Year: 1875

A bANh OEE1CEh'S CklmE.


The Planters National Bank of Louisville


Robbed by the Teller of s11O,O0e-The


Fool Confesses his Crime and Refunds


the Money.


The city of Louisville, KY, has been
excited over q first-class criminal fiasco,
the following particulars of which we
CLEAN from one of the local papers
About four o'clock in the morning Louis
Rehm, teller and bookkeeper in the
Planters National Bank, went to the
First street police station, wrote on the
slate that his wife had been chloroformed
and he had been taken to the bank and
forced to open the vaults by four men,
who had robbed the bank. His clothes
were bloody and he exhibited several
wounds. he was unable to speak, and
was taken home. A physician was called,
detectives were notified, and J. w. Dun
can, President of the bank, was sum-
moned. Rehm's wounds were examined
and found to be slight cuts on the neck,
one on the thigh, and one on the abdo-
men. He stated that he felt unwell yes
terday, and went rowing on the river and
went to the bank afterwards to finish up
his work. At about 10 o'clock he
thought of the meeting of the Athletic
Society, to which he belonged, and went
to the livery stable near the bank and Or
dered horse and buggy, and told the
hostler if he was not back by the time
the horse was ready, to drive in the di-
rection of the bank, as he was going
after blanket. In short time he re-
turned and put the blanket in the buggy
ard drove in the direction of home. He
went in the gymnasium in the rear of his
house, spoke to the members of the So
ciety, and then went in the house, and
afterward drove the horse back, took
drink with a friend, got on q street car,
went home and to bed, and at about half
past II o'clock fell asleep. He was
walked up in the night by some one pull
ing at his feet. The gas was burning
brightly, and he saw man at the foot of
his bed with pistol in his hand, who
threatened to kill him if he gave the
alarm. He partially dressed, when an
other man came in and took him to the
rear of the house and demanded the safe
keys. He denied having them, when
one of the men, both of whom were
masked, hit him in the neck and
threatened to kill him. He then
gave up the keys and the men marched
him to the river front and down to Third
street, out Third to Main, and up Main
to the bank. He refused to open the
vault, and the men, who had been joined
by two others, attacked him and inflicted
other wounds, and fearing he would be
killed he opened the vault. He begged
on his knees that they would not take all
the money, but they emptied all the
cash, about 100000, and $4,000 in
bonds, into bag, which one of the men
had around his neck. Then they locked
him in the vault and left. Rehem then
tainted, but afterward revived, and with
cart hook, which he pulled from the
wall and piece of wood, unscrewed the
locks and got out, and then screwed the
locks in their places and went to the sta
tion-house and gave the alarm. This
was the first story, but when closely
questioned by Detectives Bligh and Gal
lager and the bank officers, he became
confused and made contradictory state
ments. The directors of the bank then
charged him directly with tho robbery,
but he denied it stoutly. ALI this time
he was at the Gait House under surveil-
lance. After his denial, they moved to
another room, and while going there he
told President Dunno that he wanted to
sleep about an hour and then he would
talk. He laid down and slept soundly
for an hour, when he was walked up, and
confessed that he had robbed the bank
and had the money. He wanted to wait
until night, but was finally prevailed to
go to where the money was hid, which
was underneath the floor of the gymna-
SUM in the rear of his house. 1t was
wrapped in sheet and buried in the
sawdust. He gave as reason that he
had been speculating and lost money,
and thought he could work the robbery
through. He was committed to Jail to-
night and the law will take its course.
Rehm has been in the employ of the
bank since its organization, in 1866. He
had no bad habits, was member of the
church, and stood high in the commun-
ity. He is 30 years old, and has wife
and one child. He was fond of athletic
sports and had built a gymnasium at his
own expense. About six months ago he
obtained So, 200 from his brother-in-law,
John NJ. Latterie, for the purpose of
specializing in tobacco, and it is believed
that he has been specula ting in cotton
short time.