Romance Of Crime

On the 23d of July last, in tho early morning, tho safe of the Winthrop (Me.) Bank was blown open, and tho burglars stole $90,000 in bonds, bankrupting tho inatituticn. A reward of $10,000 was ofiered, but the oflbrts of tho detectives were fruitloss. The oflicers of the bank knew, however, that the lxnds could not readily be negotiatod, and so they waitod patiently. The flrat cluo was obtained by Joshua Taggart, the Philadelphia detective, who, boing in Boston on business abont ton days after the robbery, extended his trip to Winthrop. He exarnined the safes that liad been sont to IJostonto bo exchanged for new ones, and the indications were that the burglary had been committcd by persons whom he knew. He procured a description of certain men noen in Winthrop on tho day beforo the robbery, and soon after wrote to tho bank officials asking them to send one of their number to Philadelphia at once with authority to act. The mission was givcn to Col. Charles A. Wing, of Winthrop, and on tho 6th of September he went to Philadolpliia with full authority. An arrangement was made for the burglars' agent to meet Col. Wing in a secluded place on the 9th of Septomber, and the person who represented the burglars otfered to restore all the securities except tho government bonds and the currency. Col. Wing said that if that was tho final conclusión in regard to tho government bonds, he would not care to negotinte. Tho robbers' agent seemed indifferent, and smoked his eigar, and twirled a enne. Finally Col. Wing asked what could bc done in regard to the other securitics. "My diroctions are for twenty per cent. of' the market value," was the repiy- The interview was then adjourned for threo hours, and another placo was sclected for the second moeting. Then tho burglars' agent offered for $10,000 to restoro all the property, except currency and government bonds, which the burglars had disposed of. Col. Wing asked time to report to the Trustees of the bank. Col. Wing reported tho rcsult of his missiou to the bank ofïicers, and they unanimously thought that the $10,000 should be paid. As the appointment of a liecoiver by tho court was then pondiDg, a decisión was doferred until after tho appointment had boen made. The Receivor concurrod with the Trustees, and obtained an order from the Court authorizing him to offer a reward, not exceeding $10,000, for the rocovery of " certaiu assets set for Ui in his peiition." The Receiver then gave Col. Wing $10,000, and authorized him to recover the property. On the 25th of October Col. Wing started for Philadelphia. The agent of the robbers was in New York, and Col. Wing and Detectivo Taggart agreed by telegraph to meet him in the St. Nicholas Hotel on the evoning of the 27th. All partios wero prompt, and a meeting was arranged for the same eveningup town inasmallbackroom, up two flights of stairs in a building occupied as a saloon. Col. Wing and Taggart were on time, and a few minutes af terward tho robbers' agent enteted with a package. He was not tho same person whom Col. Wing had seen in Philadelphia, and ovidently diri not wish to be recognized. The collar of his heavy overcoat was drawn up around his neck, and his folt hat was down over his eyes. He held a white handkerchief to his face, which complotely concoalod his features. The $10,000 was in $100 bank notes. Taggart handcd the money over, and the agent hamled a package to Detective Taggart. The socurities which the agent had promiscd to return wero all there. Immodiately after reeeiving tlio mouey the man went out of the room. The market valuo of the securities recovered is $50,000.