The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-23
The Late Robbery at Porfsmouth.

ne Lac koooeTE at portsmouth.
The Norfolk Herald gives the following ac-
count OF the manner in which the Bank at
Portsmouth was entered and robbed.
@The entrance into the building was made at
back window, the fastenings OF which gave
chem but little ttouble; and having thus gained
admittance they deliberately commenced their
operations upon the vault, which was built of
hard bricks, TO thickness of about two feet,
and completely surrounded on the inside by a
grating of iron bars. Having picked hole
through the brick wall they applied their drills
90 the iroa work, and succeeded in making On
aperture sufficiently large TO admit a man.
They then had access to the money, and helped
themselves to all the notes and gold they could
6nd, leaving the silver scattered about on the
door, together with some of their TOOLS"
The Board Of Directors have offered a re-
ward of $4,000, which is the same promulga-
Ted by the Bank here. The Herald thinks
tha; from the great ingenuity displayed in get
ting into this Bank, and also in the attempted
robbery OF the Savings Bank in that city some
time since, aplan for increasing the strength
ofyoul,s and safes will have to be adopted
Tha, is very well but the greatest security
is vigiont guard. No precaution that can
be adopted can be complete protection not
seconded by the vigilant eyes of the officers Of
the Bank and guard One mode of strength
sning vaults would be TO wall them in with
granite. The removal of bricks is an easy
operaIion. precaution, which might help to
dsccncert the plans of thieves, would be for the
81 ho Do L. L.,
officer once every Sunday. He could take
a look inside and see that the door of the
vault was not disturbed, and that burglarious
operations were not going on. Thieves gener-
ally select Saturday night for Bank robberies.
Ii they can get through in one night--very
well. They Gun have all day Sunday for es.
cape before their robbery is known. If they
should not gel through, why they are perfect
iy secure Sunday, and can go on without mo-
iestaton 20 complete their operations in a
,;naslery style. We have very little doubt
that the robbers ofthe Portsmouth Bank we've
all day Sunday at work. They certainly nude
very Glenn work-effecting, with perfect sue
cess, The largest Bank robbery we think we
ever heard of
A friend suggests that probably the robbery
ofthe Arch street Bank of,Philadelphia may
have been larger one. We do not remem.
Der. That robbery was effected by means of
the culvcTt. The robbers walked from the
river along the culvert (which gives to the
street the name of Arch street) until they
reached the Bank, and there they entered by
digging their way under and into it. We would
be obliged to some friend, who may have some
account ofthis robbery, to furnsh US with it.
One curious incident we remember was the re-
spect the robbers paid to special deposre
made by Gen. ScoTr, which they left unmo-
Tested, while they rided every thing else.
We understand that the Banking House at
Portsmouth was strongly built, small edifce
apart from any other building. 1t stood oppo-
site The Court House, and no one slept in it,
Observation-Disclosures favored the operations of
the burgars. In and around was quiet, and
opposite was the vacant Hall of Justice-ter-
rible 10 them when arraigned for crime; but on
the Sabbath day, deserted as it was, it was
their best friend. The vault is said to have
been strong; but it was surrounded with brick,
which from the days of Pyramus and Thisbe
yield very easily TO lovers or robbers.