Year: 1876

The burglary ut the National Bank OF Northampton
Mass. and the successful flight of the thieves with
nearly OOc worth OF plumber recalls mind the
robbng of the Concord National Bank, OF Concord
Mass, some ten years ago. In some particulars the
work of the thieves was similar but the annals OF crmo
will bo searched in vain for skilfu or daring
burglary than that OF the Concord Bank, an outline OF
which is given below On tho 25th of September 1865
the National Concord Bank Of Concord Mass, was en-
tered in broad daylight, during tho absence OF the
cashier at dinner and robbed of $4,000 in United
States bonds, notes and securities being the entire
funds OF the institution. The in which the
robbery was committed Tor a lorg time remained
mystery. SO adroitly II contrived the skill
OF tho thieves being only equaod by that of the
detectives in tracking them and fnally recovering the
greater portion Of the money II subsequently, tran
spred that tho thieves had watched set" the bank
for long time, making occasional trinng inquiries,
that they could note the habits OF the cashier the oca
ton OF the vault and other items necessary FOR the
accomplishment OF their ncfarious plans They then
turned their attention 10 the street door, and after
working foen days and nights, or and on, succeeded
IN hitting key which gave them TO the interior
OF the building This however the easiest part OF
their labor, after getting into the banking room,
which up stairs they had locks before
they could reach the strong box safe in the inner
recess OF the vault Ii seems almost incredible but Il
As nevertheless on record that eighty nights were spent
in tho bank, and as Instance OF their daring
and the way they worked together each took
has turn sleeping on the floor, while the



twenty thirty times before they got into the safe
which held the prize they aborng for, the lock
being Of acombnation pattern aud the slightest turn
OF the alter the removal Of the key prevented
the theivos from setting the new key and as this could
only happen ny accident the chances OF ultimate sue
were next to nothing Bafhed on the very verge
OF success it was determined 70 use gunpowder; but
there man who slept In adjoining house, not
twenty yards from the safe so 1t was arranged TO
choose clustering night when the equinoctial gales
were blowing The safe was to be wrapped In wet
blankets and everything done 70 smother the noise.
But the gale did not blow SO Il was determined to
this end in view the habits Of the cashier were
studied and il found that he absent from the
bank about two hours each day. Accordingly on the
25th OF September 1868, everything being in readi-
ness after the cashier had locked the bank and gone
home of the gang boldly walked up TO the front
door and unlocking II, walked in. AS he did so
little girl came up and asked for Mr. Cheney, the
cashier He told her coolly that he would not be back
until o'clock He then went up stairs and shortly
after man came TO the door and knocked for some


time His accompllces, posted IN sight with the horse
and wagon became frightened thinking the plan bad
been detected The IN tho building found the key
OF safe the vault but the cashier had omitted "a
move the index, which left the lock at the mercy OF
the thiet Had the index been set the key would
have been useless The work Of plunder then com.
mencod, the daring thief remaining within the vault
nearly half an hour, during which time he actually
gathered together everything OF value In the Keeping
Of the bank He then took his departure, locking
all the doors behind him except the street door HC
was met on the road few miles away out by ms con
federates and they all drove on leaving absolutely
trace behind them As the loss discovered
the Chief OF Police OF Boston several detectives
Concord, who, after making thorough examination
reported what little they had been able TO gather &C
superintendent OF Police Kennedy, OF New York. II
was the impression nrst so clcanly had tho work
been DONE that the thieves coluson with some
official empoy6 OF the bank. The case then put
in the hands of Chief Detective John Young and Cap
tain Jourdan Of the Sixth precinct, New York


Captain Jourdan whose experience with criminals
was very extensive came to the conclusion that tho
robbery had been committed by some known for a
long time to the police and that the thieves havo
an agent 10 negotiate the stolen bonds Captain Jour
dan caused the arrest OF a known criminal There was
proof upon which he could have been convicted Of
countereiting He offered II he should not be prose-
cuted do anything IN his power for Jourdan He was
set at work the Concord case and soon found man
who agreed TO furnish him with 500 900 In bonds at
nvo per OF their par value the following
Sunday. Careful watching OF and skilful diplomacy
with this man with a prudent use OF
threats, induced him at length to divulgo
tho namo and the hiding place OF tho
robber the police wanted He was taken
10 little cottage the banks OF the Delaware River
near Camden. Having arrested him tho detectives
nearly tore the nouso and barn 70 pieces in the vain
endeavor 70 nnd the lost securities Finally Captain
Jourdan by digging found glass jar containing
400 900 United States bonds aud IN the sandy bar
of the river a box with $4,000 In bonds, sc. The
whole amount Of S199 331 thus recovered, iri-
umph OF detective genius such as has rarely boen
ad