A UNIQUE OUTRAGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8687, 23 May 1889, Page 3

A UNIQUE OUTRAGE.

■ » A telegram in a recent American paper reads as follows:

Denver, Col,, March 30.—The details of the robbery of David H. Mofiat, President of the Denver and Rio Grande and First Rational Bank of §21,000 yesterday afternoon differ somewhat from the story which fir=t gained publicity. To a California Associated Press reporter Mr Moffat made the following statement : ‘ This morning a well-dressed stranger, giving his name ss C. K. Wells, called at my office in the Railway building and wished to see me privately on matters concerning thoFirsbNational Bank. As I was very busy at the time, I made an engagement to meet him at my private office in the bank at 1 o’clock. Promptly at that hour Wells entered my office in the bank. He enquired if I had a blank check, which I thought somewhat strange, but when one was obtained I was soon made to understand that I was wanted. Wells suddenly drew a revolver, and setting a bottle of nitre-glycerine on the desk remarked, coolly, that if I made any alarm he would blow out my brains and then blow up the building, as he lealiaed his life would be forfeited if he failed in his scheme and was caught. I looked him in the eye and made up my mind he was in earnest and I had better submit.

‘I filled out the cheek for $21,000 and tpok it to the paying teller. Wells keeping me all the time covered with hia revolver. After waiting tor 1 a few minutes, which to me seemed like hours, he asked mo if the money was not coming. I assured him I had ordered it as he had .commanded, and I would go and call for it again if he wished. He said, ‘ Wait a few minutes longer.’ As the money did hot come ho told me to step to the door and command the teller to hurry up as ho was in great haste. I did so, and Mr King, the teller, came to the and I asked Wells what denomination bills he wanted. Mr Wells informed me that he wished the most in large bills, with §I,OOO in gold. All this time the eyes of the robber were fixed upon me, and 1 dare make no sign. Presently Mr King returned to his desk. Mr Wells arose and. saying that he would return and kill me if I gave any sort of an alaam before ho was cut of the building, quietly and nonchalantly walked to the door and disappeared. As soon as he passed out of the door I rushed out and gave the alarm, exclaiming, * That man has robbed me J ” ’ After the alarm had been given the greatest excitement prevailed. Chase, was given to a man who was seen moving rapidly towards Seventeenth-street, and he was arrested in a room in the Halleck and Howard Block. He proved to be a customer of the bank, who had been having a §SOO bill changed. Up to the present hour no clue to the thief exists beyond a very close description given of him by President Mi-flat. The chances are he will escape. The coolness and daring of the affair are aln.ost beyond parallel. It is the first big bank robbery over perpetrated in this city.