Evening journal., 1905-06-03
JIMMY HOPE THE
BURGLAR IS DEAD
One of the Gang That Tried
to Rob National Bank of
Delaware
LASHEO At OLD NEW CASTLE JAIL

James Hope, otherwise known as
Jimmy Hope. a member Of the gang Of
robbers who attempted to rob the Ma
tlonal Bank Of Delaware in this city on
the evening of Friday, November z, 1873,
died at his home in New York yesterday.
He was also leader Of the band which
robbed the Manhattan Bank in New York
of nearly Ss,OOO.OOO in money and securi-
ties nearly thirty years ago.
His wife said that he died Of grief
broken-hearted because Of the publicity
which constantly kept his record alive.
Hope was known as the last of the old
time safe breakers, and was born in Phil
adelphia 50 years ago.
The daring attempt to rob the National
Bank of Delaware and the incidents that
followed are still fresh in the minds of
many Of the citizens of Wilmington. Hope
along with Edward Hurlbut, James Law
Ter and Francis Carter, alias Big Frank
entered the dwelling part Of the bank by
the rear. and surprised Cashier Samuel
Floyd and his family at supper.
WOMAN GAVE THE ALARM.
Terrorizlng them with pistols, they pro-
ceeded to bind and gag them, when one o.
the number, Miss Jennie +. Kates, taking
advantage Of the confusion caused by the
fainting of another young woman from
fright, sprang out of the room and fled
to the street She was followed by Big
Frank" who chased her clear around on
Market street. when he gave up hope OF
catching her. and returning TO the bank
he warned his companions, and all foui
fed.
The next day the burglars We're cap
tured. They were tried at the term OF
court then pending at New Castle, and OF
December 8 were convicted and sentenced
to one hour in the pillory. forty lashes
and ten years imprisonment. The cor
poral punishment. the disgrace of whicl
they dreaded terribly was inflicted on De
cenber lo. and was Witnessed by an enor
nous number of spectators Within
year all of the four burglars ESCAPED
from the jail.
Several years later "Big Frank" wa
arrested in New York city and brough
back on requisition papers. He complete'
his term. but the other three were neve
apprehended by the Delaware authorities
HE STOLE MILLIONS.
Jimmy" Hope was the most sensation
al and successful burglar of his time. HI
methods were unique, and the profit
went into the millions. For several year
he was the object of search by the keen
est detectives of two continents. His mos
famous exploits were the robbery of tn
Beneficial Saving Fund Bank, in Phlladel
phia, and that Of the Manhattan Bank i
New York.
In the first-named exploit he and hi
confederates obtained securities wort
100000 as well as $4,000 in specie. TIL
robbery was planned in 1863 IN a saloo
next door to the bank at Twelfth an
Chestnut streets. The consprators bore
through the party wall, and in twent
minutes had opened the safe and helpe
themselves to the contents. Concerned (
this burglary with Jimmy Hope wer
, "Big Frank" Mccoy, Joe Howard, "Bi
= Nell" Burnett, and another burglar well
! known to the police. After a large shar
of the stolen money had been returne
each member of the gang took for hi
) portion over $4,000
The Beneficial Saving Fund Bank is &
Z the southwest corner of Twelfth an
Chestnut streets. Near the rear OF tn
< building there was a hallway, leadin
upstairs. There was a window openin
J into this hallway, and it was through tn
window, after tearing off the iron shu
ter, that the burglars entered the banl
: They carried in with them several heav
= joists as levers With the favorte cracl
: mans tool of that day, 1.-THE ripper" the
5 tore off the doors from the vaults an
\ safes.