The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-09-07
TRUE
by Vance oPubiic beos"
The Great Express Com
pany Robbery

/ L WAS III the early eighties that Oud
4 of the cleverest crooks in the coun-
try stood outside Of the wired enclos-
ure of an Adams express Office and
looked longlngly at a package Of bank
notes on shelf beyond his reach.
1t was near the noon hour and most
Of the clerks were preparing to GO
out for lunch.
The crook noticed that some of them
wore linen busters and that when they
left the enclosure they dotted these of.
flee coats and tossed them to one side
It did not take this gentleman long
to come to his determination.
The door leading to the enclosure
was partly opened.
He slipped inside and, tossing his
hat into corner. hastily put on an
ink-smeared linen buster that had been
discarded.
He stuck a pen behind his ear and
in that guise readily resembled one
| Of the regular clerks.
He was In the enclosure less than
minute, and when he departed he
CdlllCu VIII lflA q PdNhdk0 VI OOhun
which was estimated to be worth $10,.
900.
A few days after this it was report
ed that man entered one Of the old
est and wealthiest banks in the city
Of Philadelphia, and by means Of a
sharpened umbrella pulled out a pack
age Of money from behind one Of the
| grilled windows and made his escape
| with 1t.
The sum was placed at $1,000, but
that was the least part of it.
The audacity of the theft was what
caused CONSERVATION in the financial
district.
If such things were possible, then
no institution would be safe.
These two cases were much talked
about, and they were especially inter-
| esting to Francis Kelly, the famous
bank detective who patroled the finan-
cial district in Philadelphia and whose
beat included the custom house, the
sub-treasury and the famous banking
house of Drexel & Co., the Philadel.
phia branch Of Drexel, Morgan & Co.
Kelly was not only keen student
Of human nature, but he knew the
ways of the get-rich-quick members Of
the criminal fraternity.
He discussed the matter with one of
his associates.
I'D be willing to stake my reputa-
ton on the fact that both of these
jobs were done by Chauncey John
son." he said. II know his methods
like a book and I don't know another
man in the United States who could
have pulled them off as neatly as
Johnson"
Kelly had been in the United States
secret service and had also been chief
of detectives in Philadelphia, but at
that time was in the employ Of the
houses In the financial district.
He acted, as he often said, as
preventive"
The bank crooks knew that he was
on the job there, and as consequence
they gave that section a pretty wide
berth.
But the moth will hover around the
flame, and one morning Kelly noticed
rather striking looking man in the
neighborhood Of the Drexel bank.
The detective watched him for some
moments, and presently the man en-
tered the portals of the bank. Kelly
walked up to him and touched him
on the shoulder.
"Good-morning, Chauncey," he said
Familiarity, what are you doing here"
II don't know you," was the gruff
reply, "and that's not my name"
"Why," was the cheerful reply, "ev-
erybody knows Chauncey Johnson, and
I'm somebody"
It was impossible to brazen 1t out
any longer, and the famous bank rob-
Der admitted his Identity.
He insisted, however, that he had no
evil intentions on this particular bank
and had walked in for the purpose Of
looking at the large oil painting Of
the founder Of the house.
The explanation was accepted, but
the man was taken into custody and
lodged in the city hall.
Later he was escorted to New York,
wheaA It was said that he was wanted
for :ie Adams Express company rob-
berry.
The moral Is that it is dangerous to
take too many chances-even If you
are at the head of your profession.