Year: 1866

Another Robbery I'm Broad Daylight


$4,000 OF the Fu0ds of n savings Bank


Stolen from ~ MesSenger-The Thief


Dressed as y Policemen, Etc.


A well-planned, bold, and most successful rob
berry was consummated In Carmine street yes
terday morning, by which the bank porter of
the Greenwich Savings Bank was robbed of tin
cashbox, containing $1,000 in United States
Treasury national bank notes. The ingenious
manner in which the robbery was executed
renders the case one of peculiar interest. The
thief was attired the full regulation uniform of
the Metropolitan Police, and, strange to say,
TIE police officer on post at the time was made
an unconscious instrument in the crime.


The circumstances Of the case are as follows:-
At about 81 O'Clock yesterday morning, as officer
Stellges OF the Twenty-eighth Precinct, was
patrolling his post along Carmine street, he was
accosted by man wearing the full police uni
form, who informed him that he was then en-
gagged in working up case against a counter
feiter, whose arrest he was about to effect. He
further stated the courtereiter was known as a
desperate character, and that he (the pretended
offcer) would probably need his assistance IN
making the capture. officer Stellges believed
the statement of this man, and agreed to render
all the assistance In his power. AS they we're
still conversng together q man approached,
carving on his arm tin cash. box, who was
passing along on the opposite side of the street.
The.unknown man directed the attention of the
officer to him, and told him that there was the
Counterfeiter but said that it would not be polite
to arrest him there, as he was only going to a
house near by to get the counterfeit money, and
that he would soon return, when they woulu
take him into custody.


In about half an hour after the man pointed
out as the counerlelter again approached, appa-
rently returning from where he had been, still
carving the tin cashboX-whCh hung on his
arm by leathern strap-lincd with copper. As
he APPROACHED the officer the two men sprang at
him, and arrested MIN on charge OF dealing IN
counterfeit money. The man stoutly denied the
charge, and attempted to explain, but he was
soon handcufed. The pretended policemen then
directed the officer to take the prisoner TO The
Station House in Greenwich street, while he took
possession of the cash-boX, which he stated he
would take to the police headquarters, and make
q report of the arrest to his superior officers
The officer, who is German, and a new man,
stupldly obeyed all the instructions OF the un-
known man, who then coolly walked off with
the cash-boX.


Officer Stelges took his prisoner to the Station
House, where he of course had no charge to
make. The prisoner was there allowed to make
his statement, from which it appeared that his
name was Thomas Queen, and that he had been
in the employ of the Greenwich Savings Bank,
situated at the corner of Sixth avenue and
Waverly place. Every morning he had been in
the habit OF going from the Savings Bank to the
Greenwich Bank, corner OF Clarkson and Hud-
son Streets, making deposit of checks and
bills of large denominations, and receiving in
exchange small bills for the use Of his employ yers
When arrested he was returning to the bank
with the cash box, containing at the time $4,000
in United States treasury Notes and National
Bank bills in ones, twos, and fves.


This statement, which rather surprised all
those interested the officer in particular, was
communicated to Captain Dickson, of the .Twen-
ty-eighth Precinct, who Immediately had an in
terview with Mr.. Charles Gilbert, the treasurer
OF the Savings Bank, who corroborated the state
ment Of their bank porter. The whole matter
was then laid before Superintendent Kennedy,
at the Police Headquarters, who Immediately
gave the necessary orders to secure the arrest OF
the pretended officer and thief.


The officials at the Savings Bank state that
Quinn had been in the habit of going between
the Savings Bank and the Greenwich Bank, as
before stated. The money and check were care
fully locked up in the cash-box, and sums vary
ing from ten to thirty thousand dollars were
generally conveyed by him. The pretended
policeman had no doubt Been watching Quinn,
and was cognizant of all his movements. When
the porter left the Savings Bank the cash-b0x
scarcely contained any cash, but principally
checks, etc. but on his return he would gene
rally have small bills which were, of course
more easy of disposal and could not be traced.
Yesterday morning. Quinn carried but $4,000
to the Greenwich Bank, and was 10 have re
turned with $l0,000 in ones, twos, and fves
Owing, however, to the inability of the cashier
to give him the small bills required but $1,000
was gwen him, and he was told to return in an
hour for the balance of $1,000. The police are
making every effort to ferret out the bold thief
N. T. World.