The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-31
The Northampton Bank Robbery.
Row THE SAFE WAS OPENED

There is naturally much speculation as 10
how the burglars succeeded so easily in effect.
Ing an entrance 10 the vault with only the
combination, and one Of the four keys sup.
posed TO be absolutely necessary for that prlr-
pose. The opinion Is strong among the
bank officials and Others that the burglars
had previous accurate knowledge Of the four
parts Of the key. or even duplicate KEYS OBJ.
tanned directly from the factory where the
lock was made, and that some Of the recently.
discharged men from the factory were them.
selves amnpg the burglars. The lock was
one Of Dcxter's double dial combination, with
Herring's patent for discounec,ine toe tHm.
blers from the spindle, was patented by Os.
car Yale lust April, and put in this blnk only
last October for safety. 1t was accounted
fully equal to, if not better. than the chrono-
meter lock but the burglars evidently knew
all the ms and outs Of the lock. indeed,
when the cashier, Mr.. Whittlrsey. told them
that they could not enter with but one Of
The four keys required, they responded,
" We know more about bauk.locks than you
do" It is certain that all the vauIt-doors of
the bank were opened with the greatest ease
and CELEBRITY after the cashier had been forced
to give the combination. There is some in
dication, however, that the burglars did not
need any key at all, but only the combina-
ton, owing TO the carelessness Of bank
officials or ignorance on their part of the
nature OF the lock. By the construction Of
the lock the dial used should be discon-
nccted from the "spindle" on locking up at
night, and then the four parts of the key will
he necessary TO connect the dial with the
spindle, and after that the com bination comes
In play. Now. the first question naturally
asked by Mr.. DELHI, the New York expert
who came TO open the vault. door, was,
" Did you d'sconnect that dial from the
spindle?" aud the clerk Intercepted could
not tel! ; and question TO another person
connected with the bank brought the same
answer, so also third question and Delin
says it may be that the burglars needed no
key at all. but only the combination, which
they received from the cashier. The perfec-
ton of the plans and the shrewd forctbought
Of The seven professionals is made apparent
by every freshly considered detail Of The cX-
ccution Of their work. No. only we're they
mas ked, and wore kid gloves, clusters"
&C.. but during the four hours stay at the
house Of the cashier, Whttlcsey, they adj
addressed each other as "No. 3. button Oh
those handcuff,": '' No. 6, do this" &..
JOLLY SET OF BURGLARS.
The men were rather jolly set, inclined
to pay some attention to The comfort
| of their victims. They advised the women
to put on three pairs Of stockings. so
| that the binding ropes would not cut
them. One OF them casually remarked that
he noticed Mr. Whi:tlcsey's fine watch
ut Watch Hill r. l., two years ago, and
tried to claim acquaintance with him from
that time. This watch they took. When
the fellows noticed that Mr.. WbttleSey was
watching them carefully for some mark Of
identification they bIindfo!ded him, but he
observed that one Of them was ola very com.
handing stature. Mrs. WhiltIesey seems to
have displayed rare wit and presence OF
mind throughout her trying coptine.
ment. When being bound she doubled up
her band so that she might loosen the cords,
but was commanded to lay her hand fiat.
Seeming to Obey, she still raised the hand
enough to work it out of the ropes when the
time came. She also saved her watch by
slyly pitching it under the bureau and when
they picked her fine cloak out OF the bureau,
aud she said "Give me that old thing, Pm
cold" she gained that. One of the ladies
said she was sick and needed medicine !;
Whereupon an. attentive burglar offered her
spoonful of brandy. There is scarcely
clue to the burglars. Evidently the
gang divided on reaching the city, part going
to New York and part to Boston, while
! it is SurmSed that one OF them COT LETT
at Northampton, for man was inquiring
soon after, anxious for chance to follow
the regular train BY Il freight train, and q
team driven furiously toward Holyoke was
heard by the family Of Sheriff Wright pass
| ing on Maple street, where also linen
buster was picked up. There are many in
dications that the burglars have been plan
| ming their work for at least Il month. Some
four weeks ago a suspicious character lin
gercd in the bank so long on various pre-
| fences that the officers marked him
for burglar. They certainly got enough
available property to pay them well for their
job and the time they took to work it up.