Terrebonne County Louisiana Archives News.....Fifty Years Ago No. 19 June 11, 1892
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Savanna King savanna18king@gmail.com August 11, 2023, 1:01 am

The Thibodaux Sentinel June 11, 1892

In the month of March, 1842 the President of the Bank in Thibodaux was 
anonymously warned that an attempt to rob the vault was about to be made.

On the night of March 29, Mr. Marchais retired with the keys of the vault under 
his pillow, fortified by the presence of a friend in an adjacent room; both 
being heavily armed slept the sleep of the righteous.

The next morning when the agent unlocked the vault, which was constructed in the 
northwestern room of the building, he discovered that it had been entered and 
all the money, $31000.00, carried away. 

The robber had made an entrance under the building, by passing beneath the 
stairway at the front door; perforating a hole through the brick wall and then 
forcing an opening into the vault from beneath, secured the funds and escaped.

Tools, candles, an oyster knife that was recognized as one stolen a few days 
previous, indicated the means by which the robbery had been effected.

It was thought that the robber had passed one entire day beneath the building. 

This bold feat, of course, created a sensation, of no small dimensions, and, to 
unravel the mystery was the thought upon which every mind was bent.

In those days there were no telegraphs or railroads. The only means of 
locomotion were by land or steamboat. August Roger, having obtained all the 
facts of this bold feat that could be had, started at once towards 
Donaldsonville on horseback.

At Paincourtville, Roger learned, to his surprise, that a man named Rambler, who 
had professedly left Thibodaux, two weeks previously for Texas, had been passing 
several days in that place, but had suddenly disappeared. Roger, at once, 
decided that Rambler was the thief. At Donaldsonville it was ascertained that 
Rambler had passed by, taking a steamboat a short while before Roger’s arrival. 

Near the ferry at Donaldsonville a horse, that was recognized as one that had 
been stolen the night previous, at Thibodaux, was found grazing, whilst a saddle 
was on the Levee nearby.

Taking the first boat that came along, Roger left for New Orleans, and found the 
object of his search in that city.

Securing the aid of the Police the next day, Roger discovered Rambler, with a 
friend, purchasing a suit of clothes, and, elsewhere, exchanging Union Bank 
bills for gold. Rambler and his friend named King were closely watched, until a 
third person came with a trunk, when the three men proceeded to the depot of the 
Pontchartrain railroad. Rambler and King were arrested as they were preparing to 
take the cars.

In the trunk was found the gold lately purchased, and $16000.00 on the person of 
Rambler. When taken before the court King told all that he knew about Rambler, 
and was discharged. Lodging his man in prison, Roger hastened to Thibodaux, with 
the information obtained and the names of the confederates, who were four in 
number, engaged in the robbery. 

In the meantime, Joachim Lagarde, a lad of ten years, whilst fishing in a pond 
in front of the ground now occupied by Mount Carmel Convent, found a bottle that 
was filled with bank bills of the Union Bank, concealed in the edge of the 
water. He carried this to his father, who notified the District Attorney, John 
C. Beatty. That night a watch was set, and two men came along and one of them 
made a search for the bottle, and did not find it.

Both were fully recognized as Jack Wright and Alonson Mead. During the night 
both were arrested in their beds, and taken before the judge. Wright was 
released under $5000.00 bonds. Mead was conducted to prison. The jail was a 
wooden structure occupying the same ground upon which the present one stands. 
The entrance was by a stairway 23 feet high. From the top of this stairway Mead 
leaped to the earth, and, escaping in the darkness, concealed himself under the 
dwelling, belonging to Mrs. Tenny, situated on the corner of St. Bridget and St. 
Louis streets. Apprehending discovery, he concealed his money, $4540.00, under 
the floor, and left the place. But was soon after re-arrested on the eastern 
side of the canal. The hidden money was found.

Rambler was brought from New Orleans and, with Mead, was placed on trial. They 
were defended by Wellman Nichols of Donaldsonville, and Thibodaux and Cole of 
Thibodaux, whilst John C. Beatty represented the State. Henry W. Rambler was 
sent to the penitentiary for seven years and Alonson Mead for three years. Of 
all the actors in this drama, only August Roger and Joachim Lagarde remain, the 
former a venerable and worthy citizen of Iberia Parish, and the latter a 
resident of Lafourche. 


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