Emerging from the shadowy underworld of 19th-century America, Jimmy Hope carved out a formidable reputation as one of the nation’s most successful and elusive bank robbers. This enigmatic figure, often referred to as “Old Jimmy” Hope, was not only a cunning burglar but also a renowned escape artist, consistently baffling authorities with his repeated breakouts from prison. His criminal exploits spanned major cities like Philadelphia and New York City, leaving a trail of audacious heists that cemented his place in the annals of American crime history.
Born James Hope in 1836 to impoverished Irish immigrant parents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his early life began far from the notoriety he would later achieve. He worked as a machinist and established a family, seemingly embarking on a conventional path. However, by 1869, Jimmy Hope had forsaken this life, choosing instead the thrill and peril of a career in crime.
Early Deceptions: The Kensington Savings Bank Heist
A Daring Masquerade
Hope’s criminal career ignited with spectacular flair on April 6, 1869. A well-dressed man, later identified as a member of Hope’s gang, entered the Kensington Savings Bank in Philadelphia. Posing as a detective from the Chief of Police, he informed the bank president of an impending robbery that very night, advising that three or four uniformed policemen would be secreted within the bank before closing. The president, sworn to secrecy, unwittingly set the stage for one of the most audacious deceptions of the era.
The Robbery Unfolds
True to the “detective’s” word, uniformed “policemen” appeared at approximately 2:50 p.m. They instructed the bank’s two porters to stand guard. Early in the evening, one porter was dispatched for beer. Upon his departure, the disguised “policemen”—who were, in fact, Jimmy Hope’s gang of safe robbers—overpowered and gagged the remaining porter. The returning porter met the same fate. The gang then proceeded to crack the safe, securing a substantial sum estimated between $80,000 and $100,000. While the heist was successful, a bitter dispute during the division of the spoils tragically led to the killing of three of the robbers. Prominent members of the gang included Jimmy Hope, Jim Casey, Tom McCormick, and George Howard; Casey was later killed by McCormick in New York, and Howard’s body was discovered near Yonkers, New York, in 1878.
New York City Operations and Early Imprisonment
Just months after the Kensington heist, in August 1869, Hope, alongside Ned Lyons and two other confederates, rented a room in New York City strategically located near the Ocean Bank at Fulton and Greenwich Streets. They erected a partition to obscure their activities from street view and meticulously cut through the stone floor directly beneath the bank’s vault. The penetration into the vault occurred on a Saturday night. Although they gained access to over $1,000,000 in money and bonds, they discarded the bonds and only took what gold and silver they could carry discreetly, amounting to a few thousand dollars.
In 1870, Hope was implicated in the burglary of the paymaster’s safe at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, though insufficient admissible evidence prevented a trial. Later that year, he assisted in the robbery of Smith’s Bank in Perry, New York. For this crime, he was arrested, convicted, and sentenced on November 28, 1870, to five years at Auburn Prison, New York. However, his tenure was short-lived; on January 3, 1873, true to his growing reputation as an escape artist, Hope broke out with three other prisoners: “Big” Jim Brady, Dan Noble, and Charles McCann.
The Wilmington Hostage Plan and Flogging
In November 1873, Hope, Jim Brady, Frank McCoy, Tom McCormack, and George Bliss converged in Wilmington, Delaware. They rented a house next to the First National Bank. Their plan was audacious: on the morning of November 7, the gang invaded the nearby home of the bank cashier and his family, intending to force the cashier to open the safe under duress. However, a courageous servant girl managed to escape and alert the authorities. Hope and his confederates were captured, convicted, and on November 25, 1873, received a draconian sentence: 40 lashes, ten years’ imprisonment, one hour in the pillory, and a $5,000 fine each. Their offer to pay $25,000 in lieu of the whipping was denied, a testament to the severity of the times. This event was so impactful that it would be over 30 years before another bank robbery was attempted in Delaware. Remarkably, the entire gang managed to escape after serving only one year of their term.
The Zenith of His Career: The Manhattan Savings Bank Robbery
Planning the Impossible
After numerous other bank robberies, Jimmy Hope began formulating his plans for what would become his most famous and, in many respects, most successful heist: the Manhattan Savings Bank robbery in New York City. In 1878, the Manhattan Savings Bank was regarded as one of America’s most impenetrable banking houses.
An Inside Man: Patrick Shevlin
The key to bypassing the bank’s formidable security lay with an insider. Dan Kelley was employed as a night watchman. On Sunday, October 27, 1878, at 6 a.m., Kelley awakened Janitor Wertel, who resided in the bank building. After Kelley departed, Wertel began dressing when several men burst in, overpowering and handcuffing him. Wertel’s wife and mother-in-law’s screams were quickly silenced by the display of revolvers and threats. While some robbers guarded the women, others forced Wertel into the bank, threatening his life if he did not reveal the safe combinations. He complied, and the robbers, using their specialized tools, opened the outer door and then the other safes. They absconded with an astonishing $2,757,700 in securities and money, including $73,000 in coupon bonds and $11,000 in cash.
The Investigation and Aftermath
The robbers departed quietly, leaving their tools behind. The lack of entry marks on doors or windows led to the conclusion that a passkey had been used, strongly implicating someone connected to the bank. Captain Thomas Byrnes, who would later achieve international fame as Inspector Byrnes, initiated an intensive surveillance operation. Patrick Shevlin, a former bank watchman known for frequenting resorts where thieves gathered, became a prime suspect. After days of shrewd cross-examination, Shevlin made a few fatal slips of the tongue and, cornered, admitted that Jimmy Hope’s gang had persuaded him to procure duplicate keys to the bank, promising him a share of the loot and guaranteeing he wouldn’t be suspected. Police Officer John Nugent was also charged but later acquitted. Ultimately, ten men were arrested across the United States for their involvement, many caught attempting to dispose of the stolen bonds.
On July 18, 1879, John Hope, Jimmy’s son, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years. On December 12, 1879, Billy Kelly received a ten-year sentence. Jimmy Hope himself was sent to Auburn Prison but, true to form, subsequently escaped once more. Other implicated individuals, including John Dobbs, Sam Ferris, John Nugent, Abe Coakley, Pete Emerson, and Ed Goodrich, were discharged, with Shevlin granted immunity for his cooperation with the prosecution. The magnitude of this theft temporarily closed the bank, leading officials to appeal to Congress, which successfully canceled the stolen bonds and issued duplicates.
The Sather Bank Attempt and Final Capture
Hope’s criminal career continued, reaching San Francisco, California. On June 26, 1881, the janitor of the Sather Bank noticed unusual dirt near the vault, indicating activity from above. Captain of Detectives I. W. Lees was notified. Investigation revealed an opening in the second-floor ceiling, directly above the vault, large enough for a man to pass through. The next night, Lees and his detectives staked out the bank. Their vigilance was rewarded when two men entered a hallway. After allowing them time to resume operations, Lees’s team entered the building. One burglar was observed lowering himself into the vault area. Upon discovery, he drew a large revolver, but faced with sawed-off shotguns, he surrendered. His accomplice, identified as notorious burglar Dave Cummings, escaped but was later apprehended and sent to an eastern prison.
The man arrested was none other than Jimmy Hope. He was found guilty of attempting to burglarize the Sather Bank and, on October 15, 1881, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Upon his discharge, he was returned to Auburn Prison to serve out his unexpired term from previous escapes. The era of the uncatchable Hope was finally coming to an end.
Later Life and Demise
After his eventual release, Jimmy Hope retired from his life of crime. He settled down in Manhattan, living a quiet life with his wife and daughter in a modest apartment, a stark contrast to his tumultuous past. James “Old Jimmy” Hope, the legendary bank robber and master escape artist, died of a heart attack on June 2, 1905, closing the final chapter on an extraordinary criminal career that captivated and confounded 19th-century America.
