The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-23

recovered to this time, one hundred and
ninety-nine thousand three hundred and
thirtv-one dollars. In the house were
found number of rolls of tin foil. such rs
the bonds were wrapped up in, and Il set
OF types of figures which were stained with
red ink. as if recently employed in stamp
ing numbers In proof of the cunning Of
the prisoner it might here be stated that,
to throw pursuit upon Il wrong scent, he
had written two letters in his usual hand
writing. one addressed to relative in
birmingham and the other TO an acduain-
tance in New York. which he sent under
cover to Hamilton. G. W., where they
were remailed to their address. which they
reached. dated and po>tmarked, of course.
from that place.
HOW THE ROBBERY WAS EFFECTED.
The thieves had ''Set'' the bank long
time before they finally succeeded in graft
iying their designs upon the treasure. They
commenced operations by casually calling
ut the bank for clian.c of notes and fir the
purchase of small bits of seven tilirlie>.
and during the transaction of the business
attending these visits were enabled TO note
the habits of the cashier. the location of
the vault. and other circumstances con-
nected with their plans. They then turn
ell their attention to the street door. and
after fifteen days and hi ghl' work, during
which they fitted and reiittcd their key.
they succeeded in cifeciing IN entrance TO
the interior of the building. They had
now seven locks between them and the
strong box i'll the vault. i'll which, their
observations had informed them. Tie funds
of the institution We're every day carefully
laid away. Tie work oi fitting keys TO
these seven locks required the labor oi
hearty eighty nights, and. TO show the
coolnc>S oi the men IN the undertaking.
each took his turn sleeping on the floor oi
the bank while the other prosecuted the
work of filing and fitting. There is an III
>urance office on the first floor of the
building. under the bank. and they had to
wait every night until it had closed before
they commenced operations. They were
inside the vaul, itself between twenty and
thirty times before they succeeded in get
ting INTO the safe. The lock OH the latter
a- previously stated, was OF the comblna-
ton pattern, and slight turn OF the index
after the removal OF the key. prevented
the thieves from fitting Il new key 10 II.
unless they happened 10 do - accidentally
and the chances for 50 doing Were very
few. Batiled at this last point. they de-
tcrlnincd 10 resort to gnnpowder, and as
the period of the eIuiTOctial gales WAS ap-
preaching, they liked the time Tor ihc at-
tempt during some clustering. stormy
night \ man slept i'll an adjoining build
ing at Il distance. in 4 direct line. OF only
>onlc twenty feet, and the explosion under
ordinary circumstances would. it was ap-
pretended by the robbers. awaken him
and create an alarm Hence they deter
mined not only to c.looSe a wildly might,
but TO wrap the strong box in ci ght or Tel
folds of wet army blankets. leave the vault
door slightly aiar. and lower the window,
about IN inch-;,ll with the expectation
that the explosion would pass of without
any heavy shock. 1t 80 happened thai
the cquinoctial in that region Went b,
! without any Storm. and the weather re
mained dry and calm. 80 they were com.
PEELED 10 resort 10 some other plan. The,
: then ''spotted'' the cashiers habits. an,
found that the bank WAS tenanilcsS for ;
space of nearly two hours every day. and
| in the desperation of their deferred hopes
: of their plumber. determined to make tn,
attempt in the day time. Accordingly ol
+ the 18th OF September. they lay in wait
I inc near the bank with horse and WAGON
l ;n,! after the cashier had gone ont. one o
, them boldly unlocked the street door. bu
: had hardly done So when he was accostc
= bv little Girl who inquirid for Mr.. Che
: new, the cashier The thief told her tina
t he had zone to dinner, and would be bac
= at two o'clock. Entering. he locked tn
: Street door on the inside, and went NJ
. stairs. \ man subsequently came to TIN
/ front door and knocked and raped 10
D some time. but was either unhearI by tin
p thief or did not disturb his operations
n His accompliceS in the wagon. a lew door
n down the street. Were watching I'LL this
c ;lnd for a time feared that the attemy
Il was detected. The one in the buiidin.
4 after gaining the bank apartment, ioun
+ the key in the vault. us left hv the pawn
> teller. who unfortunately had omitted
v move the index. and the lock was cons,
y quentlv at the mercy of the interlope
Is Had the index been set, the key eve
would lave been useless without a know
d edge of the combination whereby to mo,
the index back. The work of plund,
y now commenced. The contents of I'll
i. safe were thoroughly overhauled, and a
i the funds were gathered together, whe
, the thief. who had been half an hour
% the building, took his departure, lockir
i all the doors behind him except the stree
- door, passed out into the town, and OIL
"a into the country distance of Il few mile
! where he WIS met by his confederate:
- who had taken another route with ii
# wagon, when all drove to Framinghan
Il whence their adventures are already r
r. corded
u Tow Corwin used 10 tell a story abo
- Il horse jockey, whose three maxims wer
. first, never refuse to drink with a ma
u hacausn If wont cost Won anyIhinu'' - se