Location Liberty, MO Built 1859 (1859) NRHP Reference # 92001675 | Area less than one acre MPS Liberty MPS Opened 1859 Added to NRHP 28 December 1992 | |
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Similar Jesse James Bank Mus, Jesse James Home Mu, Patee House, Liberty Jail | ||
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 $981,000 in 2016) 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 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.
In total, the robbers collected at least $60,000. Reportedly they collected government bonds worth $42,000 to $45,000, $518 in tax stamps, gold, silver coins, and banknotes.
The bank offered a $5,000 reward for recovery of the money. Attempts to track the robbers were hindered by snow that covered their tracks. Articles in local newspapers implicated both former Confederate bushwackers and Kansas Redlegs of the crime. Later, some townspeople admitted to recognizing some of the robbers but withholding the information out of fear. 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.
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. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.