Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1889 — A VERY BOLD BANK ROBBERY. [ARTICLE]

A VERY BOLD BANK ROBBERY.

4 ■ A JBank President Compelled to Issue His , Check For 921,000, Clot It Cashed end Turn the Money Over to the Thief. The boldest and most succekful bank robbery every reported in the West was perpetrated upon the First National bank of Denver, Col., at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon. The robbers succeeded in getting away with $21,000.

Thursday morning, immediately after the opening of the bank, a well-dressed man, walked into the bank and asked Assistant Cashier Ross Lewin where he could see Mr. Moffatt, president of the bank. Mr. Lewin informed him that he could see Mr. Moffatt, at the president’s office in the Cheesman block. Nothing more was seen or heard of the stranger until Friday about 10 o’clock, when he entered the office and asked to see Mr. Moffatt on important business. He statea that he had discovered a conspiracy whereby the First national bank

was to be robbed of a large amount of money. Mr. Moffatt told the man that he was very busy at that moment, but he would be pleased to meet him at his private office in the bank at 1 o’clock. With this the man left the building. k In a few minutes after the hopr ap pointed he called at the bank and was shown into the president’s office. While remaining standing, he inquired if the cashier was in and was told that he was at lunch. He then asked for a blank check for the purpose of showing how .the robbery was to be perpetrated. The check was handed him. He laid it upon the desk in front of Mr. Moffatt and said: ‘1 will have to do this myself,’ and, pulling a large revolver from his coat, placed it at Mr. Moffatt’s head, and in a decidedly earnest, but unexcited manner, said: ‘I want $21,000 and am going to have it. I have considered this matter—the chance I am running and the consequences if I fail and am arrested. I am penniless and a desperate man, and have been driven, during the past s week, to that point where I have considered suicide as the only means of escape from the poverty and misery in which I exist. You have millions. I am determined to have what I have asked for. If Fou make a noise, call a man or ring a jell I will blow your brains out and then blow up the building and myself with this bottle of glycerine (which he at that moment pulled out of his pocket). Now, take your choice. Moffatt started to argue with the

man, but was stopped with the information that it was useless, and he had but two minutes in which to fill out the check before him for $21,000, if he desired to live. Moffatt, seeing no other alternative, filled out the check and was then ordered to take it to the paying teller and get it cashed. Mr. Moffatt left his office and, with the man behind him with the revolver partially concealed under his overcoat and with the muzzle almost against Moffatt’s back, marched behind the counter ana up to Paying Teller Keeley with the request that the Check be immediatelv cashed. They then remarched into Moffatt’s office without attracting the^attention of the fifteen or twenty clerks who were within two feet of where they passed. After they had remained in the private office three or four minutes, the robber informed Mr. Moffatt that they were wasting time and that he had bettor step to the door and motion his teller to come to him, which be did. Moffatt instructed him to bring the monev into his office and,'as the teller turned to go away, thezrobber told him he wanted twenty one-theusand-ddllar bills and SI,OOO in gold. The money was brought in and handed to the gentleman, and, waiting until the teller had reached bis desk, he backed out to the front door, making Mr. Moffatt remain standing in his door until he had reached the curbstone. He then raised his hat and walked around the corner and has not yet been heard of. The bottle supposed to contain deadly nitro-glycerine, with which the daring robber frightened President Moffatt, of the Denver bank, making him had over $21,000, has been found, and proves to have contained only castor oil. The robber has not been captured.