The New York herald., 1876-01-27
A BANK BURGLARY.
BREAKING OPEN THE NORTHAMPTON NATIONAL.
BAEK-THE oAGGING OF THE CASHIER AND
HIS FAMMY-GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE
QUIET TOWN

QUIET TOWN.
SPKrEGTELD Mass. Jan 90, 1876
One OF thcmost daring and best planned bank rob-
berries record occurred at the proverbay quiet up
river town Of Northampton last night, though the
parties chiefly interested the stockholders of the bank
and the Of the funds in it, still In tantalzng
doubt to whether it successful the door
OF the vault being left In such condition that the bank
officers have been unable to open IT, and are forced TO
wait the arrival Of safe builder, who teegraphed
for from New YORK. and who expected to arrive this
evening
The particulars of the affair as gathered from the
bank officers and others, follows-t seems that
about midnight last night band of seven men, dis
guised, appeared at the house OF John whttlesey
cashier of tho Northampton National Bank on Elm
street. and speedily took possession OF it.
Mr.. Whittesey awakened by the grasp
Of mans hand upon his throat, and his
wife, lying by his side, aroused by the hands OF
another man at her throat Man and wife were both
quickly handcuncd, but we're assured that II they did
they told no harm would como to them Mr.
Whittlesey taken TO lower room one of the
gang held pistol to his head and another standing by
with paper and pencil, they demanded his keys TO
the bank and bank vault and proceeded to question
him to the combinations of the locks of the vault
DOORS and here their coolness skill were displayed
to correctly and rapidly possible the num-
bers of the combination the outer vault door, the
vault door and of the locks the inner safes In
the vault He answered directed but gave false
combinations in each case. But sooner had he
gone through the list than the who had taken
down the numbers given ordered him to re-
peat them This, of course he was unable TO
do and IL thus being evident that he had
lied he was then obliged TO give the combinations
To " n dU
In his ribs and an evident disposition the part Of
the burglar who held the pistol to summarly shorten
his earthly his personal injarles being really
PAINFUL although not dangerous. But although forced
70 give the true combination of the lock Mr. Whtesey
assured the burglars that II would be Of little to
them he had but OF four keys necessary TO move
the combination OF the outer vault door After getting
all the information they could from Mr. whittesey
they gagged him, as they had prev iousy gagged and
bound the other members Of the householdhis wife a
servant girl and visitor, Miss Matte c. White. OF
Wilamsport Pa, and also, in the other part of the
house, I. b. Cutler, printer, his wife and Maria
Benton, an Invalid boarder, making persons in
ROBBERY.
Waiting till four O'clock the time at which the two
or three watchmen Northampton possesses including
whose special duty TO look after the safety OF the
banks, we're accustomed to go home, I've OF the bur-
glars proceeded 70 the bank. which they found no diff
hculty in entering but whether they successful
IN getting at tie contents OF the vault or not only
be known after the arrival OF the expert from New
York The bank officers this morning found the dials
of the lock OF the outer door Of the vault broken
that they have been unable get into the vault aud
have been in suspense all day In regard its contents
Some have been inclined to the opinion that the bur
glars gained to the treasure aud II they did hey
got magnificent haul and that they then closed the
vault and broke the dals 10 prevent the bank
officials from knowing the details Of The loss and thus
securing one day in which to dispose OF
their punder without danger Of detection
The majority, however, OF the opinion that
the dias Of the lock broken in the attempt 10
get the door open, and that the burglars Obliged
TO leave before they had accomplished their object,
aud this theory is most likely to be the one
When the two burglars who we're LEFT on guard at Mr.
Wnltieseys mouse went away, Aoou. nve O'Clock,
Whittesey and Miss White succeeded In getting
rid OF their gags and by their calls attracted passers
by, who in and released them. Whie waiting at
the house the robbers were careful to appropriate Mr.
whittcsey's gold watch, worth $3.50, and also what
money they could find amounting, however, TO no
very large There is plenty OF evidence that the
job was put up by gang of professionals but very
little idea to who they were Six strangers got upon
the drst for this city this morning Northamp-
ton Five of them had tickets and the sixth paid his
fare and inquired what time the train left this city
Now York. These were undoubtedly the burglars, who
by this time are, Doubtless in sale hiding New York
There Is also good evidence that they have In the
town for some time planning this and perhaps other
A scuooLuousK ATTIC USED
A pupil In the Bridge street schoohouso being sent
TO the attic on some errand on Tuesday, discovered
there several carpet bags articles OF clothing aud
small sums OF money and articles OF food show
ing tnat the attic inhabited The teacher on being
informed for Deputy sheriff Wright who removed
the articles among which was coil Of rope thirty feet
long, and paper bag, marked bridgeport" But il
the Of the property Indeed the finding OF the
articles mado very little impression upon anybody
until after the OF the attempt upon the bank
known, when It was not difficult TO see that the
schooihouse attic had been probably several days
the rendezvous OF desperate burglars and not OF com
mon tramps, at first supposed Furthermore,
of the burglars len guard at the cashiers house
for mask half Of leg OF pair OF men drawers
with holes cut in II for tho eyes, and left this behind
his haste TO depart IL matches exactly with part Of
OF drawers found In the schoOhOuse showing
conclusively that the effects found there belonged 10
tha bur hey m 10 hav boen All wall
willing, 10 make themselves comfortable, for among
their possessions we're eight new army blankets 10
keep them warm, and their provisions consisted Of
cake cold chicken aud apples as well as bread and
butter IL Is supposed they got into the schooho
through tho windows, which could be easily opened,
and they gained the attic through the school
ventilat0r A satchel, with burglars tools In
IL foundths afternoon under the old depot Of the
New Haven and Northampton Railroad, and undoubt-
edly belongs to the gang The beauty ofhavng bank
vault locked with the keys OF several parts distributed
about the town. keeping Of different officials OF tho
bank is illustrated by the attempt OF those burglars
The officials having the other parts OF the key all OF
which were necessary TO give entrance live some OF
them, mile from the cashiers house, and to hand
cnn and gag all Of the four families would have let out
the game. Beyond the fright Of the various persons
gagged and handcufTod serious personal injury
sustained though the invalid Miss Benton suffered so
much from excitement AZ TO be quite Ill to-day, and
fatal result is even feared.
A AMOUNT TAKKN
An entrance effected TO the vaults OF the
Northampton Bank, by the bank officials, about mid
night when vas found that the burglars had indeed
been there before them, but just how much they got
for their pains is sti uncertain but II s thought u
will prove large sum, although much Of the securities
burglars will ind difficult TO turn into
cash The bank officers and safe folks are completely
thrown aback at the OF the burglars in getting
into the vault with only OF the four keys,
although they had the correct combination Of the safe
the makers having claimed that no living man could
open tho vault doors without The four keys That tho
gang "crack" and who well understood their
business there is now no doubt