The Washington herald., 1906-10-20
BANKLOOTCAME EASY
Clerks Tell How They Stole
from Trust Company.
TOOK $4,000 IN ONE DAY
Would Forge Check Against Ficti-
iOus Deposit and Play Bucket
Shops-Paid salary of 500 Per
Month go Handle WiIlIons-Sen-
fenced TO Eight Years.

Pittsburg, Pa, Oct 1s.-Despite the ef-
forts of the Union Trust Company, one
Ct the greatest financial institutions OF
Pittsburg, 70 keep secret the facts of the
robbery at the bank of between $3.50
and S5O0.OOO the whole story came out
this afternoon when Clinton B. Wrsy
and Clifford s. Hixton, who had pleaded
guilty TO having committed the robbery.
were called for sentence.
The story Is one of the most remark
able ever heard in the court room, and
when Harry G. Clifford, the treasurer Of
the big bank, corroborated the story az
told by Wray and Hixton, Judge James
5. Young. who was or the bench. threw
up both hands at the lax methods that
had been used Each OF the boys were
sentenced to serve ten years IN the
Western penitenuary. although two OF
the sentences are 10 run concurrently,
which reduces the sentence TO eight years
Were Money Mad.
Treasurer Glefer, of the company, was
first asked by Judge Young how much
money had been stolen He replied that
he did not know positively. but said
1t was at least S1G5, ,OO0." Wray was then
asked what he had TO say. He said that
lie did not know the amount of money
that they had taken, but il was over
S25e,009 We we're simply money mad,
said the boy. who is very youthful and
frail
There we were clerks at salary of SCI
a month, with my mother to support and
Hixton With his wife and baby We
handled millions. we associated with mil
lionaires, and We heard no other talk
than the talk OF enormous wealth. we
thought that we could take money from
the bank and it would never be missed
We found 1t so easy that We kept on tax
ing, sometimes as high as $4,000 In
day"
How the Bank Was Robbed.
Wray then told the way they got the
money. Ha as teller. would make out
deposit slip in the name Of some formbr
depositor whose account had long lapsed.
1t would pass through the hands OF sew
eral bookkeepers. and finally to Hixton.
who would enter it. Then Wray woulG
draw q forged check for the amount, and
the check would afterward be destroy
ed by Hixton.
After he had made this explanation
Judge Young turned to Mr.. Gleffer. and
said:
But surely your counter book would
have shown this discrepancy. Did you
not examine that?'
I'VE did not think it necessary" re-
piled Mr.. Gleffer.
Judge Young said: Well. very likely
yon consider it necessary now"
Judge Young then asked the prisoners
whether any of the money was still IN
their possession. and Wray, acting as
declared that they did not
have a penny.
Played IL in Bucket-shOPs.
But how could you lose such a inn
mense sum of money in 50 short time?"
asked the Judge.
What little the bucket-shcps did not
get l lost at gambling"
Wray admitted that he had led a fast
life. but not an extravsgant one He
supported his aged mother in a fine
apartment. and explained that she sup
posed that he was one Of the rising
'millionaires. too
Hixton made a plea for mercy, and
broke down completely When the judge
passed sentence. Hixton's young wife
sNooned and had to be carried from the