The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-11-10
Nelson's Bank Robbery.

Nelson's Bank Robbery.
Our readers will remember of our &C.
count of the mysterious robbery of Mol.
sons Bank at Winnipeg little over a
year ago. Sixty-two thousand dollars
disappeared from an inner safe which
was protected by two or three different
combinations known singly by as many
different officials. The money was the
reserve and was not missed for about a
week after it was last seen.
Pinketon detectives worked several
months on the. case without result, and
$4,000 was offered as a reward; 5000
for the recovery of the money and g, 600
for the robbers. This summer sensa-
tional find and arrest occurred. A young
man by the name of Davis claimed to
have gained the confidence of a former
employee of the bank, who had confded
to him where he had buried the money,
in the suburbs of the city. The money
was found buried as said, in an old
satchel, all Of it except 1900.
The detective Davis theory was that
Anderson had spent this part of the
money. Anderson was arrested and
after examination was locked up and bail
refused. which in Itself was somewhat
remarkable.
This week the trial has been on, and
the evidence shows still more remarkable
and sensational circumstances.
One, being the fact that the other 81, 900
had been discovered, buried not far from
where the satchel had been found, by a
we'll known official of the city, soon after
the other money had Seen found. Thus
every dollar of the whole 49,, 900 had
been discovered and Anderson, or other
person, who had taken the money had
no profit whatever.
Another curious fact is that a man ap-
peared at the Merchants Bank here in
Pembina, December 31st of last year and
wanted to buy a draft on Kansas City
for 81, 100. Mr.. H. c. Carr, the cashier,
wrote the draft but when the man offered
in payment 81 900 bill of Canadian
bank and other large bills, he became
suspicious that all was not right, and re-
fused to sell the draft. On Monday, on
the witness stand at Winnipeg, Mr.. Carr
testified that he believed that the detec-
tive Davis was the man who offered him
the 81, 600 bill in payment for the draft.
but as Davis now had moustache he
could not swear positively to him, as the
man at the bank had no moustache or
very small one.
Davis story had very little corrobora-
ton as to attendant circumstances and
on the other hand the defense offered
considerable testimony in rebuttal, and a
large number of witnesses from Chicago,
his former home, who swore that Davis
had a bad reputation and could not be
believed under oath. Many witnesses
swore to Anderson's uniform good
character before and after the robbery.
Anderson on the stand on his own behalf
gave agood impression and characterized
Davis as a wholesale liar. AS the evil
dence reads in the Winnipeg Free Press
it looks as though it was the story of
Davis against the denial of Anderson,
with but little tangible evidence to settle
the truth between them.
The defense of course say that the mo-
tive OF the detective Davis was to get the
$4,000 reward. but that he was only the
instrument in the hands of the real rob-
Der, who finding it impossible to spend
the cash without detection, took this
method to fasten the blame on another
and also to capture the reward. Under
the conditions of the reward Davis should
get 5000 for the recovery Of the money
even if Anderson is acquitted, but many
people think he will never get it unless
Anderson is found guilty.
1Aso6SSnSt u - Olle O1 the most re-
markable criminal cases on record in any
country, and it looks as though there
was a lot yet to be found out, if ever
found.
The case was given to the jury on
Wednesday, and after short delibera.
ton brought in verdict of not guilty;
and the question still remains, who is
guilty?
State Educational Association.
Arrangements for the State Educa.
tional Association, which meets at Grand
Forks. December q, %. .. are so fal