The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-02
BANK BURSTING EXTRAORDINARY.
Immense Robbery at the Bank of Norwalk,
C0nn.-The Vault and Safes Blown Open
Haul of Over S15O,OOO.

q
Conn.-The Vault and Safes Blown Open
Haul of Over S15O,OO0.
Early yesterday morning, as some laborers at Nor
walk, Conn.,, were on their way to work they
observed couple OF tin cash boxes in the street and
some loose papers lying around. These led TO
inquiry which resulted in the discovery that the
National Bank Of Norwalk had been robbed. When
your reporter arrived at the bank there was quite
q crowd assembled; but none were admitted except
those who were on business A HERALD reporter
having made known his object was admitted, and
found Mr. J. NJ Tiley, OF the New York detective
police, making q survey OF the premises.
The bank is Drick building with q handsome
brown stone 'front.' situated the south side Of the
principal street OF The town. adjoining and west OF
the depot Of the Danbury and Norwak Railroad.
The officers OF the bank had felt very secure
against any attempt to despoi them OF the valu-
ables contained therein, resting their faith chiefly
Frankinie iron drill and burglar proof safe,
made by Hendrlckson, OF Brooklyn, and on the vauis
itself, though this was chiefly considered pro-
lection against fire.
From the appearances OF the premises 1t was
thought the burglars must have entered by the front
door by Of false keys, locking the door behind
them. The opening Of the doors Of the vault by
means Of wedges and the '.jimmyn must have been
| q comparatively easy task. This once opened they
had their choice OF numerous cash boxes bundles Of
| more or less valuable papers and documents and
baskets OF sverware deposited IN the vault for safe
keeping But these were none OF 'your every day
| paratively small recognition OF their standing IN
their tney estimated ate themselves far
| they were in quest. and these they meant to have
| aud proceeded TO get.
| split the safe with wedges. First one then another
part OF the door yielded to their well directed EFFORTS,
but the door was still closed and the safe intact.
/ They next tried the efficiency OF powder and,
despite the warranty OF MIR. Hendrickson and the
IF the bank e have had
superior to the warranted Franklinite The charge
was placed. the fuse laid and ignited, the vault
] deserted and the doors shut, aud the ex-
| ploslon awaited And such an explosion The
| safe door was destroyed, the doors of the vaults
| blown open with such force as to break the wall
behind them; the plate glass windows in the front
OF the bank were also broken. and other and numer-
be seen.
AT this juncture Mr.. Parker, who lives next door
10 tue bank, ana whose bedroom Is about twenty
feet from the vault. disturbed In bis sfumbers,
got out OF bed, went down to the sidewalk in front
OF the bank saw the gas light burning as usual, and,
seeing broken glass on the sidewalk. supposed some
boy had thrown q stone at and broken the glass or
the lamp. Mr.. Parker then returned to his bed.
morning.
The safe open, the enterprising gentlemen pro-
ceeded to help themselves TO a little over $32 600.
cash, the property of the bank; $1,000 United States
hve-twenties, $1,000 Danbury and Norwalk Rail-
road bonds 50, 1850 burlington and Mississippi Rail-
Mr. Eben HUI, the president OF the bank; eight
$1,000 bonds one $500 aud one $50 bond OF the Bur-
lington and Mississippi Ralroad one 81 600 bond OF
the city OF New Orleans; two certificates, each OF
nifty shares O. Bank OF Norwalk stock one certin-
cate OF forty-sx shares Manhattan Fire Insurance
Company, one certificate OF tnrty-three shares
STOCK OF the Burlington and Mississippi Railroad,
certificates or about 5000 scrip dividends OF the
Union Marine Insurance Company, all the property
OF Frederick Beiden 50, 500 United States lye-twen-
ties, the property Of Mr.. E. X. Lockwood; 81, 500
United States 1ve.twenties, the property OF Geo. A.
Davenport Judge OF Probate and some five or six
cash boxes they took contents and all. These with
other and smaller amounts not yet definitely ascer-
tained, VIII probably amount TO not less than
$150.000.
The following comprises the property they did not
take:-rlwo packages, one containing $4,000 in
United states ive-twenties. and the other, about
$4,000 In available funds the property OF the Nor
Walk FIRE insurance Company, were loosely wrapped
up In old newspapers, and overlooked wallet con-
tanning $1,000 the property OF Jesse Smith, ESQ.
various other packages OF United States bonds and
greenbacks, ana tue slverware above mentioned.
Had they been less hurried and more discrimnatlnQ
they could have added nearly $50 900 available funds
TO the sum total OF their very respectable haul
Inc Dank mas capital or $500, 900 and a surplus
or over $4,000, and the officers assure US would
continue business without interruption, but with
diminished reserve. The loss win fall chiefly on
those persons who had deposited their cash boxes
IN tue bank for security. The burglars left behind
heavy copper sledge. copper hammer, a full set
OF wedges, three canisters two emptled OF their
POWDER, TWO jlmmies, with all the materials for
blowing the powder into the desired place.
On the whole 1t Is evident that the lob was hone
Dy experts who have reason TO feel very well sat
lsleu with their succeeas 49, 49,