Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-11-01
ROBBINGA BANK SAFE
THE EXPERIENCE OF AN OLD TIME
EXPERT CRACKSMAN.

Did 1t Well. but the Reward Was
Not Whnt Had Been Promised by
His interruptions Employer.
zone day in the fall of 1874" said an
old retired detective, "one of the most
finished and successful bank burglars
that ever used n drill in this country
was walking across Sixth avenue, New
York. enjoying his parole and the mel
low sunshine. There We're whole lot
of indictments hanging over him. Of
course, but they didn't worry him any.
for he happened to be on pretty fair
terms with some of the men attached
to the municipal administration at that
time. AS he swung along he was ac-
costed by a prosperous looking man
| whom he did not know. although the
| prosperous looking citizen addressed
the burglar by his right name. The
crook, finding after some Stallng that
the man who knew his name wasn't a
detective, took him into cafe and
asked him some things.
"'In the first place, how did you
know me" he inquired of the stranger
"Well, it appeared that the burglar
had been pointed out to the stranger
by detective who was so shady that
he afterward did time for surreptitious-
ly extending aid and comfort to the en-
emy one of the old time bands of New
York crooks.
"'All right said the craftsman then.
Now, don't suppose you are seeking
my acquaintanceship for the sake Of
being introduced into society or for
the enjoyment Of my winning ways.
What's your lay?'
"Then the stranger UP and told the
burglar what his graft was.
I'm the cashier of a bank a bit up
the state said he to the burglar. The
directors don't know anything about
it, but I'm short In my accounts.
There's only one way out of it. The
bank will have to be robbed by profess
sional cracksmen. That will let me
out, and in addition I'll expect to get
my rakeoff from the robbery. l want
you to rob the bank. You'll find $780,
600 in cash in it ON the night you ar
range the job. I'll attend to that. OF
course want my bit out of that, S10,-
GOO at least. I've always heard that
you're square in these divisions of
plumber, and therefore III trust you to
hand me my share after you've done
the job for putting you on to it,
"..'This sounds good enough to eat
replied the craftsman. Fact is, it's so
sweet that it's almost cloying. Now,
I've heard your proposition. You give
me couple Of days to investigate you,
and then We'll talk business
"They arranged another meeting at
the same place couple of days later.
and In the meantime the craftsman,
whose facilities We're the best looked
into the job. He found that his man
really was the cashier of an up state
bank In a town not more than an
the cashier called at the appointed
time the burglar was ready to talk
business.
"'You'll have a hard nights work.
said the cashier, for In order to avert
suspicion III have to leave the vaults
and safes locked tightern a drum, as
usual. You'll need several assistants
"'Thats my end Of it, replied the
craftsman. You just let me handle
those little details. Every man to his
trade. They don't make em so strong
that can't get into EN-
"Then all Of the details We're ar
ranged, and the robbery was fixed for
tot i,rl in va al M
The cashier was especially solicitous
that he should get his share of the
proceeds Of the crib cracking. The
craftsman assured him that if there
was $4,000 in the job $4,000 would
be enough for himself and his associ-
ates and the cashier would get the
rest. On the night fixed the cracks
man and three Of his best men went
up to the town and pulled off the job.
1t was matter of four hours before
the gang after overpowering and gag
ging the Waterman got into the main
safe. They found it empty. Then they
tackled the smaller safes. These, too,
were empty. The top notch craftsman
was pretty mad, naturally.
He had been played for a good
thing, and he knew it. The cashier
had simply looted the bank himself,
and the robbery which he had arrang-
ed was to cover up his own trail.
There have been Napoleons of finance
without number developed from among
bank cashiers, but l never heard of a
heater job than that.
"Of course the craftsman and his
pals had nothing for it but to pack
their kits and drill back to New York.
They weren't, Of course. in position to
nl.,l,t lou. thn,.'l Lnn11