Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-02-12
A MIDNIGHT Bank ROBBERY.
A YsunG Lady Relates her Expsrisncc with
Burglars who Camo % Reb Bank.

Burglars who Cane 70 Rsb Bank.
Miss Matte @. White, Of Williams
port, Pa, who was visiting In tho iami.
" of Mr.. John Whittlesy, the cashier OF
the Northampton bank, writes to her
brother, Mr.. +. L. White, an account OF
her experience with the burglars. She
says; ,.,
About twelve o'clock, or q little after,
Ave burglars entered our peaceful home
with all the violence that We have often
had pictured to us through the papers,
and such as is hard TO believe, and can
only be realized through experience,
such as we have now had. The first in
timation that Laura had Of what was
going on was that man was entering
their room, over the sitting room, and
he had dark lantern in his hand and,
Immediately sprang to their bed, while
both screamed. They were then held
by their throats, two men then being
there, and at once handcuffed and held
down.
had not been asleep over ten min.
utes, for heard the town clock strike
twelve, and at half past twelve We were
all under their entire subsection, there
being man or two men in my chamber
ut once. Tho first knew man entered
my room, and the dark lantern wakened
me, suppose. screamed, thinking it
was John, and that the house was on
fire, and sprapg ont of bed. He put me
back and choked me, and then told me
he would treat me kindly If would
keep perfectly quiet. He said I was
caught" You are all caught, and you
may as we'll give up" He then told me
I must get up. begged him to let me
lie there, but he said " No." and pulled
me up and lead me into the hall and
handcuffed me. He then took me into
Laura's m-no, not quite yet. After
getting me into the hall he said would
take cold without more clothing, and l
told him would take my death of cold
that why, and he led me back into my
room, when I obtained more clothes,
and he took me with them. Very short
ly after Maria, Aunt Hattie and her
husband walked in the same room, and
the girl was brought in with us. After
they had got us all in that room they
made us all get up separately and dress.
OF course we were rugged in each
others clothing, and some were half
dressed. They kept hurrying us up,
and We were all wonderfully possessed.
was very calm, and acted accordingly.
They opened LIS bureau drawer, and
took out her handsome violet cloak and
handed it to her, saying: IL guess this
is what you want" She put that on
with her balmoral skirt, and then was
fixed up, and they fell short of hand
cuffs.
Then Laura and I were joined by one
handcuff, and they took us off into the
front room and put us in the bed and
then tied our hands and feet with leath-
or straps, buckled as tight as possible.
Then they took heavy ropes and slipped
through these, and brought the rope
under the bed, and fastened 1t with ex-
ira ropes besides. They served us all
this way. They treated John cruelty;
also Aunt Hattie. The last operation
was to gag us with rubber gags. John
was blindfolded and tied in another po-
sition. They then dragged him in the
lower bedroom, and he was almost dead
when found.
Laura and I extricated ourselves first
by the greatest effort, and we dragged
ourselves, bed and all, to the window.
about seven o'clock in the morning, and
with one free hand opened the window
and alarmed the neighborhood. We
had to have our handouts fled apart,
and it was about nine o'clock when
Laura and I were separated. We are
alive and well, only that we are scratch
ed and bruised, and Johns chest is
black ana blue. They hoid pistol at
his head after they got him in the bed
room, when they demanded the keys
and combination. They did not touch
the silver, but took Johns watch and
chain. L. grabbed hers and flung it
under the bureau, and they missed it.