Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-11-15
BANK RoRBER DUNLAP.
A Strange Life Story Now Brought
to Light.

" Gi9UIs
James Dunlap, the famous bank rob-
Der, who is also noted for his gentility
and love of home comforts, was given
into the custody of Sheriff p. w. Mar
tin of Wataska county, Ill.,, says
Chicago dispatch to the New York
Telegraph. He was taken 20 yelling
ton, where he will await trial for the
robbery OF the Pate bank, which he is
said to have looted of nearly $4,000 on
Friday morning, March 30.
William A. Pinkerton was more sur
prised to hear of Dunlap'G arrest than
anybody. He was Dunlap's benefaetor
and helped him to start in an honest
pursuit when he was pardoned from
the Massachusetts penitentiary after
serving several years for the North
ampton bank robbery in 1876.
1t seems Dunlap was instrumental in
recovering over 100000 worth OF
bonds, part of the proceeds of the rob-
berry, and when he came to Chicago the
Pinkertons were ready to show their
gratitude to him for restoring these
securities, which otherwise would
never have been found.
Eyes, nothing istrurer," said William
Pinkerton, one morning recently, when
asked If it were true that lie had start
ed Dunlap in the saloon business in
Chicago.
Il am particularly sorry" he said,
ito see Dunlap slip back into the Grim
inal line. There is great deal to the
man. He is mild in manner, Of a
kindly disposition, in fact, such man
as child would like. AS the papers
have stated, he looks for all the world
like a well-to-do business man. have
known Dunlap since the close of the
war, when he came to Chicago and be
came a brakeman on the Chicago &
Rock Island railway.
He was always a quiet, reserved
man. | never knew anything of his
private life and couldn't say whether
he was never married. know that he
served through the war of the re-
bellion, and was one of Gen. William
7. Sherman's orderlies. Cen. Sherman
and Joe Howard of the New York
Herald were instrumental in securing
Dunlap's pardon from the Massa-
chusetrs penitentiary at Charleston in
1890.
THE proceeds of the Northampton
bank robbery were, l think, about
S1,700,00O, of which only 100000 was
in cash, the balance being in govern
ment bonds and other securities. My
brother, Robert A. Pinkerton, worked
on the case. John, alias 'Red" Leary,
a noted character and member of the
gang of safe blowers that blew open
the vault in the Northampton bank,
kept the securities in hiding for several
years. Finally he went 10 Europe and
squandered them in riotous living.
Dunlap and another member of the
gang named Scott, who was then dying
of consumption, sent for the president
of the bank and told him that while
they would not give any testimony in
the bank robbery case they knew who
had the securities and would assist in
securing them.
"Leary returned to America and
Robert Pinkerton arrested him in
Brooklyn one night and spirited him
away to Northampton, where he was
afterward tried and convicted. Scott
and Dunlap were sent up for com
piicity. Scott afterward died in prison
and the strongest influence in the
country was brought to bear in occur
ing Dunlap's release.
Il think It was in 1900 that he came
to Chicago and visited our office. He
had $1,000 which he had received as a
pension for gunshot wound he re-
ceived during the war. He seemed
anxious to quit all criminal pursuits
and lead an honest life. We were only
too glad to help him along, as we have
done hundreds Of others. He was
strictly honest with US and paid back
every cent we loaned him. So you can
imagine what a surprise 1t Is to us
that he should go back TO his old ways.
Il have not time to investigate
much. but the city officers seem to
think ne has been leading double life
during the last decade, running sa-
loon and at the same time robbing
country banks round about Chicago.
IL this is true know nothing of 1t.
Until read Of hrs arrest the other day
/ always thought Dunlap had mended
his ways and was passing the rest OF
his life honestly.
Dunlap opened a saloon. which he
was forced to sell on account OF Ill
health. He spent year in local hos
pital and then opened another saloon
at Twenty-fifth street and Wabash
ave re adjoining the Lancaster hotel
This was fine place, and he evidently
prospered there. He sold out aboir
year ago. Dunlap was never con
victed Of any crime but the Northamp
ton robbery"