The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-14
ROBBERY!
Bold and Successful Robbery
of the Peoples Bank.
A CLOSE ENGAGEMENT.
Several Shots Exchanged.-.NO-
body Hurt.

Shortly alter Twelve O'CLOCK yesterday,
bold and successful attempt to rob the
Peoples bank in this city was made The
Cashier, ]. F. Updegraf, Esqr., had gone to
his residence on Monroe street for dinner,
leaving in charge Mr., George Feeny, his
assistant. At the hour mentioned, two
men presented themselves at the counter,
when Mr.. F. rose from the chair on which
he was sitting, and went to the teller's
station to ascertain what was their bust
ness, He had no sooner confronted them
than they brought two revolVen to bear
upon him and ordered him to proceed to
room in the rear, as they had come
to .take possession, simultaneously
with the order one of the robbers pro-
ceeded towards the entrance, leading be-
hind the counter-the other remaining
with pistol In hand where first observed
by Mr.. F. Believing that the parties
were intent on accomplishing their object,
Mr.. F. retreated TO a drawer In which
was kept a revolver, and taking It there.
from, was ready to give them warm re-
CeptiOn. The rObbeT who had remained
standing, fired, the ball passing in danger
Gus proximity to Mr., Fs person, by this
time the other had got behind the counter
and also fired. He had no sooner done
so than he grabbed the money in two
compartments Of drawer. Dir. +. dis
charged his revolver at him, hut without
effect. The robber who still stood
outside, again tlred-the ball grazing Mr.
Fs head. This closed the engagement.
The robbers now made for the
door and were soon In the street
One of them crossed over to the east side
of Main, the other passed down on the
came side on which the bank building Is
situated. A COlored man who had heard
the pistol shots, gave the alarm that
something was wrong in the bank, and a
gentleman came running 10 see what was
the matter, He reached the door just
after the robbers had made their exit and
learning the cause of the disturbance,
shouted to another gentleman on the east
side of the street to arrest tho rObber. A
demonstration In that direction was made,
but the presentation Of revolver and
threat, frustrated the intention. The rob.
berS proceeded down to Mulberry alley,
passed up 1t to another, down that to Mrs.
Beck's brewery, up that To Fourth Street,
thence to tho alley between Centre and
John, up that to Sixth, where all t'ace of
them was lost.
The affair created an intense excite
ment, and Sergeant Conant and several of
his deputies were soon in pursuit. They
did not succeed In tracking them farther
than the point named, 80 far rs we are
informed, and II IL feared that the villains
have made good their escape, The bank
was visited In the afternoon by hundreds
OF persons. The relative position Of Mr..
Feeny and the points where the balls
struck, show that the robbers shot to kill.
All united In awarding him great praise
for the heroic defence lie made.
1t was reported at fist that no money
had been taken, but In balancing the cash
account an hour or two later II was found
that fifteen hundred and thlrty.slx dollars
had been distracted Mr.. UpdegraH had
taken the precaution before leaving to
lock up In the vault all the funds except
what he thought would bo required to
meet the demands Of the hour he would
be absent But for this, the loss would
undoubtedly have been quite heavy.
AT the present writing, (midnightj an &C.
tive search Is being made In all directions
for the robbers. 1t Is hoped that success
will crown the efforts of the officers, and
that the perpetrators Of this bold and dar-
Ing robbery will be brought to justice
We hear that several suspicious individu'
ais have been. observed about the city for
some days, and the two engaged In thlS
affair were noticed for an hour or more
on Tuesday, occupying position imme.
diately opposite the bank The plan