THE HISTORY OF A CRIME

Temuka Leader, Issue 173, 3 September 1879, Page 3

THE HISTORY OF A CRIME

The ’whole story of the Manhattan (New York) Savings Bank burglary is at last known through the confession of the burglars. Saturday night., the 31st ‘ nit., Captain Byrnes and his detectives arrested Henry Glenn, Patrick Schqolin, and William Kelley on the charge of being implicated in the robbery whereby money and securities, worth nearly 3,000,000 dollars, were stolen o\.the night of the 27th of October, 18/8. One -ofthem has confessed the whole plot to Captain Byrnes. The robbery was planned more than three years ago. A burglar known as Little Tracey first concocted the scheme, and organised a hand to rob the hank, but it was broken, up by the arrest and conviction of most of the members of the gang for other crimes. Then he organised a second gang, in which were Jimmie Hope, George Howard, John Dobbs, Jim Brady, and others. They also had in league with them a man who was employed as watchman at odd hours in the bank. Two attempts were made by this gang to rob the bank, but each failed, through the inability of the watchman to meet his engagements. This gang was also broken up : hut Hope, thoroughly convinced of the feasibility of his scheme, lost no time m reorganising his forces. Dobbs, or “ Big Kid,” who was on foot again, and others equally skilled and desperate, joined him, and the work began in earnest. On Sunday morning, when the friendly watchman was on duty in the hank, Hope was let into the building, and used his opportunity to thoroughly examine the vaults. The next Sunday he returned, and taught the watchman how to n sc. wax'in taking an impression of _a keyhole The watchman, Patrick Slevin, was an apt scholar and soon returned the Ikmp

which the burglar had brought with an

impression, from which the latter was able to make a key for the outer street door on Bieekcr Street, which was found to fit, and was put by for use. This attempt also failed for want of time, hut an entrance to the vault containing the safes was effected. Eight months later negotiations were again opened with Watchman Slevin. Finally the job was put up for Sunday morning, October 27th, and in it were Jimmie Hope, Kelley and Dobbs, together with Night Watchman Slevin. Jt was thought that Slevin would have charge' of the bank on that night, but an accident frustrated it. The gang resolved to carry out their plans after the night watchman had left, and when the day watchman came on. How well they were carried out every 'one knows, and nearly 3,000,000d015. was carried away. Kelley stood guard over the manacled janitor.' He gave them the combination to the safe, being

in mortal terror of his life. The delect:.'e wont to work, and, after a long

sea:idg .him Dobbs and the younger H<’me ware arrested.