Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-02-24


The parson then returned to his
pulpit and finished his sermon. He
never will be troubled any more.
PH11ADEIfYEFEkkr fYEFkkrn. BANK ROB-
Story Of the Watchman.-Bound and
Gagsed--A Good Natured Burglar
and a Social Chat.
From the Philadelphia Post.
The Kensington bank has OBJ
tained a new safe in place of the
one on which the robbers operated
last Thursday night. 1t was dis
covered on Saturday night that the
latter could not be opened by the
ordinary means, the violence of its
assaliants having thrown the lock
out of gear. Had the robbers kept
at work a little longer than they
did, all the funds Of the bank would
have been at their mercy. Provi-
dentially the robbers gave up their
work about ten minutes too soon.
1t is now estimated that the loss to
the special depositors will not be less
than $4,000. One Of them, a wom-
an in very humble circumstances,
loses S5O0-her all. In all the re-
ports that have been published thus
far of the robbery, the story of Mr..
Murphy, the principal watchman,
has not been given. His statement
is as follows:
"a great deal has been said
about the negligence on my part;
but, while | admit that / am not
wholly free from blame, yet the
cashiers manner threw me off my
guard; the robbers first came to the
bank at $3.50 on Thursday; one of
them was dressed, so am told, in
police uniform, the others were in
citizens dress, they said they were
police officers; l was not there at
the time; they told John Holmes
about their suspicious, and then
said: you had better 90 back to
the cashier and talk to him.
Holmes went back to the cashier,
and the latter said: Tell them that
| thank them for the information,
and tell them to give my compli-
ments to Lieutenant Clark then
when John returned they told him
what they thought was going on,
and l think they said to John:
we will be down to see you to-
night when I got down to the bank
about O'clock, l changed part of
my clothes, and came right down
stairs and said: well, John, we
have got to keep sharp lookout
for these fellows and then remark
ed: Il am tired, and will lie down
on the table, this l did; Holmes
sat by the vault door, reading; then
the knock came at the door, and my
dog ran out and commenced to bark
furiously; l went to the door and
cried out: 'What do you want:' a
voice came from the outside, 'We
want to see John Holiness l said:
John, somebody wants to set you at
the door, and he replied: 4 know
it is those police officers;' the
door was opened then, think, SO
that John could see them, and when
he looked out he said: yes, those
are the police officers, let them in;'
I thought they were all acquainted,
so | let them in.
zone of the men called me to the
door, and asked me if l knew two
men that were passing on the oppo-
site side of the street, saying: 'They
are the men whom we have been
following down the street; you had
better watch them; then put on my
coat, and stepped out, and walked
up to the corner of Laurel street,
and then back to the bank, and |
could see no person who looked sus-
picious to me; he asked me when
returned if saw any one knew;
said: yes l saw one man who had
Just come out Of 4 rolling mill near
at hand; he was going up the street
rs fast as he could;' we went to the
bank door then; it was open u little;
we went in, he ahead of me; as
soon as | came in, the police officer,
who stood just inside the vestibule
door, came up to me and quickly
put his arms aroutd my neck and
choked me. at the same time draw.
ing my head backward, and while
stood in that position he grabbed
me, and as soon as he grabbed me
one of them struck me in the pit OF
the stomach, and this was followed
by four OF five similar blows; while
this was going on got one of my
hands free, and put it into my pock
ct to get my pistol; but one of them
suspected my intention, and quickly
ierked my hand out and twisted my
arm and placed it behind my back
and the other shackled me; here
was powerless; they had treated
Holmes so before got in; the mar
said: Il want you to come back into
the cashiers room.
"This | was forced to do, and sa
down by the cashiers desk; wheI
there, my captor said; i am going
to gag you;' said: There is no us'
in that; you have me tied; cam
do anything;' he said nothing, bu
took my cap and tore it up, ant
rammed it into my mouth, and tiet
a rope around my head to keep th'
gag from slipping out; then he said
sGe, up from there and come oveI
to this (the northern) side of tn.
room,' and then he placed me in :
dark corner; he shen wanted me t.
lie down; told him: No, / Icannot;
he said: you might as well;' and
said: No, let me sit here;' well, at
ter I had been sitting still for lit