davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
His Eye on Manhattan.

Jimmy had long had his eye on the
Manhattan Savings Institution on the
corner of Broadway and Blocker streets.
New York. In it's vaults were $4,000, 600.
Jimmy had often talked to his friends
and his friends had often talked to him
about this bank. In prison and out, he
had been engineering a deal to loot
1t, and a long time that bank had been
doomed
The result was the most gigantic bank
burglary Ia the country, and one that
deserves more than passing attention
This bank was then one of the richest
institutions IN New York. Occupying
one of the most prominent sites in the
city with its vault the strongest that
the ingenuity Of man could devise, fac
ing the street, and easily seen by any
passer-by that cared to look in, it was
thought impregnable. Never were there
more surprised men than the directors
of this bank, when they learned tina.
no less than four different plots had
been formed against it in the three
years previous TO the robbery On one
occasion the vault had been actually en-
tered and then abandoned.
1t was as early as 1874 that the first
plan for the burglary was formed The
night Waterman Of this bank was a.
certain Patrick Kelley, a trusted en-
ploye. who had been in the service there
for the past eight years; the day watch
man was a Patrick Shevelin, brother
in-law of Kelley. who had been in the
service about two years and was equal
ly trusted. This latter was big, hand
some. jovial son Of Erin. not distinctly
bad by nature, but inclined to be rath-
er shiftless and careless He was
moreover, g trifie too good atured. and
man who thought it the thing to stick
by his friends.
One day. late in 1874, an CID school
friend. Big" Tracey. called upon Shev-
elm. Shevelin knew Tracey had an evil
name, but he gave good-natureG nel-
come to him and his conversation Just
the same From that day until the time
OF the robbery Pat" Shevelin was
never out of the reach Of temptation.
In the plot to rob the bank the first
time through Shevelins help were. be-
sides Big" Tracey, Little" Tracey.
Big Jim" Brady. and a certain Dol
lard, all famous crooks. They lacked
leadership, however, such as that Of the
redoubtable Jimmy Hope could give
them. and never got much beyond the
temptation of Shevelin in their plans
Inc gang was finally broken UP.
The Washington times., 1905-06-11

~ EIHB MS business, decided on
n q novel plan to inform his pa
irons of his ambition to secure
more of their trading.
II have it," said he to himself. when
send out my bills tomorrow I'll make
a courteous request for an increase of
patronage
Turning 10 the cashier. who was pre-
pairing monthly statements. the manager
instructed her to postscript on each bill
the following bait:
II regret TO state that I cannot do
more business with you"
All That should bring me great
increase OF trade" chuckled the man
who sells life's necessities. as he assist
ed the clerk TO inclose his "urintention-
ally ambiguous regrets.
Why, what do you mink Is the mat
ter with our grocer, Msry?" said IL re-
cipient OF che OF the bills to his wife,
Eext morning. Have you been running
any accounts over there which l know
nothing about?
Certainly not, dearie; why do you ask
mc?" replied the startled better half.
We'll. does that fool over there think
that I'm a bankrupt? Here's a bill he
sends me for 81 SO for groceries, and at
the bottom of 1t he has writer; i re-
greet to state that l cannot do more bust
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
Three Weak Spots.

It was great steal. and worked out in
such a manner that the robbers had
apparently left no clue as to their iden-
tity behind them. But Jimmy Hope had,
with all his cIeverness. streaks of III
luck, as, for instance, in his attempt in
Delaware, and, though he knew 1t not,
there were three weak spots in this
haul-Na. 1. the fact that most of the
steal was in registered securities; No. 2.
the fact that that notable criminal
catcher. Inspector Thomas Byrnes. was
put upon his trail, and, No 3, Sheve-
lin.
In order to defeat the first weakness
1t was necessary TO organize a lobby
and bride Il few Senators and Represen-
tGtiTes in Congress 70 keep that body
from passing the Duplicate Securities
Bill" whereby the registered securities
would be replaced This cost a lot OF
money, and even after that il is said
that Inspector Byrnes headed OFF the
woman they mad sent 20 Washington for
this purpose. The Duplicate Securities
Bit PASSED both hous as, while the
gang gnasned its teeth :z:Id cursed
Trouble No. 2: Inspector Byrnes had
in his quiet little way spotted. though
without much of clue. the very man
who could and would reveal the whole
plot
Trouble No. 8: Shevelin had not
as yet received his quarter of q mil
lien. He had received some cash. it was
true, and he was handed out more from,
time TO time az the negotiable bonds
we're sold. but no claimed he was not
treated right and he was mad" At an
orportune moment. therefore, Inspector
Byrnes nabbed him. worked upon his
jealousies and so made him confess.
Tho result WIS tho conviction of ALI
the burglars except Jimmy Hope, the
leader. Jimmy was eti1i after his mil
lion, and wtie. robb.ng the big Sauther
* Co. bank in San francisco. Cal.
He was imprisoned for this, his last
robbery, and by the time he had served
out short time in California and fin
iShed UP the remainder OF Il term In
New York state prison for the former
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
Gang Sends for Recruits.

1t was six months after This Thar
Big jim Brady and Little Tracey
sent for the then two greatest cracks
men in the country to come TO thei, ,s-
slstance. these men were Jimmy Hope
and George Howard, alias Weston
George. The latter WIS a ;sentlernau-
born, colleSe-bred crook He. like Hone
was most skillfui mechanic. With them
was associated Johnny Dobbs. another
famous sarecracker- Harmony among
this gang would have insured them tho
so."'''Vo that waited in the bank but
the greatest among them, Hone and
Howard, fell out. Some said il was tho
jealousy of genius alone that brought
this about, and some WHISPERED darLI,.
mat wornila Of whom the Then
gay and fascinating Mr.. Honeiv,, ,,,oa
enamored was in turn enamored of tbo
good-iootfng Western George"
AT any rate the two fell op+ .,d
shortly after that George Howard wac
found in the woods near YoHkers with
buiiet hole in his heart. A pistol law
near his hand. and it locked AZ th,,u,.i
he had committed suicide, until on turn
ing MN over. 1t was discovered tba+
he had another hole in the back Of his
mead. Then IL was remembered that
cart was driven in that direction thc
night before. with som him. =, II c,,.-
cred with sacking. and the suicide
theory was abandoned altoeetbe,
George Howard had dared once foo ~
ten. 1t seems, to boast that he was the
most skillful and fascinating bank hurs-
lar IN the country.
From that time on Jimmy Hone was
the leader Of the gang. and no one .va,
after even dared TO dispute his leader
ship. short time after that he reo,
ganfzed the crowd. BY this time Sheva-
lin was willing to take up with am, o,,,
that would gain him the Quarter og y
million promised his share of Man
haitian money.
Hope We let In to the bank to make
an examination of the outside OF rhe
vault. after an hour or SO OF study
The Washington times., 1905-06-11

Perry bank robbery, both bankers and
sleuths decided to leave MIN alone
Did Jimmy receive a pension for let
ting banks alone after that2 Thieves
say so. At any rate Jimmy's steaHngs
had by this time come near TO the COW
eted million mark and he decided to re-
tire.
Jimmy tried to be respectable in his
retirement. At least, his friends say so.
III truth. he had a fairly respectable
Contingent at his funeral, and there was
paid a great tribute by his old friend.
Pat" Sheedy. According to Pat. he was
the most tender-hearted man in the
world.
Jimmy is said by his wife to have died
of broken heart because he could not
live down the notoriety he had achieved
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
Put Wrong Postscript on Bill

ness with YOU III so and see him at
once AID give him to understand that
charlie Smith can get credit any place
in town"
The head OF thu family lost little time
III hlelng himself to the grocery.
ne proprietor was discovered stand
ing upon barrel of sugar IN the middle
OIL tue store. endeavoring to explain to a
score OF "lher indignant patrons that
the error was wholly unintentionaI and
had been made by the cashier who ba,,
mistaken that he intended to insert:
i regret TO state that l am not doing
more business with YOU
nc piiis were submitted for correc-
ton, the cashiers salary Increased an6
the disgruhtied patrons retired. perhaps
more 1aVorabiy impressed than If the
S g,,h ma not been made.-Phladelphia
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
IT DIDN'T Go.

B Members of Congress had all sorts OF
visitors during inauguration week. and
on Monday man walked into Senator
Lodges committee room and going up
10 the Senator. who was seated at his
desk busy with some important papers
Shaping him on the back and said:
Hello! Henry Cabot Ledge l knew
your father. John Cabot. before he dis
tor Lodge did not look up from his
desk or give him the SO, either.-Balti-
more American.
The Washington times., 1905-06-11

OF town, and his son must continue his
course at college and needed money All
Jimmy Hope wanted was a million. He
decided. therefore, that he would return
to his previous ideals-aim al the biggest
banks and let the others, no matter how
easy, $50 hang" In this manner he
would run fewer risks, at least, and
perhaps after one big haul retire for
life.
The Washington times., 1905-06-11

others stood guard in the street or over
Werkle.
Grumblfng a little because they were
unable to get but half of the coveted
5000, eco. the gang at last slipped quietly
out of the side door,
OF the amount they had stolen nearly
two millions were IN registered securi-
ties. $3.50. 000 in negotiable bonds and
stocks. and the rest in cash
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
The Greatest Burglary.

interest in Jimmy Hope centers about
the unparalleled burglary Of the Man
haitian Savings Institution in New
York, when s2,747oo0 were taken from
its vaults in broad daylight. a robbery
so skillfully planned and executed that
only a notable criminal catcher like
Inspector Byrnes could finally unrayei
it 1t was in this robbery that Hope
achieved fame as the greatest cracks
man of his age. But the Manhattan
haul was but one of his series of bur-
glarfes running through a period of
twenty-five years.
Gentleman Jim" was born in the city
that has been asleep fer over 200 years
and has only lately awakened to shake
Off the power Of political highwaymen
1t was owing to his birthplace, no doubt,
that Jimmy was able to educate him
self in crime in a small way for mum
Der of years without being detected, and
to lay the foundation for his ripper skill.
Bis people were respectable and raised
him to be clever machinist-so clever
that he decided that he was ,making
money too SLOWLY by working in a
foundry and could use his talents more
probably elsewhere. He tried a few
small safes in stores for a time to see
If his judgment about himself was cor
rect
Philadelphia slept. and Jimmy came
out of these small enterprises with a
little easy money and with his mind
made up to try bigger game.
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
Never Robbed Poor People.

"Ah, these were the days" Jimmy
Hone would often say to his old friend,
Pat" Sheedy, IS he talked over his
old-time exploits in later years, In
Sheedy's apartments at the Lincoln
Hotel, New York, Or at his own on
Upper Columbus avenue. THE only
thing that compares now to what we
did then is stock-jobbing robbery,
and / leave it to you If such swindles
as these are not beneath a respectable
burglars notice.
Here Jimmy would smile and add,
in emulation of Robin Hood: We
never robbed poor people. nor even
poor banks"
Then he would enumerate the num-
Der Of banks he had looted and the
amounts taken from each, not forget
ting TO linger longest on his exploit in
robbing the Manhattan Savings In
stitution at Broadway and Blocker
street, New York, where he and six
or seven others made his largest haul
nearly $4,000, Cocoon the Sunday
morning Of October q, 1873. This, the
largest bank-burglary that has ever
taken place in this country, in the
language of Jimmy Hope, is out
classed in daring .robberies only by
..defaulting cashiers. Cassie Chadwick,
and stock obberies-
By all this ii may be seen that he
was proud of his profession. His wife
and children evidently forgave him for
II TOO He was to them always de-
voted husband and father. In his young
DAYS he kept a separate establishment.
OF which they knew nothing, as the
CAV and fascinating Mr. Hopeley." a
rerired capitalist, out later he gave
that up and became, to them, at least.
model man
His family takes pride in the fact that
ne was a man of brains. that while
others were caught and imprisoned he
almost always went free. that he never
shot a man, and that, even II he were
imprisoned, Jails were seldom strong
enough to hold him.
Jimmy was indeed remarkable for the
number of his escapes from prison. and
for the short time he was incarcerated
to make up for his many offenses. Moth
ing with lock and key seemed to hold
him back, either in entering bank or
escaping from prison, and 1t Is ira
dition among thieves that he was. In
later years, for this very reason, pen
sioned by bankers. who thought that it
The Washington times., 1905-06-11

was cheaper to keep him quiet in this
way rather than have him at large.
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
His First "Big Job"

He organized a company of four. Ney
Lyons. afterward a famous burglar.
being one of them. and soon succeeded
In Pulling off" his first big job. This
was the robbery of the paymaster's sa fe
In the Philadelphia navy yard
So encouraged was Jimmy by this
that he shortly afterward walked into
the South Kensington Bank, in the same
city. dressed in a policeman's uniform
tapped an unsuspecting night watchman
on the head with a billy, and relieved
that institution of 100000
But he was getting too good and
that same year. though he succeeded
in cleaning ont the vault In Smith s
Bank at Perry. n. Y. and hiding the
contents of same. he was afterward
naooed with one j. A. Hughes and, I'M
der the name of Watson" got five
years in Auburn. that State.
Jimmy was undismayed, however. In
TACT he had given the question Of jail
breaking some study, and on January 2.
1873, just two years afterward, he, to-
gether with Jim Brady and Dan Noble.
both well known to crime, succeeded in
escaping. 1t was not long before he be-
gan his fourth big Job.
This was in Wilmington, Del. He and
the gang rented a house next to the
First National Bank in that city and
from that place bored a hole In the
vault. Their next move was to capture
the cashier and his whole family, who
lived over the bank, but in attempting
this, servant Of the family was so in
considerate as TO elude the burglars and
warn the whole community The entire
gang was. in consequence, coraered on
the outskirts of the city
Jimmy felt little bitter, over the
treatment accorded him in Wilmington.
He got four kinds OF punishment for this
attempt-such kinds as are accorded in
Delaware to unwelcomc guests-a fine Of
$500, 40 lashes OH the bare back, while
chained up to the whipping post, an
hour in the pillory, and finally a ten
year term in the Newcast county iaiI.
The Washington times., 1905-06-11
n JIMMY" Hope, alias +'Old Man
Hope" alias Gentleman Jim.
alias Mr.. Hopeley,' alias

X JIMMY" Hope, alias 'Old Man
Hope alias Gentleman Jim"
alias Mr.. Hopeley,' alias
James ]. Watson" king Of
the old-fashioned bank burglars. and,
therefore, king of all who ever follow
ed the profession. is dead.
His robberfes amounted in all to over
So 900, 900, of which his share, after di-
viding with the gang" was $1.eoo.0o0-
enough to assist him in going scot-free
from most of his crimes, to break Jails,
send Hobbies to Washington, and ulti-
mate1y to die at the ripe old age of six
ty-nine in well-appointed fat on a
fashionable street in New York. sur
rounded by his wife, his several sons
and daughters, and mourneo by his
friends
The name of Jimmy Hope is large
~ a memory with people now, because
he has been living quietly on his earn
ings'' this number of years, but there
was a time when he and the mem
bers of his band struck terror to the
hearts Of the rich, especially if they
were bankers, and when he was the
idol of all the crooks, sneaks. and
cracksmen in the country. In thievery,
as in all professions, there are certain
burglary was. when Gentleman Jim"
was in his prime, the highest Safe
cracking ranked even above train rob-
bing, and stage coach hold-ups. 1t took
brain, ingenuity, patience and daring;
and. therefore, all thieves, other than
safe-crackers, no matter how high they
had risen in their profession, acknowl-
edged Jimmy Hope to be the Napoleon
of dishonesty"
Nowadays the profession Of safe
breaking has fallen into disrepute, and
often Jimmy loudly denied that he
ever belonged to the class Of later-day
burglars. or 'Yeggmen." as they are
called. These "yeggs" go about the
country blowing up small safes in un-
important banks, country stores, and
postoffices. They risk their lives for
few dollars, and are dull and clumsy
workers Jimmy scorned such men.
In his day burglars must be clever
machinists, manufacture their own
tools, study locks, and work their
way cleverly through door after door
by most ingenious contrfvances, and
all this after months of patient plan
ming and waiting. Then they played
for great stakes. Not few postage
stamps and dollars in change for
themi They struck for the largest
banks, the largest and most difficult
safes. and for mil1ions-certainly
never less than hundreds of thousands
i'm money. They scorned such heavy
plumber as bags Of silver. They
would have bonds, securities. bank
notes, gold or nothing. They would
be rich and live at ease.
The Washington times., 1905-06-11

~ larging his business decided on
n q novel plan to inform his pa
irons of his ambition to secure
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05

more than anyone in behalf Of the
best interests Of the city And
the Press believes that they will
do it. The Press believes in the
people of San Angelo. They are
alive to tho needs of the city and
will do their best for it. They
have ever been so and it is plausi-
BILE TO look for them to do their
part when called upon.
No, let's not say that they shall
do, but rather lei us go to them
in a kindly way and request that
they comply with these require
ments A large number Of them
will come through. Those who
refuse can be forced into line
later on when all efforts at per-
suasion have failed.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05

Very few Of the readers of the
Press have seen or heard of the
way this paper and city got roast
ed at the hands Of the editor of
the Southwest Texan of Ozona in
n recent issue Of that interesting
paper. For their benefit the
Press calls attention TO the fact.
The roast was caused by the
utterance Of the Press TO the
effect that the prohibition as had
today in Brentwood is worse
than any form of saloon. The
roast is interesting reading,
and as the Texan expected to get
some advertising out of it and not
wanting to disappoint it, the
Press suggests that those Of its
readers who desire to read the
article should address A. b. CAL
Ian, or The Texan, Ozona, Tex,
and receive copies Of the paper.
Do not fail TO enclose the price
Give cents) to ensure its reaching
Won
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05
Clay Mann arrived Thursday
from FIT. Worth.
A Very Close Cali.

81 stuck to my engine, although
every joint ached and every nerve was
racked with pain" writes G. w. Bel
lamy, a locomotive fireman, of Burl-
ington, Iowa. | was weak and pale,
without any appetite and all run down.
AS was about to give up, | got a
bottle of Electric Bitters, and after
taking it, | felt as well as | ever did
in my life" Weak, sickly, run down
people always gain new life, strength
and vigor from their USE Try them.
Satisfaction guaranteed by j. w.
Harris. Price 30 cents.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05

San Angelo merchants enjoyed
a phenomenal business during
December and are ready to go
ahead with the new year full of
courage and energy. San Angelo
business men are the most pro-
gressive of any in any town the
size of San Angelo, and the peo-
pie have good reason to be proud
of them and their efforts towards
the upbuilding of the town.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05
Saved From Terrible Death.

The family of Mrs. NJ. l.. Robbitt
of Bargerton, Tenn, saw her dying
and were powerless to save her. The
most skillful physicians and every
remedy used, failed, while consump-
tion was slowly but surely taking her
life. In this terrible hour DR.. Kings
New Discovery for Consumption turn
ed despair into JOY. The first bottle
brought immediate relief and its con-
tinued use completely cured her. It's
the most certain cure in the world for
all throat and lung troubles, Guar
anteed bottles SOC and $l.00. Trial
bottles free at j. w. Harris drug
store.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05
TINE Is THE TEST.
The Testimony Of Texas People Stands
the Test.

The test of time is what tells the
tale. The public soon finds out when
Misrepresentation are made and
merit alone will stand the test of time.
San Angelo people appreciate merit
and many months ago, local citizens
publicly endorsed Doan's Kidney
pills; they do so still. Would cit
izen make the statement that follows
unless convinced that the article was
just as represented. a cure that lasts
i, the kind that every sufferer from
kidney ills Is looking for. b. Veatch,
of Waco, Texas, living at l2j South
Eleventh ST., says: 81 just as en-
phatcally endorse DOan's Kidney
Pills today as | did in the early
spring of 1903 when, after getting a
box which took according to direc-
tiOns and followed up the treatment
until cured. | repeat that | just as
willing endorse the preparation today
as did Il year ago. The pain in my
back which annoyed me when stoop-
ing or bending or when brought any
strain on the muscles OF the loins has
entirely disappeared. When Doan's
Kidney Pills cure, they cure absolute
ly" For sale by all dealers. Price
30 cents per box. Fostcr-Milburn co.
Buffalo, n. y, sole agents for the
United States. Remember the name
Doan and take no other.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05

-Fndlater has just received a
large shipment of Perfection Oil
Heaters, the best oil heater made.
Supply yourself with one and be
prepared for cold weather. If
Buy your trees from Nussbaum-
er, the florist. He is here to stay
and is financially responsible and
if anything should not be as you
think it was represented, you
know where to find HIM.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05

The Car Of Russia seems to
have his hands very fnll. To-
gether with the Japanese war and
the constant demands which are
being made for internal reforms
it would seem that his autocracy
is likely to be confronted with
some grave problem before they
are all wisely settled.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05
ChamberIain's Cough Remedy the
Best Made.

"In my opinion Chamberlain's
Cough Remedy is the best made for
colds" says Mrs, Cora Walker of
Portcrville, California. There is no
doubt about its being the best. No
other is so sure preventive of pneu-
monia. No other is so pleasant and
safe to take. These are good
reasons why it should be perferred to
any other The fact is that few peo-
pie are satisfied with any other after
having once used this remedy For
sale by all druggists.
The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-01-05
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy Abso-
Iutely Harmless.

The fault of giving children medi-
cine containing injurious substances,
is sometimes more disastrous than the
disease from which they are suffering.
Every mother should know that
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is per-
fectly safe for children to take. 1t
contains nothing harmful and for
coughs, colds and Group is unsurpass-
ed. For sale by all druggists