Clay County Savings Association Building | |
Location | Liberty, MO |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39°14′49.58″N 94°25′8.36″W / 39.2471056°N 94.4189889°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1859 |
Architectural style | Federal |
MPS | Liberty MPS |
NRHP reference No. | 92001675 [1] |
Added to NRHP | December 28, 1992 |
The Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri, was robbed on February 13, 1866, making it one of the earliest documented daylight bank robberies. The robbers escaped with at least $60,000 (equivalent to $1,249,000 in 2023 [2]) and killed a bystander outside. The robbery is believed to have been conducted by a group of former Confederate guerrillas, possibly led by Jesse James [3] or Archie Clement, which became known as the James–Younger Gang.
According to accounts of the day:
The entire maneuver lasted no more than 15 minutes. [3]
In total, the robbers collected at least $60,000. [4] Reportedly they collected government bonds worth $42,000 [3] to $45,000, [4] $518 in tax stamps, [3] gold, silver coins, and banknotes. [3]
The bank offered a $5,000 reward for recovery of the money. [4] Attempts to track the robbers were hindered by snow that covered their tracks. [4] Articles in local newspapers implicated both former Confederate bushwackers [4] and Kansas Redlegs of the crime. Later, some townspeople admitted to recognizing some of the robbers but withholding the information out of fear. [3] The robbers were never caught, and no money was ever recovered. The Association eventually settled with creditors for 60 cents on the dollar and closed. [3]
The building is located at 104 East Franklin Street, a block northeast of the Clay County Courthouse. It was built in 1859, and is a two-story, Federal style rectangular brick building with a gable roof. [5]: 2 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. [1]
Clay County Savings Association Building | |
Location | Liberty, MO |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39°14′49.58″N 94°25′8.36″W / 39.2471056°N 94.4189889°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1859 |
Architectural style | Federal |
MPS | Liberty MPS |
NRHP reference No. | 92001675 [1] |
Added to NRHP | December 28, 1992 |
The Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri, was robbed on February 13, 1866, making it one of the earliest documented daylight bank robberies. The robbers escaped with at least $60,000 (equivalent to $1,249,000 in 2023 [2]) and killed a bystander outside. The robbery is believed to have been conducted by a group of former Confederate guerrillas, possibly led by Jesse James [3] or Archie Clement, which became known as the James–Younger Gang.
According to accounts of the day:
The entire maneuver lasted no more than 15 minutes. [3]
In total, the robbers collected at least $60,000. [4] Reportedly they collected government bonds worth $42,000 [3] to $45,000, [4] $518 in tax stamps, [3] gold, silver coins, and banknotes. [3]
The bank offered a $5,000 reward for recovery of the money. [4] Attempts to track the robbers were hindered by snow that covered their tracks. [4] Articles in local newspapers implicated both former Confederate bushwackers [4] and Kansas Redlegs of the crime. Later, some townspeople admitted to recognizing some of the robbers but withholding the information out of fear. [3] The robbers were never caught, and no money was ever recovered. The Association eventually settled with creditors for 60 cents on the dollar and closed. [3]
The building is located at 104 East Franklin Street, a block northeast of the Clay County Courthouse. It was built in 1859, and is a two-story, Federal style rectangular brick building with a gable roof. [5]: 2 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. [1]