Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-04-21
lance became what is known as
bank sneak"

lance became what Is known as
bank sneak"
Robbing Chemical National Bank.
Perhaps the most exciting episode
in Lillis' adventurous career occurred
in New York city in 1869 Greatly en-
couraged by his success in Cincin-
natl, he was urged by Joe Butts to go
to New York to receive the finishing
touches of his education from the
noted crooks in that city.
Butts gave him a letter of introduc-
ton to "Old Chauncey' Johnson, one
of the most noted crooks of that day.
1t did not take Johnson long to ap-
preciate Lillis' remarkable criminal
ability and he introduced the youth to
all of his associates. Long John"
Walsh made him his protege, and to-
gether they planned and executed sew
eral daring "sneaks."
"Old Chauncey' Johnson and Long
John" Walsh conceived the idea Of
robbing the Chemical National banks
messenger on the steps of the bank
as he was returning with his collec,
tons They took Lillis to Wall street
to get the lay of the land and size up
the job. 1t was their plan to have
him snatch the satchel with the money
from the messenger and make break
for safety while they prevented the
messenger or any one else from inter
fering. Lillis looked over the ground
and said he could do it, He found
that he would be obliged to sprint
nearly 800 yards before he could make
the getaway" so he spent several
days in Central park training to sprint.
He was able to make 100 yards in
about eleven seconds fiat, but his
speed for 800 yards did not satisfy
Long John" Walsh, so they decided
to get some one else to make the
sneak" They found a promising
youth in the person of kid" Meany,
one of the fastest sprinters in the
country, and on July IA, 1869, the four
went to the steps of the Chemical Ma
tional bank.
LiIIis' Iron Nerve.
Lillis was to bend over and tie his
shoe the instant the satchel was
stolen and thus block the messenger
from going in pursuit. Johnson and
Walsh were to block any others who
attempted to catch the thief. There
was a policeman on the corner a few
hundred feet away and the narrow
street was so crowded that it seemed
almost impossible for the sneak" to
be successful, still they took their sta
lions to await the messenger. In due
time he arrived and started up the
small flight of steps to the bank. The
critical moment had arrived, but
kid" Meany, who was to make the
SNATCH did not move. He stood OF
the steps white as a sheet and shak-
ing like a leaf His courage had
failed him at the critical moment.
Lille saw instantly that Meany had
"funked" Although his pals had adj
vised him not to attempt the sneak,
as he could not hope to make the dash
to safety quickly enough, Lillis
snatched the satchel from the hand of
the messenger, cleared the flight Of
steps with one jump and ran at top
speed down Wall street to Williams
street. where he disappeared in the
| crowd. The bank messenger was too
astonished to go in pursuit, and al
| though he cried for help, Lillis was
out of sight before any one was after
him. The sneak" could not have
been more successfully carried out
had it been planned for Lillis to
snatch the satchel.
! The satchel contained $4,000 and
was divided between odd Chauncey"
! Johnson, Long Tom Walsh and Lii
! lis. Kid" Meany was cut off with
out a penny for losing his nerve.
| Joined coordination Mob"
This bold piece of work made Lillis
famous in the underworld and he
was asked to join the Combination
| Mob" band of clever criminals who
were preparing to leave for London
| to rob the Bank of England. The in
vitation was accepted and Lillis be-
came an associate of little joe
Reilly, the forger who got $4,000
from the Union Trust company in
New York; Rat" Reilly. the pick
pocket; Joe Butts, the bank sneak
and former friend from Cincinnati,