The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-18
A WONDERFUL ROBBERY.
FORCING Il BANK OFFICER TO OPEN
THE SAFE.
the Officers Houses and Gag
ging Them-Tying Cord About the
Neck Of the Teller, and Forcing Him
to Walk to the Bank at Midnight.
UxBRIDGE, Mass, July IA.


to Walk to the Bank at Midnight.
UxBRIDGE, Mass, July IA.
One of the most remarkable bank robberiea
ever known took place In this quiet, out-of-
the-way town, just before daylight, yesterday
morning. The peculiarly bold and thrilling
incidents Of the affair, how the masked vii.
/ lalns entered the house Of the cashier, at the
dead of night, and handcufed and gagged the
whole family, and then dragged the teller Of
the bank aud forced him to open the vaults oi
the establishment, for story which causes
the achievements of even the renowned Jack
Sheppard to dwindle into comparative lnsig-
niHcance.
| HISTORY OF TIE CASE-IEvAsIoN AND OPERA
TIoNs OF THE BURGLARS.
Th' robbers, 1t is believed, came into the
town In two separate carriages, and arrived
shortly afier midnight Hltching their teams
under the shed Of one OF the village churches,
| they proceeded 10 the postofflce and took q
ladder which lay alongside the building. After
reducing its length to suit their purposes,
they carried 1t to the residence of T. enezer
W. Haywood. the cashier, some fifty. ids dis
tant, and, placing 1t in position, five Of the
masked gang quietly entered the house
through an open window OF the second story.
Having thus obtained access to the dwelling.
| the party silently entered the various sleeping
apartments and stood ready for action by the
side of the unconscious sleepers. Slmultane-
ously the sleepers were awakened by feeling a
hand grasplng their throats and hearing
o low voice ordering them to be quiet, ana
assuring them that they should not be
hurt. Besides Mr.. Haywood and Mr.. Wes-
ton there were three other inmates OF the
house, Mr.. Haywood's daughter, Miss LUCINDA
T. Haywood; his granddaughter, o little girl
twelve years old, Mabel d. Ioit, ana colOrea pre-
servant girl named Annie Ross, recent arrl'
val from North Carolina. Each OF them was
handcufed, but the bracelets being too large
| for The little girl, her hands were tied With 8
\ piece OF sheet. They evidently expected to
| find son of MIR. Haywood In the house, as
they visited room he had been occupying,
but he had gone only q day or two before, and
consequently did not know of the affair till
about six o'clock next morning.
Mr.. Haywood, ,iwho ls gentleman OF seventy.
five years Of age, and who has been cashier Of
| the bank for fourteen years, says that ne was
startled out of sound sleep by feeling hand
graspiDg his throat, and opening his eyes, he
saw two men, one holding O pistol ln one
hand and candle In the other, while the other
Haywood naturally replied, ut was the
irot time that he was ever charged with any
crime," and before he could recover from his
astonlehment the men had handcufted MIN.
A NEW AND STRANGE DUTY FOR CASHIER
They then helped him to put on his panta-
looms, and told him be muet accompany them
to the bank and unlock the doors TO the
vaults, He told them he ''could not do It,
They had 20 excited him that he could not get
down stairs, and MS appearance eVlaenty IN
pressed them with the truth of bis statement,
for they Immediately demanded to know
where his clerk was. He replied that they
s.probably knew as we'll as he did" They tied
his feet together, and also tied his legs above
the kuees, and after placing knotted hand
kerchIef in his mouth, tying 1t behind bis
head, they left the room, leaving him lying
helpless on the bed.
NEW STYLE OF ACCOUNT FOR CLERK.
Mr. Weston, the clerk of the bank, who
boarded with the cashier. says that he was
Haywood's room, and opening his eyes he
found man standing at his bedside with
revolver pointed at his head. At first Charlie
thought he would "play 'possum" and manage
In some way to get hold OF his revolver,
which was in table drawer, but as the man
stood between him and the table he gave up
that Idea. He WAS almost Instantly hand
cuffsd and Informed that he was arrested"
but no cause was assigned he was allowed
to put on his pantaloons, and one OF them
helped to put on his stockings. Then small
cord was placed around his neck and grasped
by hand ready at the slightest attempt at out
cry to choke of his breathing. He was then
taken down stairs md out OF the back door
by four men, two Of whom disappeared as
soon assthey got out doors. The others walk.
ed on either side, and during the walk to the
bank he was hit on one cheek with pistol
and on the other by cold blade of an open
knife, while gentle admonltlon was given
him to keep still.
AT CHURCH, BUT NOT FOR PRAYER.
The Unitarian Church stands about midway
between the cashiers house and the bank. On
reaching it Charlie was taken into the DOORWAY
by one of the men, while the other went of
into the darkness. After waiting ten or
fifteen minutes low whistle was heard 10 the
direction OF the bank and he was hurried
along.
IN THE BANK AND QUICK RECKONING.
The door of the bank was opened and the
three men entered. A light is kept burning
In the banking room all night, and as soon as
they got Into the room Charlie was forced to
get down on his knees, and all three crept
silently across the room and behind the
counter. Reaching up to the outer iron door
Of the vault, 1t was gently unlocked, opened,
and the men entered, closing 1t behind them.
The combination lock on the inner door of the
souAo HAo ouS ohAJ euh6 'eJ
the robbers and their anticipated booty.
Charlie was the only one present who could
unlock 1t, and, fearful lest he might forget
the combinations, bis companions told
him "to keep calm aud not to get excited"
Reminded Of his position by q gentle twist
Of the cord round his neck. Charlie soon un-
locked the door, and, opening 1t, the robbers
proceeded to hastily examine The result OF
their venture. They first emptled small
leather carpet-beg containing papers, and
threw into IL what bank bills and scrip they
found, amounting In the aggregate to little
over twelve thousand eight hundred dollars.
They then burst open another trunk, the per-
sonal property Of Mr.. Haywood. In 1t they
found five hundred and fifty dollars In bank
bills, q gold watch, diamond ring, q seal ring,
bearing the letters "E. 8. t." and several
other articles Of jewelry belonging to the de-
ceased father of Little Mabel" A number
Of notes payable at the bank they examined,
out did not take. They also left some forty
dollars in coppers and five cent pieces. Every
thing else Of value they threw Into the Car.
petbag. They then asked Charlie II there
were no bonds In the bank, and could hardly
believe him when assured that there were
none. but were finally obliged to reluctantly
accept his assurance as true.
OFF FROM THE PORTALS OF THE CHURCH.
They then left the bank, carefully locking
the door as they found it, and escorted Char.
lie back to the house, leaving the carpet-bag
In the street, near the Unitarian Church, a2-
pareptly 10 charge of nobody In particular; at