RURAL ENTERPRISE
T he and a lx ty thousand d o lla rs In bonds. wus h im s e lf a rre s te d on the charge o f
and offered unusual obstacles to the to work a t" In Quincy, Illin o is .
T he n e xt one wus fu r m ore tro u b le c o m p lic ity In th e m em orable M a n h a t
attack
on
the
Q
uincy
bank
was
mads
lo ck-picker.
N e ith e r D unlap. Scott,
some, n o t less th a n te n explosions be ta n bank rob b e ry, w h ic h hud o ccurred
in
very
much
the
same
way
as
the
n o r any o f th e ir associates bad s k ill
ing re q u ire d to m ake w ay In to It. A n d some tim e before.
enough to open th is lock w ith o u t b re a k attack on the bunk at E lm ira . A
W h ile m uch o f L e a ry 's life had been
Just us th e task was a t la st accom
B
altim
o
re
wom
an
rented
an
old
house
in g It, w h ich w ould, o f course, have
plished, and they w ere on th e p o in t o f spent In deeds o f violence, he had
been fa ta l to th e ir plan.
F o r days, which afforded s h e lte r and concealment
seizing a g re a t sum o f m oney, th e re show n on occasions such splendid
therefore, a fte r a ll the o th e r d e ta ils to the m en; access was obtained to
B y Cleveland M offett
came a w a rn in g c a ll fro m Conroy, who b ra v e ry , even heroism , as a lm ost
o f the robbery bad been arranged, the rooms over the v a u lt by false keys, as
was doing s e n try d u ty on th e ro o f, and atoned f o r bla crim es. T h e ablest la w
w hole scheme seemed to be blocked by b e fore ; the flo o rin g was taken up and
yers w ere now secured In hl« defenae,
it was necessary to fly.
p
u
t
down
every
n
ig
h
t
w
ith
o
u
t
e
x
c
itin
g
j a troublesom e lock on an o rd in a ry
W hen D u n la p and S co tt had been a n il by e v e ry possible m ethod o f legal
How Five Matked Bandits Forced Cashier to Reveal Combination
suspicion, the m nsonry was removed,
j wooden door.
drugged o u t o f th e v a u lt by th e ir asso o b s tru c tio n th e y k e p t a liv e a con
T he Yule lock s t ill c o n tin u in g an In the Iron plates o f the v a u lt w ere pene
to Vault in the Northampton National Bank and Escaped
ciates, they w ere fo u n d scarcely able tro v e rs y In th e N ew Y o rk c o u rts fo r
soluble d llh c u lty . P e rry fin a lly made a trate d , and, fin a lly , one n ig h t S cott and
M e a n w h ile L e a ry
to run . D u rin g a ll th e tw e lv e explo n e a rly tw o years.
W ith Loot Valued at Over a Million Dollar*.
Journey to New Y o rk , In the hope o f D u n la p »ere able to lo w e r them selves
sions o f pow der and d y n a m ite th e y hud reposed In L u d lo w s tre e t Jail, w here he
through
a
Jagged
hole
In
to
th
e
money-
; fin d in g gome device by w h ich to open
( C o p y r ig h t b y
O C h a p m a n .)
never le ft th e v a u lt, b u t, crou ch in g be e n jo y e d a ll th e p riv ile g e s e ve r ac
It. T here, In th e course o f his search, room beneath.
I t now rem ained to fo rce open the h in d th e hoards th a t guarded th e corded to p risoners.
1 and in a cu rio u s way, he made the ac
O n th e a fte rn o o n o f M a y 7 M rs.
In ln g th e v a u lt, s t ill litte re d w ith qu a in ta n ce o f Evans, then a salesman safes Inside the v a u lt; and to acconi- b u rg la r a la rm , had rem ained w ith in
B O U T m id n ig h t on T ne s
day. Ja n u ary 2.'». M M
debris o f the explosion, th e representa i In th e em ploy o f a p ro m in e n t safe p l's h th is the robbers used, fo r the a rm 's le n g th o f explosions so v io le n t L e a ry c a lle d u t a b o u t flve o 'clo ck w ith
m asked men entered the tiv e o f one o f the safe companies company.
firs t tim e In the h is to ry o f s a fe -w re ck th a t th e y to re a p a rt p la te s o f w elded “ B u tc h " M c C a rth y , and th e th re e were
feouae of John W b ltte tM j picked up a sm all a ir pum p used by the
B e fo re e n te rin g the em ploy o f the in g In Am erica, w h a t Is kn ow n as the steel and shook th e w hole b u ild in g . alone In L e a ry 's room u n til e ig h t
In N o rtham pton. M e a n - robbers, and, lo o kin g at It c ritic a lly , safe m an u fa ctu re rs, E vans had con air-pum p method, w h ich had been de W orse th a n the shock o f these exp lo o 'clo ck.
A f t e r th a t L e a ry s tro lle d
chusetts. M r. W h ltte lse y rem arked th a t he w ould have sw orn It ducted an extensive m e rc a n tile bu si vised hy Evans, and c a re fu lly ex sions w ere th e n o xious gases generated about In th e p ris o n ln clo su re , and a t
was the cashier o f (he belonged to Ills company, did he not ness fo r h im s e lf In a la rge E astern plained hy him to S cott and D unlap. by them , w h ic h S cott and D u n la p had about a q u a rte r past ten keeper W en
N o rth a m p to n N a t i o n a l know th a t was Im possible.
T he a ir c ity , w here he was regarded as a man Evans' employers were a t th is tim e In to breathe.
On com ing out, th e ir d e ll, w ho h ad charge o f th e f lis t tie r.
bank, and was know n to pum p was, he declared, o f precisely
o f w ealth and In te g rity . H e had (urge troducing a padding designed to m ake clothes were w rin g in g w e t w ith p e r In w h ic h L e a ry ’s room was located,
have In his possession the bla com pany's m odel, one th a t had been
dealings th ro u g h th e South, w ith ex safes more secure; and Evan« had h it s p ira tio n , and th e y w ere so w eak th a t saw h im going u p e ta lrs fro m th e second
keys o f the hank b u ild in g rece n tly devised fo r a special purpose.
A lth o u g h In th is
tensive c re d its ; b u t th e o u tb re a k o f upon the Idea o f In tro d u c in g pow der th e ir legs to tte re d u n d er them , and to th e th ir d tie r.
and the co m b in a tio n to A t the lim e M r. P in k e rto n regarded
th e w a r had forced him In to b a n k In to the seams o f a sufe door hy an th e ir com rades hud to alm ost c a rry L e a ry was go in g d ire c tly aw ay fro m
th e bank va u lt. T he fl^p men entered th is as m erely a coincidence, but now
B u t, nevertheless, hls ow n room , th e re was n o th in g to
ru p tcy. I t was h .nted th a t there was air-pum p. In the presence o f a possible them f o r a tim e.
th e house noiselessly, w ith the aid o f the m em ory came Io him as a flash
some ove rsh re w d p ra c tic e connected customer, In o rd e r to Im press him w ith th e y m anaged to w a lk t h ir t y m ile s e x c ite s u rp ris e , fo r L e a ry had been ac
fa lse keys, p re vio u sly prepared. Pass-. o f In s p ira tio n th a t th e man who had
w ith Ills fa ilu re , and h is subsequent h ls need o f the new padding. E va n s th a t n ig h t, to I^ ld g h , w h e re th e y custom ed to use th e b a th ro o m on th e
tng u p sta irs to the sleeping a p a rt rem arked the s im ila rity In the a ir
th ir d tie r. A q u a rte r o f an h o u r la te r
sudden d e p a rtu re fo r C’Hnudu gave h im se lf was not present a t th e b re a k boa rd e d a tr a in to N ew Y o rk.
m ents, th e y overpowered seven In pum p represented the same company
I t was on th is occasion th a t th e re W e n d e ll s ta rte d on his rounds, accord
co lo r to the In sin u atio n . A t any rate, in g open o f the Q uincy bank, nnd he
m ates o f the house, gagging and b in d th a t em ployed Evans.
he com prom ised w ith his c re d ito rs on hail nothing to do w ith th e robbery be was le f t behind In th e v a u lt th e a lr- in g to th e p ris o n ru le , to gee th a t each
in g them so th a t resistance o r a la rm
In November, George H. Bangs, super-
yond fu rn is h in g In s tru c tio n nnd the pum p w h ich R o b e rt P in k e rto n a fte r- I one o f th e m en In hls tie r
a basis advantageous to him self.
was Im possible. These were .Mr. W h lt- tendent o f the P in k e rto n Agency, a
Ou his re tu rn fro m Canada, E vans air-pum p. Scott and D u n la p d id the w a rd reca lled so s h re w d ly to E va n s' c u re ly locked u p f o r th e n ig h t. W hen
telsey and Ills w ife , M r and M rs. T. B. tnun possessed o f very rem a rkab le s k ill
disadvantage.
he came to L e a ry ’s room he was a
to o k up Ids residence In New Y o rk w ork.
C u lle r. M iss M a ttle W hite, M iss Ben In e lic itin g confessions fro m suspected
C om ing, In h ls confession, to th e lit t le s u rp ris e d to fin d h im s t ill absent,
c ity , and began to c u ltiv a te h a b its fa r
A t firs t step, a ll th e seams o f th e
persons had an In te rv ie w w ith Evans.
ton, and a servant g irl.
beyond his Income, n o ta b ly th e taste safes form ed by the doors w ere care N o rth a m p to n bunk rob b e ry, Evans said b u t supposed he w o u ld he th e re s h o rt
The bedroom o f M r. and M rs. W h lt He professed to Evans th a t th e detec
fo r fu st horses. P e rry heard o f Evans fu lly p u tlle d up. save tw o sm a ll holes, th a t th e gang considered m a k in g an ly . B u t a fte r w a itin g a fe w m lnutea
telsey was entered by tw o men who tives had secured evidence th a t prac-
th ro u g h one Itya n , whom he had kn ow n one nt the top and one a t th e bottom . a tte m p t th e re fo r several m onths be and fin d in g L e a ry s t ill absent, the
seemed to be leuders o f the band. One tlc u lly cleared up the w hole m y s te ry ;
as a crook years before, b u t who was Then, at the upper hole, S co tt held a fo re th e rob b e ry was a c tu a lly exe keeper became a la rm e d , and began a
w ore a long lin e n d u ste r buttoned th a t they knew (w hereas they s till on ly
then ru n n in g a liv e r y stable in an up fu n ne l fille d w ith fine pow der, w h ile cuted.
search.
H e firs t w e n t to th e b a th
n e a rly to Ids knees, also gloves and surm ised) th a t the robbery had been
On th e n ig h t o f th e ro b b e ry Evans room , and n o t fin d in g L e a ry th e re ,
to w n street.
D u n la p applied the a ir-p u m p at ttie
overshoes; th e o th er wore a Jacket co m m itte d by the D u n la p and Scott
B e fo re long Evans found h im s e lf hole below. By th e d ra ft th u s created, was In N ew Y o rk, b u t lie had gone to searched In o th e r places, h ig h and low .
and overalls.
B oth men had th e ir g a n g; th a t fo r weeks they had been
much cram ped fin a n c ia lly . B eing un th e powder was d ra w n In to a ll th e N o rth a m p to n a day o r tw o a fte r, as a l T he n he re tu rn e d to th e b a thro o m , and
faces concealed behind masks, and one slm dow lng Scott and D unhtp (w h ich
able to pay Il.van th e money he owed Interstices between th e heavy doors ready stated. T hen, fo r th e firs t tim e, th e re m ade a d is c o v e ry w h ich fille d
o f them ca rrie d a d a rk la n te rn .
On was tru e ) and could a rre st them at
h im fo r sta b lin g , he began to ta lk o f and the fram es o f th e safes. T hen a he rea lized w h a t Im m ense w ro n g add h im w ith c o n s te rn a tio n .
H e saw In
e n terin g the room the tw o men went any m om ent; th a t th e re was no doubt
se llin g his h o rse ; and one day, when lit t le pistol, loaded s im p ly w ith p o w s u ffe rin g w o u ld he in flic te d upon Inno th e b ric k w a ll, w h a t a t fir s t had es
d ire c tly (o the bed, one standing on th a t th e gang had been tr y in g to play
lie wus co m p la in in g o f being sh o rt o f der. was attached near th e u p p e r hole, cent people hy th e robbers, and he said caped h is a tte n tio n , a g a p in g hole,
e ith e r side, and handcuffed .Mr W lilt- Evans false (a very shrew d guess),
money, Kyan said, “ I f I had y o u r posi and, by a s trin g tie d to the trig g e r, dis It w as th is th a t hnd pro m p te d h im In la rg e enough to a llo w th e passage o f
telsey and his w ife . B oth ca rrie d re and w ould sacrifice h im w ith o u t the
tio n I'd never lack fo r m oney.”
charged from a safe dlstunce above. hls e ffo rts to have th e s e c u ritie s re a m an's body. T h e hole opened In to a
volvers. T he proceedings were much slig h te st c o m p u n ctio n ; and, fin a lly ,
E vans usked him w h a t he meant.
tu n n e l th a t seemed to lead d o w n w a rd .
T he re were several n tte m p ts mHile be stored to th e owners.
th a t th e re was open to Evans one o f
th e same In the oth er rooms.
“ O h." said Ryan, “ th e re are p le n ty fo re a com plete explosion was effe ct
R e tu rn in g to N ew Y o rk , he a t once T h e a la rm was a t once given, and I t
A fte r some delay and whispered tw o courses—e ith e r to su ffe r a rre st on
o f people w ho w ould p u t up w e ll to e d ; hut fin a lly th e safes were b lo w n com m unicated w ith S cott and D u n la p soon appeared th a t th e ke e p er’s fe a rs
co n su ltatio n , the robbers ordered the a charge o f hank robbery, w ith the
know some o f the th in g s you kn o w open and th e ir contents secured, the by m enns o f H e ra ld personals, and w ere o n ly to o w e ll fo unded.
"R e d ”
five women to get up and dress. When prospect o f tw e n ty years In prison, o r
about safes and banks."
robbers m aking good th e ir escape w ith hnd several In te rv ie w s w ith them In L e a ry had escaped.
they had done so. they were roped save h im self, and a t th e same tim e
B y degrees Kyan made h is m eaning one hundred and tw e n ty thousand dot- the c ity d u rin g the m on th o f F e b ru a ry .
I t was fo u n d th a t th e tu n n e l fro m
to g e th e r by ankles and w rists, and earn a s u b sta n tia l m oney rew ard, by
m ore clear, and Evans g re w p ro p e rly la rs In money and about seven hundred W h ile th e y w ere an xio u s to dispose o f th e b a th ro o m led In to a lo o m on the
taken In to a sm all room, w here they m aking a clean confession o f his con
In d ig na n t. T he su b je ct was dropped thousand d o lla rs In bonds. No p a rt o f th e se c u ritie s . It was p la in fro m the f if t h flo o r o f a te n em e n t house u t No.
w ere kept under guard by one o f the nection w ith the crim e. A ll th is, de
fo r the m om ent, but, In subsequent th is money was ever recovered by the fir s t th a t th e y d is tru s te d E vans and 76 L u d lo w s tre e t, a d jo in in g th e Jail.
band. M r. C u tle r also was Im prisoned live re d w ith an a ir o f com pletest ce r
m eetings, Ity a n ke p t re v e rtin g to IL bank, nor were any o f the gang cap proposed to lessen hls share o f the
L e a ry , a fte r hls escape, fled to E u
In the same way. Then the tw o lend ta in ty , was m ore th a n Evans could
M eantim e Evans fo u n d h im s e lf g ro w tu re d at th is tim e. T h e se cu ritie s were, p ro fits .
W h ile p re te n d in g to approve rope, b u t w us a fte rw a rd a rre s te d In
H e b ro ke down
ers devoted themselves to M r. W h lt- stand up against.
ing m ore nnd m ore embarrassed, and however, a fte rw a rd sold bock to the th e steps he was ta k in g fo r a co m p ro B ro o k ly n by R o b e rt P in k e rto n and
telsey. T he y told him p la in ly th a t they com pletely, and to ld a ll he knew.
one day he said, " W h a t Is It these peo hank.
Indeed, so c le v e rly had th e m ise w ith th e bank, th e y w ere re n lly , th re e o f h ls men, w h o held h im up lu
had come fo r the keys o f the bank and
T he sto ry to ld by Evans Is one o f
ple w a n t to kn o w ? "
w hole a ffa ir been managed th a t no sus w ith o u t hls know ledge, c a rry in g on se a sle ig h n t th e c o rn e r o f T w e n ty -
th e com bination o f the v a u lt, a nil th a t the most rem a rkab le In the h is to ry o f
“ W e ll," said Il.van, “ th e y w o u ld lik e p ic io n fe ll upon e ith e r Scott, D u n la p c re t n e g o tia tio n s w ith th e same object. seventh s tre e t und F o u rth avenue,
they w ould “ m ake It h o t” fo r him un crime. He a d m itte d th e correctness o f
to know, fo r one th in g , I f th e re Is any o r any o f th e ir associates.
T h e suspicion on e ith e r side grew u n til B r o o k ly n ; and b e fore L e a ry co u ld
less he gave them w hat they w anted. Robert P in ke rto n 's In fe re n ce th a t the
way o f b e a ting these new Y a le locks?”
H ere w ere fo rtu n e s made easily fin a lly It could no lo n g e r be concealed. m ake use o f a la rg e re v o lv e r w h ich ha
M r. W ld tte lse y was then taken N orth a m p ton hank had been robbed hy
“ You ca n 't p ick a Yale lo ck,” an enough, w ith p le n ty m ore to be made M e e tin g S cott in Prospect p a rk some had on hls person, th e horse was
d ow nstairs, and commanded to su r Scott and D u n la p and th e ir associates,
swered Evans— “ th a t w ould take too In th e same w ay, and th e gang w ere tim e a fte r th e rob b e ry. E vans said, grabbed by th e head and p u lle d to a
render the keys, b u t he refused.
anil In o rd e r to e xp la in his own connec
lo n g ; b u t th e re Is a w ay o f g e ttin g one In high fe a th e r o v e r th e ir success. D u r “ W hen are you going to s e ttle and g ive s ta n d s till, and L e a ry w us dragged o u t
M r. W ld tte lse y kept sile n t.
T hen tio n w ith th is fo rm id a b le gang he went
in g the fo llo w in g sum m er S cott and me m y share?”
o f th e sleigh nnd handcuffed. H e was
both men came a t him . w rin g in g his back to Its o rg a n iza tio n fo u r years open.”
"H o w ? "
“ Y o u ’l l n e ve r get a ce n t," answered ta ke n Im m e d ia te ly to N o rth a m p to n ,
D u n la p live d la p rin c e ly s ty le in New
ears, shaking him hy the th ro a t, h u rlin g before. T he leader o f th e gang was
" W e 'll ta lk th a t over some day.”
S c o tt; "y o u 'v e given th e w h o le gang and p u t In Jail there.
Y ork.
lilm to the floor and pounding th e ir James Dunlap, a lia s James B arton,
H a v in g once nibbled, E vans was not
knees Into bis chest. F or th re e hours who. before he heenme a hank robber,
B y f n ll th e ir m oney begnn to ru n aw ay.”
Some tim e p re v io u s to th is the P in
I t wns soon a fte r th is In te rv ie w th a t k e rto n s had lo cu te d C onroy, w ho had
th is to rtu re was continued. More than had been a hrakem un on the Chicago, long in b itin g ut th e b a it th u s a d ro itly short, a nd th e y decided to lo o k about
held before him . H e consented to be fo r a n o th e r Job. in th e Q u in c y robbery E vans decided, u n d e r th e m anagem ent , U|S(( escaped fro m L u d lo w stre e t Jail,
once the ruffians placed th e ir revolvers A lto n & St. L o u is ra ilro a d .
H is In
at M r. W h llte ls e y 's head declaring born c rlm ln n l in s tin c ts led him to fre Introduced to P e rry , who sh re w d ly th e y had b ro ke n th e ir agreem ent w ith o f S u p e rin te n d e n t Bangs, to save h im In P h ila d e lp h ia ; and Im m e d ia te ly on
they w ould blow Ids b ra in s out unless quent the resorts o f thieves In Chicago, showed him w h a t an easy m a tte r It Evans, p a yin g h im o n ly a sm all sura s e lf by m a k in g a f u ll confession. H e th e a rre s t o f L e a ry , R o b e rt P in k e rto n
be yielded. F ln u lly he d id y ie ld ; the and thus he m et “ Jo h n n y” I.n m h and w ould he fo r a m an who knew the fo r th e use o f th e a ir-p u m p w h ich he had fe w e r scruples about b e tra y in g hls sent one o f hls d e te ctive s fro m N ew
s u ffe rin g was loo g re a t; the suprem e a man named P erry, who took a lik in g secrets o f safe-m akers and could locate had fu rn is h e d them .
Now, however, associates, because he had become Y o rk to P h ila d e lp h ia , w ho was fo r
In s tin c t o f self-preservation asserted to him and ta u g h t him a ll th e y knew weak banks, to m ake a gre a t deal o f th e y called upon him again, nnd, p a rt convinced th a t in th e p re vio u s rob tu n a te enough to a rre s t C onroy a t one
money, w ith o u t danger to h im s e lf.
Itse lf.
T o w a rd fo u r o'clock In the about b re a kin g safes.
ly hy th re a ts , p a rtly by generous offers, beries, n o ta b ly In th e one nt Q uincy, o f h is re s o rts on th e same n ig h t, and
T he re su lt was th a t Evans, In consid Induced h im to usslst them again. A Illin o is , he had been tre a te d m ost u n
m orning, bruised fro m head to foot,
D u n la p 's rig ht-h a n d man wns Hubert
he wus also d e liv e re d in j a il a t N o rth -
and w orn beyond fu rth e r resistance, C. Scott, a lia s " H u s tlin g B o b ," o rig e ra tio n o f f if t y thousand d o lla rs , fin a l series o f unsuccessful a tte m p ts a t f a ir ly hy Scott and D u n la p .
j am pton.
ly
agreed
to
p
ro
vid
e
some
means
o
f
he surrendered the keys, and revealed in a lly a deckhand on a M ississippi
E va n s said th a t fo r several weeks
robbery w ere m ade on hanks In Sara
Some m on th s p re vio u s to th is the
th e tru e com bination o f the va u lt.
steamboat and a fte rw a rd a hotel thief. opening th e Yale lock w h ic h burred toga, N a n tu c k e t, C ovington, K e n tu c k y , p re ce d in g th e N o rth a m p to n robbery P in k e rto n s hud also a rre s te d Thom ua
Then the robbers went nway, leav Scott wns a b ig p o w e rfu l man. w ith the robbers fro m th e coveted treasure and R o c k v ille , C onnecticut. In several th e gang hnd concealed them selves In D o ty , a n o th e r m em ber o f th e band,
in g tw o o f th e ir associates to watch a d e te rm in a tio n equal to an ything . a t E lm ira ,
Instances fa ilu re came nt th e v e ry j th e a ttic o f a schoolhouse w h ich stood and lodged h im In th e N o rth a m p to n
P e rry, In great d e lig h t, h u rrie d hack tim e w hen success seemed sure. In fo u r o f five rods fro m the h ig h w a y and Jail.
over the prisoners.
One o f the hand, T h e ir associates were w h a t one m ight
before Ids departure, did not disdain expect from these two. O th e r mem to E lm ira , and re p o rte d h is success to the case o f th e C o vington hank, f o r In a p a rt fro m o th e r houses.
H ls s ta te
In th e m eantim e, S co tt nnd D u n la p ,
to search M r. W h llte ls e y 's clothes anil bers o f th e gang were T hom as Doty, D u n la p und Scott. In o rd e r to b rin g stance, n itro g ly c e rin wns used In b lo w m ent was s u b s ta n tia te d hy the discov now In s ta te p riso n , had m ade a con
ta ke Ids w atch and chain and fourteen W illia m C onroy, " E d d ie " Goody, John Evans to E lm ira In a w ay n o t to excite in g open th e safe, and the e xplosion ery In th is a ttic , a fte r th e robbery, o f fession as ag a in st L e a ry , th e h o ld e r o f
d o lla rs In money. T he last o f the band P e rry, Janies Green, a professional suspicion, h le tte r wns w r itte n to the wns so v io le n t th a t the men became ' b ln n ke ts, satchels, ropes, b its , pulleys, th e s e c u ritie s ; nnd w hen L e a ry was
rem ained In the house u n til s li o 'c lo c k ; b u rg la r o rig in a lly from Canada, and com pany he served, c o n ta in in g a te m p t frig h te n e d nnd fled In n p a n ic, le a v in g nnd p ro vision s.
b ro u g h t to N o rth a m p to n , th e y w ro te
a n il It was an h o u r la te r before M r. the n o to rio u s John L eary, a liu s " lte d " ing p ro p o sitio n re g a rd in g the purchase behind untouched, a lth o ug h exposed to
A fte r h e a rin g E vans' sto ry , th e ques- him a le tte r, n o tify in g him th a t unless
o
f
safes.
E
vuns
whs
n
t
once
sent
to
W h ltte lse y succeeded In fre e in g h im L e a ry, o f whom m ore w ill be said
vlew , tw o hundred thousand d o lla rs In tlo n forem ost In M r. P in k e rto n 's m ind th e s e c u ritie s w ere handed o ve r to
s e lf from his bonds.
In te r on.
In a d d itio n to these, the E lm ira to lo o k a fte r the m a tte r. He greenbacks and one m illio n five bun- w ns w h e re th e stolen s e c u ritie s had th e ir p ro p e r ow ners, th e y w o u ld ta k e
lie h u rrie d at once to the hank, a r gang contained several m em bers o f stopped at th e lta th h o n e house, w here dred thousand d o lla rs in n e g o tia b le | been concealed.
F ro m w h a t E vans th e w itn e ss sta n d a g a in st h im and
riv in g Ib e ro soon a fte r seven o'clock. less Im portance, men who acted m erely he was w a ite d upon by S cott, w ith bonds. In th e case o f th e R o c k v ille said, and fro m w hat he knew h im s e lf
c o n v ic t h im , b u t th a t I f he d id tu rn
He found the va u lt door locked, and as lookouts, o r ns go-betweens o r mes whom he concerted a p la n o f opera hank th e ir p la n s hud w orked out p e r about th e m ethods o f th e gang, he wns o ve r th e necessary s e c u ritie s th e y
tions. Scott w as to s lip a th in piece o f fe c tly , a n il th e y had rem oved e ve ry sa tisfie d th a t D u n la p possessed th is
Its d ia ls broken off. go th a t la was Im sengers.
w o u ld refu se to ta k e th e stand. T h ia
possible st the m om ent to determ ine
T he firs t la rge o p e ra tio n o f D u n wood In to th e lo ck u t n ig h t, so tlia t th in g fro m th e to p o f th e v a u lt b u t a secret, a n il w ould In tru s t It to no one re s u lte d In th e recovery hy th e N o rth ,
th e extent o f the robbery, or. Indeed, la p 's hand was th e p lu n d e rin g o f the th e lo ck w o u ld n o t w o rk .
Then, as th in la y e r o f b ric k , when S cott a c c i nnless a b s o lu te ly com pelled to do so.
a m pton hank o f n e a rly a ll th e s e c u ri
E vans' presence In th e c ity had been d e n ta lly fo rce d th e Jim m y th ro u g h th e T h e lik e lie s t w a y o f co m p e llin g h im
w h e th er there had been any robbery. F a lls C ity hank In L o u is v ille . Ken
tie s stolen fro m the bank and Its de
I t was necessary to send to New Y o rk lu c k y , o f about tw o hundred thousand niade know n. It was hoped th a t he ro o f o f th e v a u lt nnd let It fa ll inside. was to p u t him u n d e r a rre s t, w h ic h
positors, th is n o t In c lu d in g , how e ve r,
fo r an expert before the v a u lt could 1 d ollars, escaping w ith (h e ir booty. T h is w o u ld he ca lle d upon, as an exi>ert In As I t was to o la te to com plete th e w o rk m ig h t v e ry w e ll he done now th a t
the governm ent bonds and c u rre n c y
he opened, w hich was not accom plished was s a tis fa c to ry as a beginning, b u t d iffic u lt locks, to fin d out w h a t was the th a t n ig h t, and as the presence o f the E vans had consented to tu rn sta te 's
stolen at th e tim e.
u n til late th a t n ig h t, tw e n ty hours D unlap and Scot dream ed o f achieve m a tte r. T h is w o u ld g ive h im an op Jim m y Inside th e v a u lt w o u ld In e v ita evidence.
For
weeks
P in k e rto n
T h e t r ia l o f S bott and D u n la p to o k
a fte r the a tta c k had been made. T hen m ents besbte w h ich th is was Insig p o rtu n ity to secure an Im pression o f b ly s ta rt an a la rm th e n e xt day, th e y “ shadow s” had never been o ff Scott
plnce a t N o rth a m p to n a y e a r and a
It was found th a t the robbers had n ifica n t. T he y began a e n re fu l In ve sti the key. T h e p la n w o rked o n ly too w ere obliged to abandon th e a tte m p t and D u nlap, who spent m ost o f th e ir
h a lf a fte r th e robbery. E vans to o k th e
been only too successful, ha vin g se g a tio n through many states, to learn p e rfe c tly ; and w ith in tw e n ty fo u r hours e n tire ly .
tim e In N ew Y o rk , th e fo rm e r liv in g sta n d a g a in st them , hls evidence m a k
cured money and se cu ritie s estim ated o f hanks o f w eak s tru c tu re c o n ta in in g th e co n sp ira to rs w ere able to pass In
T h e gang's m ost desperate a d v e n tu re w ith hls w ife at a fa sh io na b le h o a rd in g th e ense o f th e pro se cu tio n o v e r
at a m illio n and a q u a rte r d ollars. la rg e treasure, tin e o f th e gang fin a lly Hnd o u t o f th e Young M en's C h ris tia n b e fe ll In connection w ith the a tte m p t in g house In W a sh in g ton Square.
w h e lm in g ly strong. A fte r th re e b o -jrw
M uch o f t ills sum was safe-deposits, fo u nd precisely « h a t they w ere In A ssociation room s as th e y pleased, on th e F irs t N a tio n a l bank o f P itts to n ,
In s tru c tio n s w ere a cco rd in g ly given d e lib e ra tio n the Jury b ro u g h t In a v e r
and the loss fe ll on the d e p osito rs; search o f In the Second N a tio n a l hank w ith o u t the kno w le d g e o f any one.
P en n sylva n ia .
T h e bank occupied a to the shadows to close In upon them ,
d ic t o f g u ilty , and th e p rison e rs w e re
and to some It was tile loss o f th e ir o f E lm ira , New Y o rk, w h ich In s titu
E ve ry n ig h t th e y gathered In the one-story b u ild in g covered w ith a tin and on F e b ru a ry 14. both men were
sentenced to tw e n ty years each In th tj
w hole property.
tio n . being a governm ent depository, room s o f th e Young M en's C h ris tia n roo f, and th e robbers decided to m ake a rre ste d In P h ila d e lp h ia , as they w ere
M th is lim e the a u th o ritie s hnd no contained, as th e y learned on good au A ssociation a fte r th e young men had the a tta c k fro m th e roo f. B u t th e re on the p o in t of ta k in g a tra in fo r the s ta te prison. Scott died In prison, a n il
D un la p , ha vin g been pardoned sev
clu e to th e Id e n tity o f the robbers, th o rity . tw o hundred thousand d o lla rs gone home, u sin g th e ir fa ls e keys to w a g a serious d iffic u lty In the fa c t th a t South.
e ra l years la te r, w ent to liv e In a W e st
though they had le ft behind them nu In greenbacks nnd six m illio n s In o b tain a d m issio n ; nnd th e y renm lned In case o f ra in com ing Ht any tim e
D e sp ite th e la rge sum o f securities
m erous evidences o f th e ir presence, bonds.
th e re h o u rs nt a tim e, doing w hat a fte r th e y had begun operations, w a In th e ir possession, the men had run ern c ity , a reformed man e a rn in g an
honest liv in g .
As fa r as Is kn o w n ,
such ns d u rk la n te rn s, masks, sledge
A survey o f th e prem ises satisfied w o u ld o rd in a rily be th e noisiest w o r k ; te r m ig h t soak th ro u g h th e openings s h o rt o f ready money, and, w h ile a w a it
ham m ers, overshoes, sn d the like . th e gang tlia t. m assive though It ap- h ilt th e ir m ovem ent» w ere so cautious th e y had m ade snd b e tra y them. ing a com prom ise, w ere s ta rtin g out to since leaving th e p e n ite n tia ry he never
W hen several m onths bad elapsed, peared. w ith Its ponderous Iro n w a lls nnd w e ll planned th a t (h e ir presence In D u n la p 's In g e n u ity , however, «-ns equal co m m it a n o th e r robbery. T he y were re tu rn e d to hls e vil ways. C onroy nlso
the P in ke rto n s were called In to the and ro m p llra le d locks, th e v a u lt o f th e b u ild in g was never suspected. to th is e m e rg e n c y ; and each night, ta ke n to N o rth a m p to n , and com m itted took to new ways, and became honest.
•’R e d " L e a ry came to h is death In
ci.se. T he y began bv c a re fu lly s tu d y th is hank was hy no menns Im pos E ve ry n ig h t the c a rp e t nnd flo o rin g a fte r fin is h in g th e tr excavation, they to Jail to a w a it tria l.
a cu riou s way. One n ig h t lie had been
in g ce rta in co m m u n ica tio n s th a t had sib le o f access.
T h e flo o r above the w ere ta ke n up Hnd, a fte r th e y had fin c a re fu lly re la ld th e sheets o f tin th a t
I t happened as M r. P in k e rto n fo re
d rin k in g w ith some frie n d s a t a w e ll-
been received hy th e hank d ire cto rs bank was occupied hy th e Young M en's ished th e ir excavations, were c a re fu lly bad been d is tu rb e d , p ro te c tin g the
saw. B ro u g h t In to confinem ent. Dun
know n s p o rtin g reso rt In New Y o rk, on
fro m persons c ls lm ln g to have In th e ir C h rls tln ti association, one o f th e asso re la ld . T ons o f m asonry nnd heavy Joints w ith red p u tty , w h ich m atched
la p and Scott were com pelled, |n the
p o s s c s lim the m issing securities.
c ia tio n 's rooms being d ire c tly over the stone w ere rem oved, shoveled Into the ro o f In color. So w e ll d id they put conduct o f th e ir affa irs, io reveal the S ixth avenue, between T w e n ty-se vp n th
and T w e n ty -e ig h th streets.
In th e
A fa ct o f nnieli significance to the va u lt. T h e re was the flo o r between, baskets nnd c a rrie d up to th e ro o f o f on th is p u tty th a t, a lth o u g h It rained
h id in g place o f the booty to some oth er
p a rty wns " B illy ” T ra in , an o ld b u n k o
P in k e rto n s wns th e m ilte r rem a rkab le and under th a t fo u r feet o f so lid m n th e opera house, a d jo in in g the bank h e a v ily th e very day a fte r they began,
m em ber o f the gang. T hey chose fo r
man. T he y were a ll som ew hat In to x i
In te re st In th e case, nnd apparent fa
b u ild in g , w here th e re wns sm all chance not a d ro p leaked through.
sonry, some o f th e stones In It weigh
th e ir confidant "R e d " Leary.
T he
m llla r lty w ith It. shown hy one J. G. tng a ton.
And under the m asonry o f th e d e b ris being discovered.
t in th e n ig h t o f Novem ber 4 o n ly se curities, ns subsequently transpired. cated and In clin e d to he u p ro a rio u s
e M
street,
E vans sn expert In safes nnd va u lts was a la y e r o f ra ilro a d Iron , re s tin g on
One dny th e pre sid e n t o f the bank, one la y e r o f b ric k s separated them i were a t th ts tim e b u rle d In a cel l a r on - As
r" they
" ,r> came
c" " " * out on
" n th
tt,e
re e t, “ B illy "
. . -----
. . th ---------------------------------
,e lla
r on T ra in picked up a h rlc k nnd th re w I t
and th e re p re se n ta tive o f one o f the a p la te o f hardened steel an Inch nnd M r. P ra tt, wns su rp rise d , on e n terin g | friH n th e to p o f th e v » . . u . i, lt, .....
snd It
wns . I . . S . ix
avenue, near T h ir ty th ird
street
la rg e st safe m a n u fa cto rie s lu the a h a lf tldek. A lt th is, how ever, so fa r th e v a u lt, to find th e flo o r s p rin k le d decided to fin ish th e w o rk and do th e New Y o rk. T he precise spot was In II
Ut> " the a ir, y e llin g : " L o o k o u t fo r
co u n try.
rob b e ry th a t n ig h t. T w o h ours' hard csted to Learv by Mrs. Scott who In ‘ i ° Ur heads, boys." T o th is w a rn in g
fro m disco u ra g in g the conspirators, w ith s fine w h ite dust. An Investlga
As he stu d ie d th e case. M r P in k e r gave them g re a te r confidence In th e ttoa we« made, and the whole plot was
paid no a tte n tio n ............................-
, and th e h rlc k
w ith d ra g and tack s.-r.-w sufficed d o in g s
■ nded L t
w a re d T h e m em bers o f the gang
Bn opening, and Scott and m eat entered Into hy the members .r
,,own " n h)» head w ith f u ll fo rc e ,
to n reca lled a circu m sta n ce th a t had success o f th e ir plans, once under way, uncovered
the gang before the rob b e r. tl
’ n
’’a rtu rln g Ids s k u ll. He w as ta ke n to
happened In the f n ll o f (he previous since th e very s e c u rity o f the va u lt, by how ever, got w o rd In tim e, and all im n la p were low ered Into the v a u lt
inged to escape except P e rry, who T hey fo u nd th re e M a rv in sp h e rica l o f th e ir num ber who m cht
...
. NeW Y " rk hosP| t »l. and d ie d th e re ,
ye a r
On the n ig h t o f N ovem ber 4, s tru c tu re , fro m overhead a tta ck less m aaa
a tto n in fm l h t ir a lu n
. _
_ i ____
__s .
. . . . .
K I IllT lJ i f l l f P r fllU pV ) B ltffa e lw r v
th e F irs t N a tio n a l hank o f P ittsto n , ened the strictn e ss o f the surveillance. was co n victe d o f a
tte m p te d b u rg la ry safes
pro te cte d hy s b u rg la r a
larm , . tro
u b le could If he saw a necessity. a fte r much suffering.
P e n n sylva n ia , hnd been robbed o f s ix ty Indeed, th e most serious d iffic u lty , In and sent to th e A u b u rn prison fo r five Hut D u n la p w ss som ew hat o f nn elec- ca ll upon h ls confederates to dlspi.s
As fo r the safe-expert, Evan«, he la
th o u ssn d d o lla rs, snd M r P in k e rto n th e e stim a tio n o f the robbers, was to yeara.
j trtc a l e xp e rt, and was able to so sur- o f a ll th e securities on whatever rermZ engaged In le g itim a te business, and 1«
hsd gona th e re to In ve stiga te th e case. gain easy and iinsnsperted adm ission to
I'n d ls tn rh e d hy th e fa ilu re , Scott rou n d th e h n rg ta r a la rm w ith heavy w ere posslhle and use the proceeds In prospering. In c o m p ilin g fh l» c h a p te r
H e met a n u m b e r o f safe men. It being the q u a rte rs o f the Young M en's C h ris and D u n la p proceeded to aconr th e hoards so as to re n d e r It o f lit t le o r no g e ttin g him and o t h e r s - lf others were from the records, th e w r ite r has. by
a business custom w ith safe men to tia n A ssociation, on the second floor. c o u n try again In search o f a n o th e r danger. T he y experienced much d iffi
request, changed some o f the names o f
In t r o u b l e I s o - f r e e .
A , , h, „
flock to th e scene o f an Im p o rta n t T h e se cre ta ry, a very p rudent man, hail hank aulted to th e tr operations, anil c n lty , tho ug h . In b lo w in g open th e I.e sry sco ffed at th is agreem en t, hut the parties, w h o since th a t tim e have
hank rob b e ry In o rd e r to supply new p a t on th e ou tsid e door o f th e aseoeta- the next F e b ru a ry n o tifie d the gang. ; safe. T h e firs t one atte m p te d yie ld e d wss p e rfe c tly w illin g even eager i l k reform ed, and are now respected
V------ mem-
safe« fo r th e ones th a t have been tlo n room s an Im proved Yale lock, w h ich now co n taine d some new mem- i on th e second explosion, snd they so h a v e It en forced , little I . , . ,
i . 7
,h * «‘" " ’ ’’’ n n ltle s w here they re-
w h ich « a a then new upon the m a rke t ber«. th a t (hey had “ fo u n d som ething | cured flve hundred d o lla rs In cu rre n cy
w re cked
W h ile they « e re a ll cxuiu
ha« no d r o ir . «
he ! In ju re them.
FAMOUS DETECTIVE CASES
A
1