The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-13
DARING BANK ROBBERS.
Skilled Thieves at Work on the Vaults Of the
Metacomet National Bank Of Fall River
Timely Arrival Of the Jsnitor-The
Funds Nearly in View When
They Were Disturbed.

FALL RIVER, March IL, 1873
A bold but unsuccessful attempt was made
during last night to rob the Metacomet National
Bank OF this city. The bank is on the second floor
OF large brick building on the corner Of Anawan
street, near the Old Colony depot, and is in part
OF the city where the operations of burglars would
not be apt to attract attention during the hours Of
the night The janitor OF the building, who ar
rived at about five O'Clock this morning for the
purpose OF sweeping out an ONCE in one OF the
upper stories, found the outer door secured as
usual by massive bolts and locks, and, christening
the same, he passed up st airs to the room above
mentioned
THE ROBBERS DISTURBED.
Hardly had he commenced his work when his at
tentiOn was called to the sounds of footsteps in the
rooms OF the bank, and imme diately after the rob-
bers rushed to the rear part OF the building and
escaped by lowering themselves to the ground.
The officers OF the bank having arrived an investi-
cation was instituted, which showed that one Of
the best laid plans for robbing the bank OF its
tire assets had been frustrated. The gang, who
were adopts in the business. had enected an en-.
trance to a room adjoining those OF the bank by
forcing on the iron shutters on window in the
Of the building and then drilled hole through
o brick partition large enough to gain an entrance
TO the directors room. TO reach the vaults after
this required but little effort, and then commenced
the work Of blowing these open.
BLOWING OPEN THE VAULT.
TO accomplish this purpose powder was inserted
in the combination lock OF the outer vault by
means OF very skilful appliance and 1t yielded to
the powerful agency employed to rend 1t ssunder.
The force OF the explosion shattered the glass in
the windows and demolished some OF the furniture
in the bank, and it seems strange that the noise
should not nave been heard by some person es
the American Print Works and the Fall River Iron
Works. which are on the opposite side OF the
street. The inner vault was attacked by means OF
drills wedges and other improved burgariOus i'm
plements and, at the time Of being disturbed, the
robbers had succeeded In getting 1t partly open,
six iron wedges being left In various parts or the
door, showing how the job had been accomplished
TIMELY ARRIVAL OF THE JANITOB.
The steel safe which was set inside the inner
vault would not have long resisted the burglars II
they could only have got at It, and half an hour
more would probably have satisfied them. AS the
the bod operators Of this unsuccessful scheme
how many the gang consisted or In what direction
they ned after being surprised. The locality
where the AFFAIR occurred afYordcd good oppOrtu-
nifty for the perpetrators to slip away unObserved,
and they probably followed the railroad track. As
to-day several OF the large corporations pay OF
their help, 1t Is supposed that the robbers believed
that the bank had on hand large amount OF
money, and that q rich harvest could be reaped.
HOW THE SCHEME WAS PLANNED.
From appearances they must have commenced
their labors quite early on Tuesday night, and the
difficulties encountered in obtaining access to the
vaults undoubtedly hindered them from complet-
ing their object and getting away before daylight,
as they intended. They left behind them full set
jmmies, &C., together with about quart OF powder.
To meet any emergency that might arise in case OF
any person entering the bank while they were at
work they had provided themselves with hand
Gates IL was planned and executed by q desperate
and skilled party Of bank robbers.