There are all sorts Of theo-
ries and possibilities 10 be entertained;
but, summing them all up, l think 1t is
agreed that the job must have been done
by men who make a study of this kind
of thing; and, that being so, the chances
of detection are very slight Gold coin
affords no clue and even If the thieves
were found, what prospect have the po-
lice of bringing home guilt to the rogues?
There is, of course, always the posi-
bility Of one of their number falling out
with the rest in the division OF the spoil,
and in that case the Old Jewry would
get some roundabout communication
upon which the detective department
would not be slow to act"
"As a rule" was the prompting ques-
ton, these robbcries remain undetect-
ed?"
wei, IL is not for the want OF trying.
That case I have just mentioned-when
ell. $50 in notes was stolen from the bank
cerk-gaye Detective Outram, who was
then in the city police. much trouble,
and a long chase. He felt sure that,
sooner or later, the notes would be
passed. Several of them were for $1,000,
which made it somewhat easier for him.
For when stolen notes are OF less than
Gl00 each in value they will often change
hands upon the race course, and nice.
crumpled-up things they are when they
reach the Bank of England. OF course,
they have to be paid and when the police
trace them they find that the 'bookie'
who has received them in the ring has
not the faintest recollection OF the person
who handed him the notes. So ii inva-
riably ends in sudden finish 10 the
promising clue. But I'm the case Of the
81 900 notes the thief seems to have taken
them to the Continent. Every money
changer was warned periodically. and
eventually Outram tracked a man through
France, Spain, and Italy TO Genoa,
where he tried 10 negotiate one of the
notes. But, becoming suspicious, the
man disappeared. Two years later an
arrest was made in Paris for presenting
at a mOney-changer's one OF the stolen
notes. Inquiry showed that the prisoner
had been living i'm a small room in the
East End of London, and paid for board
and lodging a few shillings only a week.
II was his habit TO take tin OF red
pepper about with him when travelling,
and 1t was suggested that he did so TO
throw it into the eyes OF any pursuer.
Some years ago there was a robbery
1t the City Bank, which has / believe.
never been brought home 10 the culprits.
In that instance a bag containing $50
N gold was stolen. A cab was waiting
II the door, and as the porter brought
,ut the gold a man said I'll take H..
rhe bank porter, believing that he was
handing it to clerk. parted with the
money and went inside to fetch another
gag. Meanwhile. the man bolted with his
)boty Now, in that case, there must
ave been more than one man in 1t,
)ut they were not disloyal 10 each other'
IS in the affair OF the Russian rouble
notes. One Of the gang in that case trled
o sell some of the notes that had not
,een shared out to him, and. curiously
leough, he took them 10 the nrm from
whom they had been stolen"
What sort OF man is bank Theft"
Usually a respectfully dressed gentle
manly. fellow Perhaps the cleverest have
,een Americans. But bank-breaking and
,ank- forgeries. which formerly exercised
heir ingenuity. seem to have given place
o this vulgar snatching trick, which. az
er all, Is the simplest thing possible TO
10, for even II the man buhgles he has
My to say as he releases the bag: on. l
veg pardon; / thought that was mine
lone OF the notorious examples OF his
lass was Dan. as l shall call him. who
tarted as a pickpocket. and graduated as
bank-sneak OF the highest grade. lie
nee snatched In New York from an as