Murder Victim.
First National Bank of Pearl River
Bank Robbery.
Most of the people who have taken up residence in Pearl Hiver during the past 95 years do not know that the monument in Memorial Park, Pearl River. bears a plaque inscribed:
"In Memorium James B. Moore and Siegfried W. Butz, who lost their lives in defense of the First National Bank of Pearl River, December 29, 1921",
nor of the story of the attempted hold-up of the bank in defense of which the two gave their lives.
At noon on that long ago December day in '21, Assistant Cashier Moore and junior clerk Butz were alone in the bank. A man who had previously rented a safe deposit box entered the bank, was granted access to the vault, and then attempted to hold up the two employees. He was wounded. Moore and Butz were shot and killed, and a railroad watchman (Otto Miller) who ran to assist was wounded. The robber escaped but did not get any of the money he had hoped to steal. Later it was proved by the late Augustus M. Ceiger that a missing Westwood, New Jersey, electrician, Darsch nee Fernekes, was the killer. It was discovered he was a former train robber and was wanted for other killings. The case dragged on for many years. Finally on a tip from a librarian in Chicago, police arrested the fugitive. He escaped and later allegedly committed suicide in prison.
James B Moore (grave)
First National Bank of Pearl River
Bank Robbery.
Most of the people who have taken up residence in Pearl Hiver during the past 95 years do not know that the monument in Memorial Park, Pearl River. bears a plaque inscribed:
"In Memorium James B. Moore and Siegfried W. Butz, who lost their lives in defense of the First National Bank of Pearl River, December 29, 1921",
nor of the story of the attempted hold-up of the bank in defense of which the two gave their lives.
At noon on that long ago December day in '21, Assistant Cashier Moore and junior clerk Butz were alone in the bank. A man who had previously rented a safe deposit box entered the bank, was granted access to the vault, and then attempted to hold up the two employees. He was wounded. Moore and Butz were shot and killed, and a railroad watchman (Otto Miller) who ran to assist was wounded. The robber escaped but did not get any of the money he had hoped to steal. Later it was proved by the late Augustus M. Ceiger that a missing Westwood, New Jersey, electrician, Darsch nee Fernekes, was the killer. It was discovered he was a former train robber and was wanted for other killings. The case dragged on for many years. Finally on a tip from a librarian in Chicago, police arrested the fugitive. He escaped and later allegedly committed suicide in prison.
James B Moore (grave)
Murder Victim.
First National Bank of Pearl River
Bank Robbery.
Most of the people who have taken up residence in Pearl Hiver during the past 95 years do not know that the monument in Memorial Park, Pearl River. bears a plaque inscribed:
"In Memorium James B. Moore and Siegfried W. Butz, who lost their lives in defense of the First National Bank of Pearl River, December 29, 1921",
nor of the story of the attempted hold-up of the bank in defense of which the two gave their lives.
At noon on that long ago December day in '21, Assistant Cashier Moore and junior clerk Butz were alone in the bank. A man who had previously rented a safe deposit box entered the bank, was granted access to the vault, and then attempted to hold up the two employees. He was wounded. Moore and Butz were shot and killed, and a railroad watchman (Otto Miller) who ran to assist was wounded. The robber escaped but did not get any of the money he had hoped to steal. Later it was proved by the late Augustus M. Ceiger that a missing Westwood, New Jersey, electrician, Darsch nee Fernekes, was the killer. It was discovered he was a former train robber and was wanted for other killings. The case dragged on for many years. Finally on a tip from a librarian in Chicago, police arrested the fugitive. He escaped and later allegedly committed suicide in prison.
James B Moore (grave)
First National Bank of Pearl River
Bank Robbery.
Most of the people who have taken up residence in Pearl Hiver during the past 95 years do not know that the monument in Memorial Park, Pearl River. bears a plaque inscribed:
"In Memorium James B. Moore and Siegfried W. Butz, who lost their lives in defense of the First National Bank of Pearl River, December 29, 1921",
nor of the story of the attempted hold-up of the bank in defense of which the two gave their lives.
At noon on that long ago December day in '21, Assistant Cashier Moore and junior clerk Butz were alone in the bank. A man who had previously rented a safe deposit box entered the bank, was granted access to the vault, and then attempted to hold up the two employees. He was wounded. Moore and Butz were shot and killed, and a railroad watchman (Otto Miller) who ran to assist was wounded. The robber escaped but did not get any of the money he had hoped to steal. Later it was proved by the late Augustus M. Ceiger that a missing Westwood, New Jersey, electrician, Darsch nee Fernekes, was the killer. It was discovered he was a former train robber and was wanted for other killings. The case dragged on for many years. Finally on a tip from a librarian in Chicago, police arrested the fugitive. He escaped and later allegedly committed suicide in prison.
James B Moore (grave)
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