Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-23
THE BANK ROBBERY IN pORrmoIlrH

THE BANK ROBBERY IN pORTMOUTH
As already stated the Branch Bank Of Virginia
In Portsmouth was entered Sunday night last, by
an expert thief who boldly took the responsible
ty OF removing the deposites, amounting to $685.
600 We learn from the Norfolk Herald that
the robber or robbers, for several were probably
engaged IN this stupendous Financial operation'
effected an entrance into the banking-house
through window in the rear of the building. the
fastenings of which were too insecure to give
them much trouble. After gaining adminance
the robbers went TO work quite systematically
upon the brick vault which contained the trea-
sure and speedily succeeded in piercing ore of
Its walls. which was only about two feet thick
After removing the bricks the thieves encounter
ed an iron grating, which presented the only bar
to the realization eff their golden dreams T'hisgra
ting, however, speedily yielded to the persuasive
influence of their drilling apparatus, and an amer.
ture sufficiently capacious to admit of the ingras.
and egress of g medium sized man, was made in
one of the walls of the vault Every obstacle
having been overcome, one OF the robbers entered
the vault, and handed out all the notes and gold coin
choice blades; and, as fn derision of its intrinsic
value, was scattered about on tie floor OIL
the vault. They also left several implements
OF tn eirtrade near the vault. finding it probably
announcement to carry them away with their boo
ty. Amongst the coin distracted was 1927 O0O
In American gold, which of itself constituted a
heavy burhen. The burglary was detected on
Monday morning by the person whose duty it is
to open the banking house. The Board of Drec
tors Immediately assembled and offered reward
of $4,000 for the detection of the robbers and re-
covery of the treasure. or $4,000 for the arrest
and conviction Of the robbers.
The Argus says that Of the $40 900 purloin-
ed in notes Of the denomination Of 800. re-.
ceiVed from the mother bank. only SlI00 were
IN circulation about the time of the robbery; so
that Sl8,90o which were stolen may possibly be
detected by the number
The Police of Portsmouth and Norfolk were
vgilany engaged, at last accounts, in searching
after the bank robbers, and several arrests had
been made A man named Lappin, en- operative
In the Portsmouth iron Works, has been arrest.
ed IN Norfolk, in suspicious house and under sus.
plcIous circumstances. About eighty.two dollars
IN gold were found upon his person. He be.
trayed so much trepidation upon his arrest, as Ia
lead to the belief that he either took part in the
robbery himself, or is cognzant of the parties en-.
gagged in it.
This is severe blo@.to the mother Bank, ard
is one of those calamities which may be said to
afHct whole community. The usefulness Of
the institution will be- crippled to some extent. BY
the abstraction of these funds; its business will
suffer interruption; the line Of discount will pro.
Daoly be contracted and in this way the loss will be
partially shared by the whole business community.
we presume, however, the surplus fund Of the
mother Bank will be found amoly sufficient tn
make good this loss; so its credit will not be af
feeted by the unfortunate occurrence. Truly,
the Bank ofYirginia has 'fallen upon evil times''
OF late It's losses have been heavy; buta no period
of its existence has it lost the confidence Of The
nblic. The mother hinsitution is managedwit