The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-11-11
CATCHING A BANK THIEF.
II IL OFTEN Easy to Get Away. but Almost
Always Hard 60 stay Away.

IL IfCeUt tI1DcNlitineh' " '' 49, ~
! Of the First National Bank OF New York and
the ease with which he was captured" said
a well-known ex-detective last week. recalls
one Of the most remarkable and Interestingly
eases | ever had anything to do with. IL was
the robbery OF the Townsend Savings Bank
Of New Haven, Conn. which occurred III lGd'
[ tliik. At any rate, IL was shortly alter
the end of the Civil War. In which great con-
nict the principal In tie affair had distinguished
himself and won many highly priced laufels
Ills name was Jerry Townsend, Il son OF the
cashier and a nephew of the President of the
Townsend Savings Bank Of New Haven.
Jerry. soon after hi return from the war,
was given a minor position in the bank ana
heiag a clever. wcll-educatcd fellow ht raiiulS
advanced until lac was made paying telicF
Well, things ran along all right TOT some
time, until one fine morning the cashier dis
covered that about sloO.G0 in cash and bonds
had been taken from the safe the preceding
night The safe had not been blown open
II was simply unlocked by some one having
the lock combination Now. according 10
the hllk's rule,. only the President. the CASH
Ter ald the assistant cashier lad TINS COM
b~ination. hence suspicion was not direc'ea
toward any other person at first. Jerry was
hardly mentioned In connection with the rod
berry. until his father. the cashier. reincin-
bered that some DAYS prior the lorin'r had
suggested the cxpcdi"uc" OF his having the
combination. SO that In case OF the absence
of all the other officers at the same tine Ia"
could have access to the safe u necessary.
And the old gentleman. regarding the PROPOSE
ton reasonable, gave his son the combination:
yet, strange to say. he had neglected TO in
form the President that he had dole 80
"Now, Jerry had sent word to the bank the
day before the robbery was discovered that he
was so III he feared he would not be able To- at
tend to his duties for a day or two. 50 he Was
not expected at the bank the day Of the dis
Covery. but as soon a. hi father lad admitted
that hs son also could open the sale u ,messen-
ger was sent to the latter's home. | hardly
need say that he was not there; =.
Hitherto the bank officers had conducted
the examination III their own way, and a. So
cretly as possible. yet when the raylnR teller
could not be found by them and the story Of
the big steal was getting out, they saw that
other steps must at once he taken ~ the case.
and 90 1t came about that | was called to take
a hand IN the game was on duty in New lork
city at the time | received orders To run up to
New Haven. on my arrival at the bank | iound
everything IN Estate OF great confusion and hun
drcds of excited depuoitors were ClamurIng at
the bank doors for their money. In the case
Of many Of them 1t was the bard earned savings
After getting all the information possible
at the bank. | struck out after the thief. soon
found that there was "A girl in the case. and that
Jerry 1Au II pen Ildll Oh llf evening Oh lUP IOll
berry at her home. From there lie probably
went to the bank and got away vita the swag
before midnight. for about that time he called
at a restaurant near the railroad station, and
leaving a large valise with the bartender. he
went way and did not return until Just be-
fore the ? O'Clock train left for New
York. lie was seen to board that train.
yet then and there the trail Of tho rob
Der was lost. entirely, lost, Indeed. the man
earth right there had opened and swallowed
him. Not in New York or anywhere else could
any trace Of the absconder be found. A big
reward was offered. and detectives in all parts
Of the country, attracted by II, we're in the hunt,
and secured every nook and corner in which
they srsp eCted he might lie hidden. The search
was kept up for weeks. but all our efforts were
After several months had passed ! began
TO lose interest In the Townsend case, for hav-
ing other important professional matters 10
look after. | seldom gave il much thought.
or course, the strange, mysterious disappear
ance OF the culprit still excited wonder and
zone day.. six or seven months after the
robbery. as was walking lcisurely up Broad
way. New York. just below Wall street, | was
approached by a man, who requested me. TO
direct him to a money broker, rs he wished TO
a stranger In the city. My mind being pretty
well occupied with another matter AT the time.
/ gave this incident but little thought. We
house OF a well-known firm in that street, and,
assuring the man that II would be all right
there : sio:t ! w naked ID. on Isooi but ! nag az go fon fo sCnrcely
II AfAfNh NIl'It Nll' ~ wv ~ WV INV ~ lAl
Bank robbery flashed like lightning through
my mind. Might not this man have some Of
the Townsend bonds? l turned and fairly
few back to the brokers' oflce TO which ! had
just directed him.. and reached 1t barely In time
10 meet the stranger coming out. Showing
him my authority and taking the chances, I
arrested hin and took him back into the ONCE.
lie had sold ono bond there. which upon ex-
animation ! found to be ono Of the Townsend
Rank bonds. And searching the man. two
or three more Of IN 50 bonds came 10 light.
But what was Of vastly more importance. he
had on his person a letter from Jerry Town
send. dated Havana Cuba, to his sweetheart
in Connecticut. This letter was to be deliv-
cred bv the bearer 10 the lady In person. and
It contained instructions 10 meet tho writer at
a certain hotel In Liverpool. England. at Il GER
tain future time.
That my prisoner was Thoroughly scared
! need not assert. He pleaded utter Ignorance
" the robbery. and declared that he had made
the acquaintance 81 the man who had given
him the letter and the bonds some months be-
fore in Havana. whore the latter had posed
a. a CAPTAIN Of the United States Army. or
course, he went under n fictitious name thern.
The prisoner was held and tho matter kept
from the newspapers until ! and some others,
an uncle 81 Jerry. had crossed over
20 Liverpool. We found the hotel and the
who started out to resist. but finally
surrendered. All but some $1,000. ! think,
was recovered. and the prisoner wns brought
back. tried, convicted. and sentenced to prison
Tor seven years"