The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-09-06
Sh|nburne One Of the Bo|dest
Robbers In the Country.
he FINALLY PURCHASED A TITLE
Spent His Fortune as q Baron and Was
Caught al Sais-Cracklng His Long
Sentence Has Almost Expired.

Mark Snlnbufnc, WIN Stoic ~A'VVVfVVV
from the Ocean bank. New York. will be
released from Dannemora prison next
October when the term OF sixteen and
one-half years that he is serving for the
robbery viii be completed. But
there is no reason for alarm among the
custodians OF money for the man who
has obtained nearly s2oOo,ooo as the pro-
ceeds OF his many successful burglaries
will not be allowed 20 return TO the busi-
ness OF which he made such remarkable
success. He will be rearrested and taken
20 Concord. N. H.. 10 serve a nineteen
year sentence. As the notorious convict
is now 81 years old It is likely that he VIII
spend the remainder OF his life In prison.
But although the end OF the robbers
life may be led in enforced retirement be-
hind iron bars, his early years were filled
with adventure He always lived like a
gentleman and spent money like a prince.
With the 81. 100000 stolen from the Ocean
bank he went abroad where for thirteen
years he lived In ease and luxury He
bought the title of baron, purchased an
ancient castle. and was a respected mem
ber OF society. who had the privilege or
associating with the bankers and wealthy
men that formerly had been his victims.
Mark Shinburne, or Macmillan Schon-
bein came TO the United States early In
the COS. He was of fine physique, about
five feet nine inches tall. and well proper
toned. He had handsome face. his feat
ures being well nodded. His hair was
black. and he wore the Dundreary whis-
kers. then in fashion. He had keen blue
20 fpA fpd a
the alert. He dressed well and was quiet
I'm his manner. lie settled in the little
town OF Moscow, Pa. where he began to
study the country. His first venture was
the robbery of Hannibal Butler. a n1er-
chant, who was one of his neighbors. He
went 10 Mr.. Buffers house. entered the
storekeeper's bedroom, while the man
was asleep. and. without making the
least disturbance, managed TO take the
keys out OF the pockets of a pair OF trou-
sers he found on a chair. He made wax
Impressions OF the keys ana returned
them to the pockets. Then he took his
own time about making duplicate keys.
When they were finished he opened the
merchants safe and obtained $4,000.
TOOK CAPITAL TO NEW YORK.
with the $4,000 capital shinburne
went to New York. He made his head
quarters al Harvey Youngs gambling
house. and was commonly taken for
successful gambler. While in New York
ne planned the robbery of the Walpole
Savings bank IN New Hampshire. For
this scheme he was compelled to have
a partner and man named George
Mills was chosen as his confederate.
They managed TO obtain impressions of
the keys to the bank and the vault. On
tho night of Nov. "a. 1854 Shinburne en-
tered the bank and without any diff
fculty obtained $4,000. He changed the
combination so that the next morning
the cashier was unable to, open the
vault. and IL was necessary to send for
experts before the extent of the rob-
berry could be ascertained.
Five months later the Treasury De-
partment at Washington notified the
New Hampshire authorities that
stolen bond had been received from the
Second National bank OF Scranton. Pa.
Detectives were sent to the Pennsylva-
MIA town TO find the man who had taken
the bond to the bank. He had repre-
sented himself as the agent for n nur-
eery and for a month police and de-
tectives secured the country TO find
some trace OF the go between. IL was
finally discovered that James Cum
mings. the son OF nursery man. had
made the trip through Pennsylvania
Cummings was traced to williamsburg.
L. T.. and there 1t was discovered that
he had gone TO Saratoga. N. ". and
that the number OF his postoffice box
was given as No. 346. There was no
James Cummings TO be found In Sara
toga, ana box No GAG belonged TO a
prominent banker. IL happened that
there was an oil painting of this bank
er on exhibition at the American ho-
tel. and the detective, who was pursu-
Ing the man named Cummings. recog-
nized the face of Shinburne. He found
the principal instead OF the confederate.
The "banker" was arrested. and in his
pockets were found coupons and bonds
stolen from the wapole bank The
banker had fine country home
called Gilbert farm and in the upper
floor of the roomy house was found a
workshop fitted up with all the tools
needed by an expert locksmith. There
were bank vault keys and cigar box
filled with wax Impressions OF keys OF
all sizes The prisoner showed will
ingness TO bctray his confederate, and
through his help Cummings was soon
taken into custody Shinburne was SEN
fenccd 20 ten years in the state prison
at Concord, n. H. Cummings was dis
charged. as there Vas not sufficient evil
dence TO, hold him.
FIRST ESCAPE FROM PRISON.
II was shinburne first sentence and
n happened TO be the beginning OF n
series of remarkable escapes. On the
night he was sentenced he managed TO
set out OF jail. II was afterward dis
covered that at the time OF his arrest
ne had planned the robbery OF the Ches-
shire County bank at kcene. ~ H. He
had stayed at the leaoirg hotel I'm the
town long enough to discover that a
railroad company deposited large
amounts OF money in the bank He
made set OF skeleton keys 10 the
vault from impressions obtained by
climbing into the bedroom OF the CASH
Ter one day when he knew the banker
would be away. After he had left the
house he turned back TO warn the ser
want not 20 be so careless about leav-
Ing the upper windows OF the house
open. lie entered the vault one night.
examined PACKAGES containing s2s2, 600.
and not being quite ready 10 carry out
his plans for the robbery he replaced
tho money with the intention OF return
fnG for Il when he had settled up his
o6oirs In Saratoga. lie was arrested
the night that he had Intended 90 leave
Cor the New Hampshire town.
Aftes Ne escape from prison shinburne
Vao noe heard OF until night of Feb %.
~ When he attempted 10 loot bank at