Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-09

the firemeu as disagreeably as did some
of the extreme hot days Of six months
ago. b.
Coolest Robbery ON Record.
A PHILADELPHIA BANK ROBBED BY
TWO BOGUS PoLIcEMEN.-The coolest
and best-planned robbery ever perpetrated
in Philadelphia was committed on Thurs
day night at the Kensington Bank, No
$50 Beach street, Sixteenth Ward. On
Thursday afternoon, February I'd about
five o'clock, man dressed in the uniform
of policeman called at the bank and
asked to see the cashier, Mr.. William
Mcconnell. He was shown into the
cashiers room, and there he informed Mr..
Mcconnell that the police authorities had
received information that the bank would
be robbed during the night, and he had
been detailed by Lieutenant Clarke off
the Tenth District Police, to caution the
officers, and he suggested that the watch
men should be instructed to exercise
greater vigilance. The man then left
Mr.. Mcconnell then sent for the watch
men, John Holmes and Thomas Murphy.
When they appeared he stated the case to
them, told them to be on their guard
against everybody, and to shoot down any
person who made an attempt to break
into the premises. The officers and clerks
left the institution when they had settled
up their business for the day, and the
Waterman took charge Of the building.
On Thursday evening, about half-past
7 o'clock, there was a rap at the front
door of the bank. The watchmen peeped
out and saw two men, dressed as police
men. The door was partly opened, and
the outsiders remarked "Well, you are
watching closely. ave have been sent by
Lieut.. Clarke to keep you company" An
other glance was taken at the men. Every
thing seemed to be regular. Gaps, coats,
pants, ETC., were all correct. ''Come in"
said one of the watchmen, and the door
was opened The men walked in and
looked around. A few words of CONVEX
sation ensued, and then one Of the new
"guardians " asked Murphy to get him a
drink of water. Murphy started for the
hydrant. As soon as he had got beyond
hearing, Holmes was suddenly attacked,
and gag was stuffed into his mouth be-
fore he had time to give any alarm.
HIS LEGS AND ARMS WERE TIED AND
HANDOUTS WERE PLACED ON HIS WRISTS.
This made Holmes incapable of notify
ing his fellow Waterman of the impending
danger. The two fellows then started in
the direction in which Murphy had gone,
and met him returning with the water.
There was then no appearance of any
thing being wrong. Murphy handed the
cup to the individual who had asked for
the water, and he commenced drinking.
The unsuspecting Murphy was then
seized by the other fellow and under went
treatment similar to that received by his
companion, Holmes. The two watchmen
were then in no condition to help them
selves or give an alarm. They were car
ried into the Presidents room, and each
was placed in chair One of the bogus
policemen then sat down, drew revolver,
and said. at is all right now I'll keep
watch with you" The other man then
went to the front door, unbolted it, and
admitted two other men.
Operations were then commenced upon
the vault, and after much labor the robbers
succeeded in forcing the hinges of the
door from the wall Then the doors fell
off. In the vault there were shelves on
which were tin boxes containing valuables
belonging to deposltors, aud which had
been left at the bank in the usual manner
tor safe keeping until yesterday morning.
These boxes were taken down and broken
open. The contents seem to have under
gone careful examination. Checks,
registered bonds and mortgages were scat
tered about the floor of the banking room,
and all cash and coupon bonds were taken
possession of by the robbers.
The burglar proof safe-one OF Lilies
patent-inside of the vault, was then at
tackled by the robbers. They worked
upon the door, it is supposed, for several
hours, The door was pretty well batter
ed, but it did not yield to the powerful
tools which must evidently have been used
upon 1t, and
THE ROBBERS WERE FoILED IN THEIR
ATTEMPT TO GET AT THE MONEY
and securities belonging to the bank.
During the whole time while the work
was going on at the safe the bogus police
man was sitting with the watchmen, who,
in their cramped condition, occupied
most unpleasant and disagreeable position.
About o'clock in the morning the robbers
took their departure. They did not release
the watchmen, however, and left them to
get out of their difficulty the best way
they could. Their hands being securely
fastened and their legs tied, the poor
watchmen were not able to do much, but
they slid out of their chairs, and managed
to work their way to each other. Then,
after much trouble, they succeeded in get
ting loose the ropes with which their legs
were bound. Having gained the use of
their legs, they went into mill adjoining
the bank, where the gags were removed
from their mouths, and the handouts were
filed of.
When the officers reached the bank it was
found that the locks of the Lille had been
so much injured by the robbers that they
could not be unfastened land Mr.. G. Maiser,
shoemaker, was sent for to open the
safe.
The bank loses nothing. All the loss
is sustained by the depositors. Among
the losses reported are David Scull, $780,
600; Bell Russell, 1927 900; Rowland &
Erwin, $1,000; Mrs. Helms, 1915 900.
Edward Gorgas is also loser.
miscellaneous Items.