A UNIQUE OUTRAGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2644, 22 June 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

A UNIQUE OUTRAGE.

A telegram in a recent American paper reads as follows : —

Dksvek, Col., March 30.—The details of the robbery of David H. Moffat, President ot the Douever and Rio Grande and First National Bank of 21,000 dollars yesterday afternoon differ somewhat from the story which first gained publicity. To a California Associated Press reporter Mr Moffat made the following statemeut; ' This morning a well-dressed stranger, giving his name as C. K. Wells, called at my office in the Railway building and wished to see me privately on matters concerning the First National Bank. As I was very busy at, the time, I made an engagement to meet him at my private office in the bank at ,l o'clock. Promptly at that hour Wells filtered 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 nitro-glyoerine 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 realised 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 ha was in earnest and I had better submit. • I filled out the check for 21, 000 dollars and took it to the paying teller, Wells keeping me all the time covered with his revolver. After waiting for a few minuses, which to me seemed like hours, he asked me if the money was net coming. I rssu red iritn I had ordered it as lie had commanded, and I would a.o and call for it again if hewished He said, ' Wait a few minutes longer.' As the money did not come he 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 door and I a-ked Wellswhat denomination bdls he wanted. Mr Wells informed mc that he wished the most in large bills, with 1,000 dollars in gold. All this time the eyes of the robber were fixed upon sue, and 1 dare make no sign. Frcseul.ly Mr King returned to his desk. Mr Wells arose and, sajiug that he would return and kill me if 1 gave any sort of an al inn before he was out of the buildintr, quietly and nonchalantly walked to the dooor and disappeared, As soon as he passed out of the door I rushed out and gave the alarm, exclaiming, ' That ma.i has robbed me !" ' 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 Helleck and Howard Block. He proved to be a customer of the bank, who had been having a 500 dollar bill changed. Up to the present hour no clue to the thief exists beyond a very close description given of him by President Moffat. The chances are he will escape. The coolness and daring of the affair are almost beyond parallel. It is the first bank robbery ever perpetrated in this city.