The Benninghoff Robbery
January 16, 1868
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pa.), January 16, 1868 | Very Latest News
Daring Robbery:
John Benninghoff Robbed of $200,000
Pioneer, Pa.
The house of John Benninghoff, on Benninghoff Hill, was entered about 7:30 p.m. by four men disguised by handkerchiefs over their faces. They robbed over $200,000; 40,000 in bonds and the rest in currency. They presented revolvers at the heads of the inmates when they proceeded to tie Mr. John Benninghoff, his wife [Elizabeth née Heise] and two sons, and a hired man and girl. Taking the keys from Mr. Benninghoff, they entered the safe and extracted the above amount, after which they sat down and waited half an hour for the return of Mr. Joseph Benninghoff, another son, who was absent. He had in the house one of Lillie’s Patent Burglar Proof Safes, containing a large amount. But he did not return until the burglars had left, taking with them three horses and a cutter.
Another Dispatch
Pioneer, PA, 9:00 PM
To R. D. Fletcher:
John Benninghoff’s house was entered. The whole family was tied and robbed by four persons, three medium height and the other very tall. They took horses and left.
— Joseph Benninghoff.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pa.), January 17, 1868
Robbery of John Benninghoff:
$200,000 Stolen
It will be seen by our special telegraph dispatches, that the house of John Benninghoff was feloniously entered on Thursday night, about half past seven, and robbed of $200,000. Mr. Benninghoff resides in a farm house on the celebrated Benninghoff Run, about three-quarters of a mile from Oil Creek, west side, and a mile and a half from Petroleum Centre. His house stands near the road, not frequented much of late, either by travel or teams. The nearest neighbor is a quarter of a mile distant.
Mr. B. is a Pennsylvania German, a plain, hard-working farmer, and about 60 years of age. He has a large family of grown up children, man of them staying at home. The old gentleman all of a sudden had riches thrust upon him by the discovery of oil on his sterile acres, and is one of our petroleum millionaires. We believe the first well was struck on his farm on Pioneer Run, in the fall of 1865. The production of his whole farm for last month was 600 barrels a day, and ten new wells are now going down on it.
Mr. B.’s income for December last was reported at $40,000, but his sudden and dazzling fortune never made a fool of him. They say he cares nothing for appearances, and wants to live as frugally and work as diligently as when he used to eat his bread in the sweat of his brow. But he had taken the notion into his head to be his own banker, and to deposit his bonds and greenbacks in his own safe and house. And now he has paid the penalty of very foolish and short-sighted temerity. He may thank heaven that he was not beaten or killed by the villains who robbed him.
The whole community have known that Mr. Benninghoff kept his money – and a great deal of it – at home, and will not be surprised to learn of the perpetration of this villainy, much as they may pity his misfortune. The circumstances of the robbery as detailed in our dispatches show careful premeditation and preparation. But with prompt and vigilant police effort, we believe the criminals can be traced or interrupted in their flight, and a good deal of the booty recovered.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pa.), January 18, 1868
The Benninghoff Robbery:
$210,000 Carried Off — Three Men Arrested on Suspicion
In our issue of yesterday morning, we alluded briefly to the robbery at the house of Mr. John Benninghoff near Petroleum Centre. Today we are in possession of further particulars. It is proved to have been a most daring and successful affair, which for the coolness and deliberation displayed by the villains who perpetuated it. For the large amount of money they secured, it has seldom been equaled outside of the large cities.
The manner in which the robbery was conducted, as well as the preparations that were made to insure success, show it was the result of fully matured plans, and that the perpetrators were well acquainted with the habits of the family. At no other time, probably, than at the hour the robbery was committed, would such a favorable opportunity be presented. Mr. Joseph Benninghoff was at church, and although quite dark, it was too early for the family to make the usual preparations, such as securing the doors, windows, etc., for passing the night. Mr. Benninghoff’s house is situated in a corner formed by the junction of two roads, and is about a quarter of a mile distant from any other dwelling.
There were five men, who it has been ascertained participated in the robbery near the house. The particulars of the affair are substantially as follows:
Shortly after 7 o’clock, the family – consisting of Mr. John Benninghoff, his wife and niece, and two hired men – were sitting in the kitchen, when the door opened and four men walked in. Three of these men were of medium size and the fourth was tall and heavy. All of them were masked with handkerchiefs, cloths or comforters. On entering the room, the men drew pistols. Presenting them at the heads or breasts of the family, they threatened them with immediate death if they should make the least noise.
So completely were the family taken by surprise that but little resistance was offered except by Mr. Benninghoff, who cried out lustily on their first appearance. The first cry that he raised had scarcely left his lips when he was attacked by one of the ruffians, who was soon assisted by one or two of the others. Mr. Benninghoff is now in his 67th year, but notwithstanding his advanced age, he is still possessed of considerable strength, and he exerted it to the utmost. His strength was, however, entirely inadequate to cope with that of two or three middle-aged men, and he was soon thrown to the floor. The ruffians then struck him in the face and stamped on various parts of his body, and then half dragged, half carried him to an adjoining bedroom.
All this time Mr. B. was by no means idle, but was putting forth his best endeavors to escape, and to attract attention from the outside. After they got Mr. B. somewhat under their control, they tied his arms and legs and threw him on the bed and wrapped the bedclothes tightly about him. They then rifled his pockets and took from one of them his pocketbook, containing a small amount of money and a key to one of the safes. After seeing that the cords which bound his limbs were fast and covering him more closely with the clothes, they left him in a powerless condition.
While Mr. Benninghoff was struggling with two of the ruffians, the other two had intimidated the two hired men. They were soon tied in the chairs in which they sat at the same time when the robbers first made their appearance. These men offered but very little or no resistance. In a very brief space of time they found themselves in a helpless condition.
During the fracas, Mrs. Benninghoff managed to secure a revolver, which she handed to one of the hired men. But he, through fear or some other emotion of a like character, did not use it. Immediately afterward, one of the roughs got possession of it. Mrs. Benninghoff was seized, dragged into an adjoining room and bound. Mr. Benninghoff’s niece was taken into a room near the kitchen and fastened to a lounge.
After every person in the house was securely fastened and an attempt had been made to open a combination-lock safe, two of the party started upstairs to the room in which an old fashioned safe was kept, without asking any questions, while the other two stayed below and kept guard over the family.
The key of the safe on the second floor had been taken from Mr. Benninghoff’s pocketbook. The villains succeeded in opening the safe without difficulty. One drawer in the safe was overlooked, but all the rest of it was thoroughly ransacked. The safe contained nearly $225,000, and the villains succeeded in taking $210,000. Of the $210,000, there were $20,000 in government bonds and the rest in greenbacks and national currency. The drawer that was overlooked contained a quantity of gold and silver coin, amounting in all to a comparatively small sum. In the haste of the search after plunder, a package containing $1,000 was had among a quantity of papers near the safe and left. In another part of the house, a second package containing nearly $6,000 was dropped.
After ransacking the safe, the whole part returned to the kitchen. After ascertaining from a member of the family that Mr. Joseph Benninghoff had gone to church, and that no other person would be likely to visit the house during the night, the villains proceeded to make themselves comfortable. During their stay, which lasted about an hour, they appeared to be awaiting the return of Mr. Joseph Benninghoff and they consumed a quantity of bread and milk.
Finally, the villains concluded to leave. Making a slipnoose, they put it round the neck of one of the hired men and led him to the barn and forced him to harness a horse to a cutter. The man was then led back to the house and retied. Two other horses were taken from the barn, and the whole party started off at a brisk pace.
As soon as the last man left the house, Mr. Benninghoff’s niece managed to loosen the cords with which her arms were bound. The rest of the family were then released. The men started out and alarmed the neighbors, after which telegrams were sent in all directions to the authorities of the difference places, apprising them of the robbery.
After leaving the house, the five men with the horses and cutter proceeded up Benninghoff run about one half of a mile, when the cutter was smashed. The horses were turned loose, where they were found yesterday morning. From where the cutter and horses were abandoned, no other traces of the party could be found.
The safe that was not opened contained a much larger amount than they carried off.
Yesterday morning, a reward of $10,000 was offered for the arrest of the robbers and return of the money. Later in the day it was increased to $20,000. About two o’clock, a dispatch was received by Mr. Benninghoff from Oil City stating that three men had been arrested on suspicion of being implicated in the robbery. Mr. B. and Deputy Sheriff Hull left Petroleum Centre for Oil City on the train that leaves the former place at 3:25 p.m. for the purpose of seeing if the men who were arrested could be identified.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pa.), January 18, 1868
Our Reporter on the Trail
Special Dispatches via Abbott & Harley’s Pipe Line
Pioneer, Jan. 17
A suspicious looking person was seen passing along the railroad track this morning at an early hour, with a bag supposed to contain the stolen money upon his shoulders. Upon arresting him it was found the contents consisted of a few heads of cabbage and a hind quarter of mutton, upon which he was committed to jail until he can prove how he came to purchase so many luxuries at one time. Great excitement exists and oil has fallen about 30% in bank.
Pithole, Jan. 17, 10 a.m.
A man with “scoundrel” depleted upon every feature, ordered a drink at one of our public bars this morning, and upon swallowing the same paid for it – 15 cents – in postage currency. It is so unusual for individuals to pay for drinks in this section that he was at once arrested. The Coroner will sit on him as soon as he can get time.
Balltown, Pa., Jan. 17
Four suspicious looking cut-throats were gobbled by our chief of police this morning, while eating breakfast. Upon searching them a crowbar was found in each of their vest pockets, while one had an entire set of well tools and fixtures in his hat, to say nothing of several bricks. No money was at first found upon them, but a careful research brought to light a five cent scrip in a belt around one of the rascals and ten cents in his boots. He was at once bucked and gagged, his funds appropriated, and he will be tortured on the (hay) rack this night until he offers to treat.
Petroleum Centre, Jan. 17
As four fiendish-looking gentlemen were seated in a restaurant, about 9 o’clock this morning. A policeman entered. Immediately one of the strangers was observed to swallow something. This looked so suspicious that he was at once arrested. A sand pump stack down his throat, but the only thing brought up was a large saddle-rock oyster. When I left, the Doctor was still pumping, but with no show and but little gas. I go to Miller Farm this noon.
Detectingly yours,
Later —
Miller Farm, Jan. 17
While the five robbers were at the house of Mr. Benninghoff, awaiting the return of Joseph, they drank several quarts of buttermilk. This was deemed an important point by the detectives working up the case. I was dispatched to Miller Farm to watch for signs. About noon, two men came up the track, and upon approaching them the odor of buttermilk was plainly discernible. They were at once captured and one of Dale’s searches introduced down their throats, but nothing besides a little hash and “sweltzer base” was found. They were bound over to appear at the next session of the Shaffer Court.
Crocus.