THE HISTORY OF A CRIME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 332, 29 August 1879, Page 11

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 ult,, Captain Byrnes and his detectives arrested Henry Glenn, Patrick Schoolin, and William Kelley on the charge of being implicated in the robbery whereby money and securities, worth nearly 3,000,000 dollars, were stolen on the night of the 2/ th of October, 1878. One of them 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 organized a band to rob the bank, but it was broken up by the arrest and conviction of most of the members of the gang for other crimes. Then he organized 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 : but Hope, thoroughly convinced of the feasibility of his scheme, lost no time in reorganising his forces.

Dobbs, or " Big Kid, 11 who was on foot again, and others equally skilled and desperate, joined him, and the work began in earnest On bunday morning, when the friendly watchman was on duty in the bank, 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 use wax in taking an impression of a keyhole. The watchman, Patrick Slevin, was an apt scholar and soon returned the lump which the burglar had brought with an impression, from which the latter was able to make a key for the outer street door on Bleeker Street, which was found to fit, and was put by for use. This attempt also failed for want of time, but 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. It 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 detective went to work, and, after a long search, John Dobbs and the younger Hope were arrested. r

Slevin says each member of the gang was assessed 600 dols. after getting their money share, which was sent to Washington to defeat the bill introduced in Congress to duplicate the stolen bonds, as, if it passed, it would be difficult to negotiate the originals. Meanwhile the various town bonds stolen were negotiated, and Slevin got 2,000 dollars as his share therefrom, and Jimmy Hope went to Washington to have the bill stopped. Kelly, when arrested, denied his guilt, but when confronted with Slevin he burst out into a fit of swearing, and said : " The bank had to pay a dividend on June 1, and to do it would have to come to terms and settle with us." Watchman Slevin was shadowed early and late, and was found to be drinking hard and spending money lavishly. He was arrested recently and finally confessed the whole plot to Captain Byrnes, and Kelly was arrested on his return from the Jerome Park races.