Robbery at Camanche

Source: Clinton Herald, Page 1, August 11, 1866

Dunning's Bank Relieved of $6,000 to $8,000
THE ESCAPE OF THE ROBBERS

Camanche was yesterday wild with excitement over the announcement of a robbery which, for boldness of conception and successful execution is worthy of notice. It is but a repetition of the case in the ease some time since -- a banker taken from his bed and forced to open his own safe -- he standing by, and merely a witness to this new system of "exchange without discount." The facts, as nearly as can be ascertained from confused stories, are these:

Martin Dunning, one of the oldest residents of Camanche, carrying on the banking business near the corner of Yazoo and Front streets, was on Thursday night, about twelve o'clock, visited by a party of robbers. His house adjoins the bank. At about the hour named, a party of five or six ruffians (some suspect a female was one of the gang) surrounded the house, broke in the back door, leading to Mr. Dunning's bedroom. Mrs. D, hearing the noise, looked out of her bedroom window adjoining her husband's, saw the robbers, and gave a scream. One of the ruffians presented a revolver and bade her keep quiet, or he would silence her with a bit of cold lead; another seized Mr. D. in bed and throttled him. The scream of Mrs. D. awoke her sister, Miss Monroe, who ran from her room toward Mrs. D's exclaiming, "What is the matter?" Another took violent hold of Miss M. and bade her be quiet, offering the same inducements as to Mrs. D. Martin Dunning, Jr., a nephew of the banker, found a strong hand upon his throat, and thus he was kept mum. The last one to be kept quiet was "the damned n----r," as they styled her (meaning Dunning's servant), and for whom they inquired. Now though both the elder and the younger Dunning had revolvers, neither of them had opportunity to use the articles. Mr. Dunning had a small night-lamp burning in his room, so that the robbers could see just where his revolver was; and the young man was choked so quick after entrance that he could not use his.

Having the five inmates of the house thus secured, four of them were left under a guard of three robbers, while two took Mr. Dunning to the bank and said they "would give him five minutes to open the safe." Mr. D., who wears glasses, and did not have them with him on this occasion, experienced great trouble in finding the lettered keys of the patent combination safe. Supposing Mr. D. was playing "possum," after he had labored hard twenty or thirty minutes they gave him the space of one minute longer to throw open the doors, or they would "spill his brains." In verification of the old scriptural proverb, "all that a man hath will he give for his life," Mr. D. touched the letters within the minute. Then the thieves went in with the robber's gusto, helping themselves to the contents of the safe -- amounting to between six and eight thousand dollars -- principally in 7-30 government bonds, of which it is believed Mr. Dunning has not the numbers. A poor widow lady, named Conkling, whose husband was killed during the late rebellion, had something like $100 in the bank, and Mrs. Dyer also a small amount. Neither of these ladies will probably be the losers, however, as the banker is reported to be yet worth $30,000 or $40,000.

When the two guards had returned with Mr. Dunning to the house, the whole party then proceeded to ransack every nook and corner in the house, in search of plunder. The silver plate was fortunately overlooked, but they cabbaged two watches, a shot gun, rifle, two revolvers, bed-clothing, (which indicates expectation of cammping out), jewelry, etc. Some spoons belonging to Miss Monroe, which they at first levied on, were afterwards returned, on her pleading that "the spoons were a present from her mother." On Mrs. D's protesting against their taking everything, one of the rascals slipped a $10 greenback in her hand and whispered, "I wish you understand that I am an honest man." The rascals took particular pains to appropriate the yaller gal's breastpin, as she made a disturbance once which frightened away some persons (about four weeks since) who were seen skulking about the house; and this was a tolerable easy let off for her, since they promised to "kill the d---d n----r." As to the other inmates of the house, they protested they did not want to hurt any one -- they only wanted "the one thing needful."

When the party had satisfied themselves with booty, the whole family were ordered to bed, with threats of cold lead if they made the least noise and a promise to return and burn the house if any report of the robbery should be given on Friday. They did even commence to tie some of the family in bed with twisted sheets but this was finally abandoned, and those who deserved hanging on the spot went off soot free. They promised to leave a guard to watch the premises and shoot the first one who should attempt to leave the premises or raise an alarm. Retiring from the back door, as they came in, the robbers escaped without disturbance, with a promise to "visit Camanche again," although a team stood hitched near by the house, and parties were at work in rectifying establishment near the bank. This promis to "call again" makes many of the citizens nervous.

When Mrs. Dunning had reason to believe the rascals fairly withdrawn from the premises, she slipped out at the front door in her night clothes, scaled the fence, and coming to Dr. A. B. Ireland's back door gave the alarm and the Dr., waiting only to put on his pants, went out, barefoot and bareheaded, to arouse the neighbors. Pretty soon the Mayor (H. W. Smith) was at his office in a long night-gown, and, but for the startling incidents of the occasion, one would have supposed the Mayor was intending to dispense gospel rather than law.

Mr. Dunning's house was at once visited and examined; men sent to DeWitt, Cordovia, Princeton and Albany, and dispatches sent to Chicago and various points on lines of river and railroad communication; also some fifty armed men sent in all directions.

Mayor Smith and Dr. Ireland drove at once to Clinton, gave the alarm to bankers, merchants and city officers, and repaired to the Bailey House block, where a council was held -- the particulars of which are not nessary for the public to know. The delegation to Clinton have expressed a desire to publicly acknowledge their obligations to Mayor A??heny, Marshal Seaman and the business men who co-operated with them so thoroughly and efficiently. Sheriff Hogle arrived in Camanche on the noon train Friday, and is engaged with his usual skill and ability in ferreting out the matter.

Business was almost entirely suspended in Camanche on Friday, and the citizens, armed, turned out en masse to hunt the robbers. A party of young folks who had on Thursday night been over to Capt. Barnes' hotel in Albany, to attend a dance, but who had not learned of the robbery, on crossing the river at abouot one o'clock on their return home, met a party of men pushing off from the shore, and one of them remarked, "Well, there'll be about a thousand a piece for all." This conversation gave the cue as to the direction the robbers had taken, but up to this time, (12 p.m. Friday) the only discovery made has been the finding of a five cent piece, a boat, an empty whiskey bottle, and some burnt paper, which it is supposed they had used as a torch while dividing their spoils. These have been discovered at points below Camanche on both the Iowa and Illinois side, and circumstances seem to point to the islands near the mouth of the Wapsie river as the rendezvoous of these and perhaps a large band of robbers.

There are some points with may not yet be made public, leading to the conclusion that one party, at least, to this robbery, has been loafing about Camanche for some time past.

We learn that Mr. Dunning has offered a reward from $1,000 to the entire amount taken, for the recovery of the money and the punishment of the robbers.

We sincerely hope the city officers of Clinton will make a clean sweep of the loafing fraternity in this city, even at the risk of swelling the vagrant list, before the city shall be visited in force by a band of robbers and thieves. There are some suspicious places, worthy City Fathers and officers, which need your immediate attention. Since the scavanger question is on the topic, clean out the moral as well as physical nuisances.

(transcriber's note: In looking through more issues, it seems the bandits were never caught.)

Transcribed by NettieMae Lucas January 7, 2025