The Portland daily press., 1900-11-13
CATCHING A BANK THIEF.
II Is Often Easy 60 Get Away bat Al
most Always Hard TO Stay Away.
(From the Washington Post. }

(From the Washington POST
1.-THE recent embezziement by the note
teller Of the First National Bank OF New
York and the ease with which he was
captured" said q well Known ex detec-
ftive last week, recalls one OF the most
remarkable and interesting cases ever
had anthing to do with. Il was the rob-
berry OF the Townsend Savings Bank OF
New Haven, Conn, which occurred In
1885, think. At any rate, It was short
iy after the end of the Civil War, In
which great conflict the principal In the
affair had distinguished himself and won
many highly priced iaurels. His name
was Jerry Townsend, a son OF the cashier
and nephew OF the President OF the
Townsend Savings Bank Of New Haven.
Jerry soon after his return from tbs
war, was given minor position In the
bank, and being clever, weil.educated
fellow he rapidly advanced until ne was
made paying-teiler.
"Wsll, things ran along all right for
cashier discovered that about 100000 In
cash and bonds had been taken from the
safe the preceding night. The safe had
not been blown open. IL was simply un-
10 cked by some one having the lock COM
bination. Now, according to this banks
rules as only the president. the cashier and
the assistant cashier had this comDina-
| tion, suspicion was not directed toward
any other person at first. Jerry was
hardly mentioned In connection with the
robbery, until his father, the cashier. re-
mem bered that some days prior the Iorm-
er had suggested the expectancy OF his
having the combination, SO that in case
/ OF the absence Of all the other officers at
the same time. he could have acoess to
the safe II necessary. And the old gentle
man, regarding the proposition reasona-
BILE, gave his son the com mbination; yet.
strange to say, he had neglected to In
| form the president that he had done so.
snow, Jerry had sent word to the
bank the day before the robbery was dis
covered that he was so Ill he feared ne
would not be able to attend to his duties
for day ur two; so he was not expected
at the bank the day OF the discoveryi but
as soon as his father had admitted that
his son also could open the safe messen.
ger was sent to the latter's home.
| hardly need say that he was not there.
"Hitherto the bank officers had conduct
ed the examination In their own way,
and as secretly as possible, yet when the
| paying teller could not be found by them
and the story OF the big steal was getting
out, they saw that otner steps must at
once bs taken in the case. and SO IL cams
about that was called to take hand in
the game. was on duty in New York
| oity at the time 1 received orders to run
| up to New Haven. On my arrival at the
bank found everything In state OF
great confusion, and hundreds or excited
dspositors were clamorinR at the bank
doors for their money. In the case OF
| many of them it was the hard earned
savings OF years OF toll.
"After getting all the information pos
sible at the bank, l struck after the
/ khN 4 fnt nd m
In the case, and that Jerry had spent
| part OF the evening OF the robbery at her
home. From there he probably went to
the bank and got away with the swag
before midnight, for about that time he
1 called at q restaurant near the railroad
station, and leaving q large valise with
the bartender, he went away and did not
return until Just before the 2 2o'clook train
| left for New York. He was seen to board
| that train, yet then and there the trail OF
the robber was entirely lost. indeed, the
man vanished as completely and suddenly
as II the earth right there had opened
and swallowed him. Not In New York
| or anywhere else oould any tla0f OF the
| absconder be found. A big reward was
offered, and detectives In all parts Of the
country. attracted by II, were IN tne
hunt, and secured every nook and corner
in which they suspected he might lie hid
den. The search was kept up for weeks,
| but all our efforts were fruitless.
"After several months had passed
began to lose interest in the Townsend
case, for having other important profess
| sional matters to look after, seldom
gave 1t much thought. OF course. the
| strange, mysterious disappearance OF the
culprit still excited wonder and specula-
| ton.
zone day. six or seven months after the
robbery, as / was walking leisurely up
Broadway, New York, just below Wall
street, was approached by man who
requested me TO direct him to q money
broker, as he wished to dispose OF some
| United States bonds and was a stranger
In the city. My mind being pretty well
occupied with another matter at the time
/ gave this incident but little thought.
We were near Wall street, and I pointed
to the house OF q well-known firm In
that street, and. assuring the man that
1t would be all right there. walked on.
But / had gone scarcely a block when
robbery flashed like lightning through
my mind. Might not this man have
some Of the Townsend bondsf turned
and fairly few back to the brokers office
to which had just directed him, and
reached 1t barely In time to meet the
stranger coming out. Showing him my
authority ana taking the chances, ar
rested him and took him back into the
office. He had sold one bond there,
| which upon examination found 20 Do
one Oh Cne I0Wueeuu ohnk pouuss anu
searching the man, two or three more OF
those bonds came to light. Bat what
was of vastly more Importance. he had
on his person q letter from jerry Town
send, dated Havana. Cuba, to his sweet
heart in Connecticut. This letter was
to be delivered by the bearer TO the lady
in person, and It contained instructions
to meet the writer ct certain hotel In
Liverpool, England, at certain future
| time.
"That my prisoner was thoroughly
scared need NOT assert. He pleaded utter
Ignorance of the robbery, and declared
| that he had made the acquaintance or
the man who had given him the letter
and the bonds some months before In
Havana, where the latter had posed as a
| captain OF the United States Army. OF
| course, he went under a fictitious name
there. The prisoner was held and the
matter Kept from the newspapers until
and some others, including an uncle OF
Jerry, had crossed over to liverpool. We
found the hotel and the robber, who
started out to resist, but finally surren-