Year: 1875

The Plot to Rob Bnnk--Its Success and the


Trouble the Thieves Ind with the Money


IAN Interesting Story.


The story of the Carbondale bank rob-
berry as told by the Scranton Republican
Is one of the most interesting records of
modern crimes, and reveals plot SO in
tensely dramatic that the details will
amply repay perusal. 1t appears after
the robbers had secured their prize they
We're IN regular quandary what to do
with it. 1t was to their consciences as
trying as the tenacious old man of the
sea in the fable, and they were constant
ly removing it from place to place, steal
ing it from each other and sub dividing
it to silence grumbling accessories until
1T was considerably scattered.


There were two plots to rob the bank
The first contemplated its robbery at
midnight. The night robbery was
planned at meetings held in coal mine
short distance from the city. There
We're ten men i'll this plot besides several
outsiders. The plan originated about
eight months ago. The parties to the
plot noticed that old Mr.. Stott used to
work alone i'll the bank Mt night, and that
DugSan, the chief of police, used to do
duty as watchman at the bank, and in or





~, 1T was necessary to put Duggan out
OF the way.


They then intended to go to the bank.
rap ut the door-so as to bring the
cashier to the door-and then rush past
and overpower him before he could use
any. firearms. Then they proposed to
frghten him with pistols into opening
the safe, and If necessary to dispatch
him.


The meetings at which this design was
matured were regularly and we'll attend
ed, each participant in the plot going
slngly ut the dead of night to the mine
In which they were held and returning
the same way. This plot fell through in
consequence of two of the most promi-
nent men withdrawing from it, because
murder was contemplated. 1t was sup
posed that the bank contained from
eighty to one hundred thousand dollars,
anu the thieves had set their hearts on a
great haul. After this plot was frus-
trated, one of the active participants in
1t thought that there was a good chance
Tor daylight robbery of the bank. He
noticed that Mr.. Stott was in the habit of
letting his two clerks go to dinner, while
ne renamed alone in the bank. The
last clerk left the bank precisely ut noon,
oSNANA
and for about twenty five minutes the
cashier was left alone. This fact. to-
gether with the isolated condition of the
bank, which stands by itself, inspired
the robbers with confidence of easily Sc
curing that for which they had worked
so earnestly and well.


1t was also discovered that Mr.. Stott
left the key sticking on the inside of
the front door, and this it was intended
to use i'll locking the door to prevent de-
posltors or others from coming in during
the robbery.


TO the rear of the bank the directors
room is situated, and door leads from
this into the yard. They also discovered
that the key was usually left in that
door, and this they intended to use as q
means of exit.


When this information was gained the
leading plotter took oil the present
parties who are under arrest one by one
into his project, includingn miner, whose
duty it was to receive the money from
the robbers as they left the bank, for
which purpose he was stationed in a con-
venlent place. The meetings of this
second robber band were held at the
Old graveyard near the bridge, Mt mid
night, where amid the hush and the
tAASAASS VI eiiO poLllbo, Il6 plull Oh rod
berry and murder was freely discussed
The first daylight raid was contemplated
for the fifth of January, but failed in
consequence of the two men who were
to enter the bank meeting +. lend of
theirs just as they were about to enter.
and so, knowing that he would suspect
something, they turned away, and there
the matter rested for the present, having
been postponed until the next cold
day.


-, The cold day was appointed because
there would not be so many people on
the street and the fact of robber dis
guisinS his face would not excite any
suspicion. Thus Jack Frost was taken
In as another accomplice.


at the next meeting which was held
IN the graveyard, it was concluded that
two of the party ut present under arrest
should start from the highworks, on
Dundaf road, at exactly three minutes
past twelve Mt noon and walk at their
regular gait, down to the bridge cross
ing the Lackawanna river in the rear of
the bank. Two of the other men were
to be watchers, were to start precisely at
the same time from hotel in the oppo-
site direction of the bank, and pass
along one on eachKside off Main street,
and to cast glance into the bank as
they passed by, so as to see that the