Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-19
RIDE WITH 100000
WITHOUT A GUARD
BANKER AND OFFICE BOY TAKE
MONEY TO BRANCH
Depositors cIamor for Money, and as
There Is No Time to Get
Help, Great Risk Is
Taken


BROOKLYN, Sept. 1S.-A story which
might make the late Dick Turpin and the
later Jesse James turn over in their
graves, could 1t but penetrate to them,
came out of South Brooklyn yesterday.
1t is tale of nearly 100000 in bright.
new, ready money travelling undisturbed
through the streets of the town for nearly
four miles in an open wagon, guarded
only by an unarmed bank official and a
frail Office boy
This fortune In currency passed many
thousands of people, who gave 1t not a
glance The wagon carrying 1t was
bumped into by trucks and was caught in
traffic jams, but not a dollar of the $780,
900. all packed in handy bundles, was dis
turbed
The tale of how SO much good money
came to be taken SO unguarded through
the streets involves a cranky time lock
on bank vault. When the Eighth Ward
branch of the Borough bank. at Third
avenue and Fifty-first street. was opened
for business, the lock of the big vault, In
which there were $1,00O.O00 in securities
and S125,000 In currency, could not be
opened. For more than an hour the bank
people labored with the combination. bit
the mechanism had become clogged and
the door could not be opened. In the
meantime about 200 depositors had gath
use in their businesses.
Responds to Call
Finally the main bank, on Court street,
downtown, was called upon for help. Vice
President A. ID. Campbell went to the
rescue In hurry Hiring the first wagon
he could find. an open delivery cart he
loaded 1t with more than 100000 in green
backs and silver from his own and other
banks in the neighborhood. Then, with
his 14-year-old office boy and young man
as drwiver Mr.. Campbell started for the
Eighth Ward bank. Neither of the three
on the wagon was armed with even so
much as penknife, but In his anxiety
ito get to the South Brooklyn bank with
lout delay, Mr.. Campbell never thought
of obtaining police protection.
In order to reach the Eighth Ward bank
the cart carrying the fortune in ready
money had to be driven through some of
the busiest streets in the borough There
was not SO much to be feared on these
thoroughfares. however, as in the latter
stage of the journey, when the cart
passed through several unfrequented
streets in what are known as hard"
neighborhoods. Twice the cart was
bumped into by trucks, the swearing driv
ers of which would probably have fallen
from their seats in astonishment If they
had known what the freight was which
they had rudely shaken up. Mr.. Camp
bell became a trif1e nervous when, at one
point, several boys made as II to "cut be-
hind" and he heaved a sigh of relief
when the precious load was safely deliv-
cred at the bank.
The money was sufficient to meet the
orders of the waiting depositors. 1t was
not until closing time that the balky lock
could be made to work. When the vault
was opened the money and securities were
found to be undisturbed.
When Mr. Campbell was asked about
his daring trip. he said he was In so
much of hurry to get to the bank that
he gave no thought to the danger
"Of course" he added, ut was an un-
usual proceeding to drive through the
streets in an open wagon with almost
$1OO.OOO and no police guard. but, happily,
there was no trouble. I don't think the
office boy enjoyed the ride. found the
greenbacks more cushiony seat ana al
lowed him to sit on the bags of coin."