Year: 1876

Such were the words heard by the hap
less bank cashier as he sank senseless
under the wine which the speaker had
drugged for him.


When Warren recovered his conscious
ness fremen were dragging him from
the smoke which had ascended thickly
to bis room from the bank below, for
the latter had been in flames. Upon
the extinction of the fire it was found
that the vaults had been robbed Of
nearly $50, 900 by the deliberate unlock
ing Of the doors. Further search dis
covered match safe from the cashiers
room amongst the debris of the fire, and
several hundred dollars of the stolen
money in drawer of his bureau. The
signs were clear that Edward Warren,
turning robber and seeking to hide his
guilt by firing the bank, had been over
come by the smoke, and thus fell an
easy prey to detection. He was arrested,
indicted, and, being ashamed to tell the
whole truth, even to his counsel, obsti.
nately adhered to the plea that he had
drank some wine, fallen asleep. and
knew nothing that happened thereafter.
In his morbid social pride he could not
endure to confess that woman had so
egregiously fooled him, and as neither
court nor public credited the incoherent
defe nse really offered, the trial ended in
his conviction of larceny and arson and
condemnation to the Allegheny peniten-
tiary for life.


The venerable father of the wretched
convict-a farmer from the vicinity of
Bufalo-never believed that his son was
guilty, nor that he had told the true
story of his misfortune. By importantly
with the governor of the State he at last
gained permission for an interview with
his unhappy boy in prison, and per
suaded from him full confession.
After The fire at the bank Mary Kinnaird
had never been seen in Erie, nor could
any one tell whittier she had disappeared.
Only by her capture could the ex-
cashiers miserable situation be changed.
and forthwith the father devoted his
every hour and dollar to the task of find
ing her. Detectives, supplied with mi
mute personal descriptions, secured
several States in the pursuit, and ulti-
mately took into custody q woman OF
Pittsburgh known as Kate Fallon, the
wife of celebrated forger and counter
feiter. Upon being charged with the
Erie robbery this person Indignantly
denied all knowledge of either the City
Bank or its former cashier, but upon be-
ing suddenly addressed as " Mary Kin
naird" by the elder Warren, her
changing countenance was testimony
against her, and the subsequent dis
covery that her Pittsburgh house and
furniture had been purchased with some
of the bills from the robbed bank sealed
her fate. Triea at Erie, identified by
her victim and by the landlord of her
former cottage, and seeing no chance OF
escape, she finally confessed her guilt.


Throwing herself upon the clemency
of the court, she told how her young
brother had gone to prison for attempt
ing TO pass counterfeit money for her
husband, and how she had planned and
executed the ruin of the vain young
bank officer by whose instrumentality
the boy was brought to justice. But the
court did not deem her case proper
one for mercy and she was sentenced to
prison for life. Nine years later the
governor pardoned her, in consideration
of testimony respecting her husband,
by which the latter dangerous counter
feiter was sent to take her place, and she
came out of her cell, a mere specter OF
her former self, to become but a specter
indeed very soon thereafter.


As for Edward Warren, the Buffalo
Meus, from which chiefly these facts are
compiled, says that he and his devoted
old father departed for some Western
State Immediately after his release from
prison, and, as the events above de-
scribed occurred only about thirty years
ago, he may be yet in the land of the
living. Aside from its common admoni-
tion for all men holding offices of trust
that uniform prudence socially, no less
than incorruptible integrity financially y,
is essential to safety, his story illustrates
very dramatically what may be called the
heroism of evil in woman nature.