The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-26

tectiVe's trained observation il was ap-
parent that he was worried and appre-
hensive and not at all sure OF himself
IN November, 1876. George II. Bangs,
superintendent of the PinkeTtOn agen-
cy, a man possessed OF very remark
able skill in eliciting confessions from
suspected persons, had an interview
with Evans. He professed TO Evans
that the detectives had secured evi-
dence that practically cleared up the
whole mystery:t that they knew (Where-
as they still only suTmised) that the
robbery had been committed by the
Dunlap and Scott gang, and that EV-
ans was a confederate: that for weeks
they had been shadowing Scott and
Dunlap (Which was tFue) and could ar
rest them at any moment; that there
was no doubt that the gang had been
trying 10 play Evans false "a very
shreWG guess, and would sacrifice him
without the slightest conjunction;
and, finally, that there was open 10
Evans one Of two courses-either TO
suffer arrest on a charge of bank rob-
berry. with the prospect Of twenty years
in prison, or save himself. and at the
same time earn a substantial money re
ward, by making a clean confession OF
his connection with the crime. All TINS.
delivered with an air OF COmpletest GER
stand up against. He broke down COM
pleteIy, and told all he knew.
The story told by Evans is one or
the most remarkable in the history OF
crime. He admitted the correctness OF
Robert PinkertOn's Inference that the
NORTHAMPTON bank had been robbed by
Scott and Dunlap and their associates,
and in order 10 explain his own connec-
ton with this formidable gang he went
back to its organization in 49,. Inc
leader OF the gang was James Duhlap'
alias James Barton who before ne De
came a bank robber, had been a brake
man on the Chicago. Alton & st. Louis
railroad His inborn criminal instincts
led him TO frequent the resorts OF
thieves in Chicago. and thus he met
Johnny" Lamb and q man named
Perry. who took Q liking 10 him and
taught him all they knew about break
ing safes Dunlap soon OutStripped his
masters, developing q genius for rob
berry and for organization that speedily
proved him the most formidable OF all
the bank robbers then operating IN the
country, not even excepting Jimmy
Hope. the notorious Manhattan bank
robber He had the long-headedness
and stubbOTnnesS o. mis- Scotch parents.
united with the daring and ingenuity
peculiar TO Americans. In the fall or
1877 ne organized the most dangerous
and best-equipped gang OF bank rob-
bers that the country had ever known.
DunlaPs right-haud man was Robert
C. Scott, alias "Hustling Bob" orig
inally a deck-hand on q Mississippi
steamboat and afteTWard a hotel thief.
Scott was a big, powerful man, with a
determination equal to anything. Their
associates were what one might expect
FH...T - fE
gang were Thomas DOty. William Con-
roy. Eddie" Goody. John Perry, James
Greer. Q professional burglar originally
from Canada. and the notorious John
Leary, alias Red" Leary, OF whom
more will be said later on. In addition
to these, the gang contained several
members of less Importance, men who
acted merely an lookouts, or as gO-be-
tweens or messengers.
The first large operation of Dunlap's
band occurred in 1872. when they plum
dered the Falls City bank in Louisville,
KY, of about $500, COO, escaping with
their booty. This was satisfactory az d
beginning but Dunlap and Scott
dreamed OF achievements beside which
this was insignificant They began
careful investigation through many
states ia learn OF banks OF weak struc-
ture containing large treasure. One of
the gang finally found precisely what
they were IN search OF IN the Second
National bank OF Elmira n. y, which
institution. being q government depOs
itory, contained. as they learned on
good authority. soc 001 in greenbacks
and $1,000 ,o0o IN bonds
A survey OF the premises satisfied
the gang that massive though il APP
peareG, with its ponderous iron walls
and complicated locks. the vault Of
this bank was b. n5 means impossible
OK access. The hoor above the bank
was occupied by the Young Mems
Christian agsocia lion. one ~ the asso-
cations rooms being directly over the
vault; There was the floor between.
and under that four feet o. solid
masonry, some OF the stonea in IL
weighing a ton And under tho fuls0n-
~ was layer OF railroad iron. resting