The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-23
THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY.
Additional Facts--Public Opinion and
Speculation The, Term " Burglar
Proof" Obsolete-The Topic Of the
Hour-A Brace or Witty Roguss.
From tho Baltimore sun, August 2ll

From tho Baltimore SuniIAugust 2i
Perhaps no criminal occurrence happening
in Baltimore for the past ten years has created
so much excitement and sensation, or caused
80 much Of public comment and criticism, as
the robbery Of the Third National Bank, on:
south street. the particulars OF which were,
given yesterday. Happening as IL did over
Two days ago, and beug 70 extensively Venti-
lated during Monday, one would naturally.
huve supposed that The excitement would
have dlsd out, as such things generally do,
very quickly. Not 80, however, as there was
something more. startling than mere "rob-
beryn In, this case. The skilful and daring;
operations of the thieves in tearing away:
brick walls, drilling through iron slabs aud
chipping out cemented vault walls, seemed to
owners of vslnables to wonder exactly what
Is safe as against thieves. q; 49,;
= ADDITIONAL FACTS. Ws..i,
Since the general excitement and confusion
attendant upon the discovery Of the robbery
on Monday Ihe bank ioficers have been busl-
ly engaged In gathering knowledge of the lost
valuabIes, but as yet have got no trace or
those stolen or of the thieves: AS heretofore
stated, they had twice heard strange nolses
several days adjoining the bank before the
robbery, but no suspicion was aroused. The
detectives continue nonplussed by The pecu-
lIarItIes Of the operation, ann whatever they
may have learned they have kept secret. The
bank Watchman, Michael Burnett, who seems
still to have The confidence OF the bank OIL
cers, could tell nothing except that he acc-
dentally saw the Slabler d Co. party going In
aud out Of the adjoining GlLtings building.
which the thieves occupied, and from which
they operated, but attached no particular Inn
portance to anything he saw. No traces left
Mil Mi rnf hn
and although it is an old adage that murder
will out" 1t seems very questionable whether
this great robbery will ever be relieved OF the
shroud of mystery encloudlng 1t.
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION.
Not even q good personal description OF the
robbers could be gotten In the excitement Of
Monday. Yesterday, however, Mr.. John s.
Glttings was Interviewed, and from him some
new facts are gathered. He sta'es that the
Stabler i Co. firm We're also known as r.
Washburne &c Co. The man Washbnrne beinf
I~rrcorn;zed as the head of the bogus hrm, ant
it was through his negotiations that the onllq
Ing was rented. He is described as mar
fine built, about 1ve feet seven Inches high
with good face, pleasant expression. gentee
department, quick OF speech and fluent ii
conversation. His hair and side wnlsker'
were yellowish. He had the air OF shreWc
and active business man and inspired conf
denoe at once, 80 much so that when he haC
paid $3.50 for a quarters rent 10 advance, Mr.
Cuttings at once decided he had good ten
ant In reply 10 an inquiry as to the style o.
business 10 be carried on, he responded Thai
they were going iIto the graln com mission
business. but II that should not prove slc
cessful, he Intended to "optn a bank" The
sequel proves that he did open bank, and to
some purpose.
His companion, supposed to constitute the
.'CU.," is described as short, s:outy-built iD
dlvidna, looking like an Englishman OF tht
lower order. He had a cast In one eye, q very
red face, dark hair, aud was Of rather unpre
possessing appearance. He Is accredited witt
fondness for stimulating refreshments anc
Was frequent visitor to saloon near oy, u
which he went several times with sleeves
rolled up, explaining, on one occasion, that HI
was hard at work at the ''oft1ce.h II Is In
ferred that this very hard work was uLon tht
wall leading to the ueighooring bank vault.
WHEN LAST SEEN.
Careful inquiries naie about the nelghbor
hood 20 to snow that the man Washburne (ol
Stabler) was seen Ia the building on Saturday
BY Mr. Sauerhaus. agent for Mr.. Glttings, ap
parently deeply engaged With set OF huge
books behind the desk railing. The real
rooms were then closed, and Washburne
Seemed very busy 10 front. A German watch
maa employed at the corner Of Second anC
South streets states that he also saw the mar
on Sunday afternoon enter the Glttlngi
building, and after few minutes come oul
again with bundle, Some conjecture thai
thIs very bundle contained at least portion
OF the valuables, but of course all such con
lectures are Idle. Another resident OF thu
neighborhood states that on Saturday night .
man was seen quietly seated on the steps o
the Merchants and Farmers Bank, opposite
the Cuttings building, tor several hours, WHIT
is now supposed to have been confederate
but this Is mere conjecture. Beyond this, no
single tangible fact has been developed Il
lead 10 any possible trail OF the thieves.