Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-02-02


Bank Tarss found ina Hoe n The Val .''-
Raahers boasud ouer 10 Court ss
The public mind for the last two or three weeks
has been much excited as to what would be the
analresalt OF the efforts of the County Treasu-
rer in the collection Of the taxes off the Salem
Bank; and the obstinacy of the officers Of the
Bankin resisting the payment of said taxes. The
success Of the Treasurer in hiszla attempt has
finally settled the matter, so far as his individual
responsibility is brought in question; and a brief
aecount Of the affair may now be interesting to
our readers.
On,Monday, the Sd inst, the Treasurer in COM
pany with George Best Of Hanover, and Samuel
Shawk, of this place, went to Salem, and called
and-demanded the tax due by that institution
Considerable excitement soon manifested itself
among the officers of the Bank and determined
resistance was made by brandshing crowbars and
othersdeadly weapons. During this time large
crowd had collected outside Of the house. A
imposition was then Esade by Simeon Jennings,
the President of the Bank, to Mr.. Quinn, that if
he would desist and give them time to hold an
election for Directors Gas that was the day of cleo
tion,) as soon as they had finished they would ad-
just the matter amieably. Mr.. Quinn took them
at their word, believing that they were men of
integrity and that they might be relied on in good
faith. Mr. Quinn, thereupon, took seat upon
the counter. and patiently awaited their return
from the back room, to which they had retired,
apparently for the purpose above suggested by
Jennings but in truth for the object of more eff
GENTLY arning themselves. by the aid of their
ninions, through the back window. Having ac-
complished their purpose, the first intimation Mr.
Quinn had of their treachery. was being confront
cd by set of desperadoes, fully armed, with Jen-
nings at their head threatening destruction to the
Treasurer and his companions. By this means
they elected the Treasurer and his aids, not how
eyer, until Mr.. Quinn assured them that he would
get the money raze their building to the ground.
An interval Of some days transpired, before the
second attempt of the Treasurer to collect the
tax; during which time Mr.. Quinn was quietly
selaying the ropes, for another call. Having his
plans fully matured, he left on Thursday the Goth
inst, for Salem. unknown to any but few friends
and his chosen aid, who, apparently, casually
come to Salem. At the hour appointed, Mr.. B
X. Roach went in to get some money changed;
soon after James Burbeck called to make de-
post; then Mr.. James Scott, of Knox township
had business in the Bank. This all occurred with
ina few minutes. During which time, however,
a Mr.. Campbell, clerk in the Bank, several
times went to the door as if suspectng something.
His vigilant eye caught sightof Mr. Quirn be-
fore he could effect his entrance, and inst ntane-
etlsly he threw the bars across the door. The
three gentlemen above named being inside. one
rushed to the door and anbarred it. whilst the 9TH
er two seized the cashier and clerk Mr.. Quinn
having got insides the disarnling of the Cashier
was effected by the admittance of Andrew Roach
and one or two Others. Mr.. GeriaMelE the cash t
ier, they say, fought manihlEy, and had it been
in a just cause would no doubt hare redounded to
his credit. He made pass at Mr.. A Roach with
ecoit; who evadedt the blow and, Aisarmed him, /
when he called to his clerk, Mr.. Campbell, to
get his Revolver out of his breast pocket. In
effecting this it dropped on the floor, and Mr.. B.
Il. Roach was soon master Of it. About this
stage of the conflict the watch dog seized Mr..
Roach but was soon quieted by a blow from an
iron poker in the hands of Dir. J. G. Scott. Du- /
ring the short time that this was going on inside:
large mob had collected on the outside: some of
whom closed the outside shutter and placed a
plank against it. Mr.. Quinn with aid of crow
bar soon opened the shutter, and lifting the win
dowacalled4to his men on the outside to come on,
when dozen or more of the brawfy shouldered
b'hoys made their appearance enl leaped in. At
this stage of the conflict some of the mob attempt
ed to force tie door with plank; this MFR. Quinn
pereeiving soon put stop to, by the presentation
of a revolver out Of the window, after which some
of his men on the outside took possession of the
door and and kept it during the balance of the
time, the mob making no effort to give further
"aid and comforts to those who had by this time
become thoroughly secured Search was then
corhmenced for money, and S. Shawk, with his
sledge, and the aid Of bars in the hands of few
others, soon effected an entrance into the vault
The smile that played upon the countenance of
the cashier, SO much as was visible for hair, show
ed that they were on the wreng track. Search
was then commenced, and every nook and corner
was closely scrhtinised; and III the back room, in
the chimney, where the hole for the stove-pipeI
was made through the wall, Mfr. George Best. of
Hanover, discovered some old paper sticking, on
removing which he socn felt something that ap-
peared loese and round, and brought forth a bag
containing about $4,000 in gold This at once
put stop to any further search. The discovery
soon changed the physiognomy of the cashier.
Mr.. Quinn proceeded to count out the amount of
the tax, together with the per centum allowed
him by law. and peaeeably left with his band of
noble fellows
In the afternoon, Sheriff Martin having war
rant, arrestedR Webb, F. Stanley, Holloway,