Clay County Savings Association Building | |
 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 $1,199,000 in 2022[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:
- On the afternoon of February 13, 1866, "some ten or twelve persons rode into town"[4] and milled outside the Clay County Savings Association building.[3]
- Two of the riders entered the bank,[4] which was staffed only by the head cashier, Greenup Bird,[3] and his son, William Bird, who was a bank clerk.[4]
- After asking to change a $10 bill,[4] the men drew revolvers and demanded money.[3]
- William loaded the robbers' feed sack with gold, currency, bonds, and tax stamps.[3][4]
- The two Birds were herded into the bank's vault,[3][4] and the robbers left the building.
- As the robbers mounted to ride away, shots were fired. Accounts differ: problems with mounting a horse caused a "commotion" during which someone opened fire,[3] or perhaps one of the gang fired "without any sort of provocation whatever".[4] George "Jolly"[3] Wymore, a 19-year-old[4] student from William Jewell College who was across the street, was killed by a bullet.
- The gang rode away, pursued after a time by a posse of "outraged"[4] townspeople who "could procure arms and horses".[4]
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]
