The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-04-13
A Bold but Unsuccessful Plot to Rob a
Bank.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press at Chambersburg, Pa, sends the
following:
A bold but unsuccessful attempt was
made about nine o'clock on Friday even
ing to rob the National Bank OF Cham
bersburg, Pa. The particulars of the
occurrence are as follows:
About year ago a man giving his
name as alph l.. Rollins came here
and engaged rooms at the Washington
House for himself, wife, and an invalid
brOther-in-law. Rollins represented that
he had been General in the Southern
army, that he resided in New Orleans,
and that his visit here was solely on ac-
count of the health or his brother-in-
law, who was in the last stages of con-
sumption. He and his wife were well
educated, and apparently very refined
in their manners and customs. They
succeeded in gaining the confidence OF
the first families in the town, among
others that of George Il. Messersmith,
Cashier of the National Bank, with
whom they had become very intimate,
scarcely day passing without one or
the other calling.
On Friday evening, about 8 o'clock,
Mr.. L. B. Kindline, who resides with
Mr.. Messersmith, answered the door
Oell and found Rollins, in company
with another man, who was intro
duced as "his friend, Mr.. Johnson"
Rollins inquired if Mr.. Messersmith
was at home, and after being informed
that he was not, remarked
that they would probably call again dur
ing the evening. About O'Clock Mr..
Kindline again answered the bell and
found the same parties in waiting
Knowing the intimacy that existed be
tween them, he at once escorted them
to Mr.. MesserSmith's private Office, in
the rear of the banking-roOm. Rollins
introduced his friend johnson, and re-
marked that they had called to pur-
chase Mr.. Messersmith's farm. After
a few moments conversation on this
subject they asked permission to deposit
an envelope containing S10,0 for safe
keeping during the night. This was
granted, and the vault opened to put it
away.
After discussing some question in re-
gard to issuing a draft, the signal was
given by Rollins, and both men seized
Mr.. Messersmith and endeavored to gag
him, hourishing a dagger and revolver
in his face to intimidate him. In this,
as in all their efforts, they were unsue-
cessful, for Messersmith not only sue
ceeded in removing the gag every time
it was put on, but actually threw John
son on the floor, and finally opened the
door leading to the dining room and
and cried ''Murder!" This alarmed
the would-be robbers, who at once fled,
taking with them a package containing
$4,000.
They ran to the front hall door, where
they were met by Mr.. Kindline, who de-
clined opening it, although Rollins held
a revolver at his breast, threatening to
shoot if he did not. They then ran out
the back way, but were there confront
ed by William Scott, a young colored
man, who happened to be in the kitch-
en-. Rollins and Johnson jumped from
the balcony down eight or nine steps.
In doing this Rollins fell and was at
once seized by Scott, who held him until
assistance dIIlNGu. L iC COOsOOtS W.
gether with two revolvers and a large
knife, were taken away from him and
he was at once placed in jail. Johnson
succeeded in escaping for the time,
reaching London about one O'Clock. On
Saturday morning he took the train for
Martinsburg, Pa, but was recognized
at Mercersburg by eX-Sherif Greene
walt, who had gone there in search of
him. He was brought here at noon,
and in default Of $4,000 was commit
ted to await his trial. johnson arrived
here March 9, and registered at the Ma
tional Hotel as being from Pittsburgh.
He is an intelligent, fine-looking man,
about thirty years of age, and does not
look like the desperate man he certain
ly must be.
Three different lots of burglars tools,
gowns. masks, ETC., have been found in
lots adjoining the bank property, show
ing conclusively that there were other
parties outside who were interested in
the job. The impression is that the
plan was to gag the whole household,
five in number, as that many gags have
been found.