National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-08-30
4 Bank Robbery.

The story OF the robbery Of the Balt-
more bank of some $4,000, has been
told by the papers How il was done is
thus described. Col. John S. Cuttings,
owner of the building djolning the bank,
and in which the burglars operated, states
that on the LIST OF June he rented the
place to man giving the name Of Il.
Washburn, at the rate Of SO 800 per
annum and that Washburn paid the
first quarters rent in advance, and he
intended making some more inquiries
about Washburn before he signed the
contract. He said that Washburn called
several times for the contract, but always
when he (Col. Glttings) was out. Wash
burn was an elegant looking man, OF me-
dium height and stature, and Of the most
prepossessing and gentlemanly appear
ance. He made the most favorable i'm
preston on Col. Cuttings, who called 10
see how his tenant was getting on. He
was cordially received, and was pleased
TO see that elegant carpets, desks, ect.,
had been purchased, Indicative of the
wealth of the new firm. The partner of
Washburn was busy adding up long and
formidable columns Of figures with such
lullultN tildt WI. llttllkS C'iiu not Dut
think what fine book clerk he would
make. The Col. suggested that, as the
windows were low, i. would be safer to
have curtains at the front windows, rs he
had been robbed once by parties seeing
from the outside where money had been
placed They thanked him for the sug-
gestion, and had the curtains put up at
once. On Friday Washburn sent for
Mr.. Sauerberg, the agent OF Col. Git
tings, and stated he wished the cellar
cleaned ont, as the police had complained
Mr.. Sluerberg promised to attend to it
in eight or ten days, and the tenant
seemed satisfied. Washburn told Col.
Cuttings that the firm would, in addition
to the brokerage business, go into the
banking business, and the revelation of
this caused pleasant smile to mount the
countenance of the venerable bank Pres
ident 1t is supposed that they did their
work in day time, relying upon the noise
to deafen the sound Of their labors.
The thieves bored through the walls
of the house, and into the bank and
through the vault. They left behind
them all their tools, embracing every.
thing necessary to the work, yet showing
that they were skilfull workmen. The
carpet in their pri ate Office where they
broke through the wall was scarcely
soled A cotton cloth had been spread
down before the aperture, upon which
they neatly caught all the dust and dirt
The bricks appear to have been carefully
stored away out of sight as fast as re-
moved, while they placed the dirt i'll some
of the many table drawers about the
place, and thus managed to keep things
snug aud tidy in case any prying eyes
should chance to get peep at their fleld
Of operations during the day. There is
a capacious vault in the front Office, and
in this they stored the oe5rts Of their
own and their neighbors' walls, as they
patiently picked it away. A good square
cart-load and more of bricks were piled
lp in this vault. The vault of the bank,
which the burglars finally invaded, was
in the ordinary manner, but
lot very substantially. 1t was con-
,tructed of hard-buriit brick laid in
strong cement, with casing OF boiler
ron half an inch in thickness.
In boring the holes through tbViron
,heathing surrounding the vault the
burglars had erected a frame work of
wood, the back OF which was a piece OF
imber about eleven feet in length with
both ends muffled with muslin. This
,iece of timber was braced against the
vail and directly over the hole leading
o the vault, and placing one of the
lrills in the centre of the timber and the
,it against the iron plate the burglars
lad IL leverage sufficient to cope with
ron of any thickness.