The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-03

give n tremendous impulse to burglarious
enterprise all over the country. Such n sue
oessful sweep will be the fruitful parent
OF new aud still more astounding opera
tons. No vigilance that will under ordi-
nary circumstances be employed viii guard
against them. The last bank before this
at Northampton, that was emptied, re-
CURED, rs we remember, but four armed
professionals. This one took seven. The
next may employ dozen. Whatever the
number requisite, II will be sure to be
found, whether it be seven or twenty
seven.
SO far as we can perceive, the only
remedy which thc caso admits Of Is
a total change OF practice on the
part of the country banks. They must
skelctonize their business by vacating
their vaults and contrallzing their funds.
They must refuse special deposits. They
must convert themselves into mere ngen-
oies of discount, and use the treasure
boxes Of the metropolitan cities to keep
their money. In word they must be be-
forehand with the burglars In emptying
their own chests They must go into fight
ing trim and begin by stripping to the buff.
This will subject them TO Inconvenience,
but II cannot be helped. They nave no
other resource. The Northampton Bank
did this III part, and the Bank Commission
er coolly congratulates 1t that the burglars
got only half tho surplus. He ought to
have censured the bank officers for not
knowing how to save the whole.
IL must be remembered that 10 Is not
the old type of highwaymen aud brigands
that now have to be encountered, but
scientific criminals as far beyond them
in skill rs they are in the largeness OF III cir
ideas. The robber expressed his views OF
his own ability when he replied to the
innocent cashier whom he was handcuff-
ing, that he wanted none of that gentle
mans information about the number of
keys II took TO get into the bank. He knew
a great deal more about locks than the
cashier who thought his vaults so safe.
But even N the country banks take
warning, and cease to be repositories
and oustodians of large sums of money
and securities, so that they no longer
tempt the cupidity of the operators, no one
need hatter himself that bank robberies
will come to an end. Let no one think
that even with the outposts all drawn in,
there is to be an end Of these enor-
nous plunderings. Burglary has now en-
tered upon its scientific stage, and is not
10 be easily baked. 1t will merely have a
few more difficulties to overcome.
With the aid of modern explosives Ia
confuse and alarm, and some well-direoted
pistol shots, why could not gang of des-
peradoes enter any of our moneyed iUstitu-
tions in broad daylight, when favorable
opportunity offered, and capture a few
millions before even the police could
be summoned2 We do not say It is prob
able. But is 1t not possiblei We sup
pose that some day thina of this sort Will
be attempted, and then we shall see how
feeble and ineffective are the guards that
even our greatest money institutions now
rely on for their protection.
There Is good deal that ought to be
to render our great banks aud safety de-
post companies secure against the skill
and boldness OF the daring bands of we'll
armed and well equipped robbers of our
day. But all this can be put OF for the
| present. The first thing is to reorganizt
the whole country bank practice, which IL
now simply TO pile up valuables in paper
boxes aud advertise where they are to be
found, inviting the thieves of the coun'
try TO come and take them. Ii is enough
to undertake the correction OF this insen.
safe folly before going further.