The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
4 BRfDE MIN.
A Friendly visit that Nearly Ended In IA rnuk
Robbery and Murder.

From me IrHlit,piid ITeSs
A bold but unsuccessful attempt was
made about nine O'Clock Oh Friday evening to
ron the National Bank Of ChambersDurg. Pa.
The particulars Of The occurrence are rs follows !:
Ralph l.. Rollins came here md engaged rooms
nj the Washington House for himself, wife, and
an invalid urother-in-law. Rollins represented
that no had been a General IN the Southern
army, that he resided In New Orleans. and that
his visit here was solely on ace cunt OF the
health OF his hrotner.in-law. who was IN the last
stages Of consumptiDn. lie and his wife were
well educated. aud apparently very refined IN
t.eir manners and customs. Ihey succeeded In
gaining The confidence II the first families OF
the town, among Others TINT Of George H. Mes-
sersmith. cashier of the National IIauk with
whom tHcy had btcol c very intimate, scarcely
daN ,assing without one or the other calling.
on Fridy evening, ABOUT o'clock, Mr. l.. b.
ktndhnr, who Resides with Mr.. Messersmitn,
answered the door bell ana found Rollins. In
company with another man, who was intro
Oucrd as "his friend. Mr.. Johnson Rollins in
q iired II Mr.. Messersmith was az home. and
Siter being lnfOrme that he was not, rem rked
that they would probably call again during the
evening. About o'clock MIR. kindlne agair
answered the ell and found the same parties IN
witinc. Knowing the intim cy int existed
between thein, ne at once escorl ed them To MIR.
Nes-er- nith's p.ivate otlce, IN the rear of the
barAine room. Rollins intro uced his friend
John-on, ana remarked THAI they had called u
purchase MI. Nessrrsmith's farm. After few
mpmenis couYersatlDn on TINS subject they
tanning $1,000 for sale keeping during the night.
lnis was granted aud the vault opened to put
/. away
issuing GRAFT, tue signal WAS given bv Rollins,
and bOth men seiz Il Mr. Messersmith aud en-
deavpred To gag him. hOurlshing a digger and
revolver IN his face TO intluidate him, In tins,
a IN all their efforts, they were unsuccessfui,
Tor Messersmith not only succeeded IN remov-
Ing the gag every time II was put on, but actually
threw johnson On the door, and finally opened
TIE door leading TO the dining room and cried
"MurderV This alarmed the would-be robbers,
WHO at once fed, taking WITH thom package
containing SjlOJO
They ran 10 the front hall door, where they
were met by 'lr. kindline, who declined open
ing u, although Rollins held revolver at his
treast, threatening 10 shoot II he did not They
then ran out iAe back way, bat were there con
ironicd by william scott, "A Young cullred man,
WHO hapl ened t. be In the kitchen. Rollins aud
or hlre ttps. In doing this Rollins fell aud
was at once seized 10y Scot who held him until
assistance arrived. The Sj0,OJl together with
two rrVoive.s and a large knife were taken
from hlm, ana he at once placed In jail
johnson succeeded In escaping Tor tho dime,
Teaching London about one u'COck. On Sltur-
day morning he took the train for MaTtinsburg
IA, but was reco -nized - Mercersburg by eX-
Shcun GIrenewait, who had gone there In search
OF MN. lie was brought mere At noon, and IN
default ~ $4,000 was committed TO await his
tii5L johnson arrived here VI irch g. ana regis
tered at the Natiunll Hotel as being from Puts
buiEh. lie Is an intelligent, nne-Ook NJ man,
ABOUT thlriy years Il age, and does not look ike
the desperate man he certainly must be.
Three different lots of burglars tools, gowns
masks, a., nave been found IN lots adjOining
the bank property, showing cOnclusiveIy thar
there were other parties outside who were in
terested IN the job The lmuression Is that the
plan was to gag tho whole household, i've in
number, as that many gags have been found.