New Liberty Robbery

“New Liberty, Ky., Stranger Makes A Raid – A Safe Blown open - $24,000 in Cash And Bills Receivable Disappear

On Friday night last New Liberty, Owen county, was thrown into wildest excitement.  On that night the grocery store and drug goods store of Messrs. Gale and Coates was entered by burglars.  The safe was blown open, and $4,000 in money and notes to the value of $20,000 stolen.  The money was mostly private deposits, but $250 of it belonged to the firm.  Suspicion is directed to a man who was in town several days before, stopping two or three days at a hotel.  He was finely dressed and put many airs, until his manners aroused the suspicion of Mr. W. G. Revel, of the Gayle House.  In answer to questions he said he was merely staying in the town with the intention of calling on his friend, Mr. Orrin Hallam, of Owenton.  He afterward went to Owenton and aroused the suspicion of the people there by his behavior, saying he was going back to New Liberty.  He left Owenton, and has not been seen since.  Cincinnati detectives are working on the case.”
 - from the Covington Daily Commonwealth, September 15, 1879 

“The Owen News gives a list of losses by the burglary of the safe in the store of Gayle & Coate, New Liberty, on the night of the 13th: Davis and Yancey, $500; Joseph Blackwell, $175; Mrs. James McNeal and Miss Sallie Hunt, $100; J. P. Garvey & Co., Cincinnati, $125 in money and $875 in notes; H. C. Coates, $85; Gayle & Coates, $75; Bill Coats, colored, $50; Gayle & Revill, $100; Joe Hall, $10; B. E. Garvey had $100 in the safe which the burglars overlooked, but they took all of his notes; Garvey & Alexander, $70; Wm. Simpson had $70 of the Odd-Fellows’ money deposited and $2,000 in notes, all of which the burglars took.  Other parties lost, but at this writing we can not ascertain the amounts.” - from the Covington Daily Commonwealth, September 19, 1879. 

The reference to both “Gayle & Coate” and “Gayle & Coates” is in the original.