Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-10-31

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full of Thefts.
A New York dispatch under date ol
the 9th instant, gives the fol.
lowing particulars of the greatest rob,
berry ever committed: Between and
o'clock this morning masked burglars
entered the Manhattan Savings bank
building, corner of Broadway and
Bleeker streets, and after Handwriting
the janitor made him, under threats OF
instant death, reveal the combination
of the safe to them and deliver UP the
keys of the bank. They rifed the
vault of presumably large amount OF
money, as twenty tin boxes known to
have contained bills were found on the
floor quite empty. The building is a
six story one, the bank occupying the
ground floor with entrances on both
Broadway and Bleeker streets. Wen
dell Kohlman keeps a barber-shop in
the basement under the bank and the
janitor lives on the 2nd floor. The bar
Der opened his shop 50 minutes past 6
o'clock. He says there was nothing
unusual in the bank at that time. At
20 minutes past o'clock he was start
led by the appearance at the head of
the basement stairs of Janitor Louis
Wertel, white with fright and excite
ment, with his hands handcuffed tightly
and the key Of the bank clutched be-
tween them. He was only half dressed
and gasped: "Thieves, robbers, come
and see." The barber accompanied him
into the bank and saw the door of the
great vault wide omen and the floor
Uttered with tin boxes, all emptied of
their contents. Burglars tools we're
scattered in every direction. The
barber notified the police, and Capt.
Walling, inspector Dick, Capt. Byrnes
and Capt. Kiely were soon on the
scene. The doors, windows, and all
means of access from without were
found intact and it was evident that
the thieves had entered by means of
keys. Daniel Kelley, night watchman,
said he LETT his post at 6 o'clock A. NJ,
and aroused the janitor as was his Gus
tom, and left the building, locking the
hall door after him, left the corner at 6:10
y. NJ, and then everything was all right
and quiet. A photographer who does
business on an upper floor says that at
DUllulIIG
found the entrance open and wondered
at the carelessness of the watchman.
He passed up stairs and met nobody
and heard no noise or disturbance.
The janitor, Wertel, created an unfavor-
able impression on cross-examina-
ton. He said that at 10 minutes past
6 while he was dressing himself seven
masked men suddenly rushed into his
room and hand-cuffed himself and his
wife, and demanded the keys of the
bank. His mOther-in-law, an old lady
who was present, screamed when the
burglars drew pistols and threatened
instant death to any who made noise.
They then carried him into an adjoining
room and forced him to deliver up the
keys Of the secret doors. With
these four ofthe party went down stairs
leaving three on guard in his room.
Three hours passed and Wertel heard
q clock strike nine. Just then one of
the men from down stairs returned and
after a whispered consultation they all
left. After he regained his courage he
went down to the barber shop as les
cribed. Wertel admitted to Supt. Wal
ling that he had given the combination
of the unlocking doors of the vault to
the robbers. He gave it under threats
of instant death, but he failed to state
how he got possession of the combina-
ton. His wife corroborated his story OF
attack but said there were
only five men in the par
tY. Mr.. Lent, a Broadway merchant,
passed soon after z A. NJ. and saw a
young man busting the shelves and
desks inside. 1t is supposed that this
was one of the burglars endeavoring to
make things look natural as possible.
Officers Van Norton and Tully said they
looked through the bank window be-
tween and Z o'clock and al was quiet.
The vault can be seen from the street.
Inside the main doors of the safe vault
the burglars found space with shelves,
upon which were tin boxes filled with
jewellery, silver and valuable papers.
These they emptied. They overlooked
one box on the back shelf containing
$4,000 in valuables, the property OF
Edward Schell,I president of the bank.
The open space of six feet between the
main door of the vault and the doors of
the inner safe gave the burglars ample
space to work in. They pried open one
compartment obtaining $1,000 in small
bills. They next forced the bottom
drawer, but got nothing of value there
from. The wedges were found in the
upper compartments which they were
trying to force when they were evident
ly disturbed. A dozen drills, a sledge
hammer, three sectional jimmies and
other tools were found scattered around
The officers of the bank admit that the
ianitor possessed the combination
to the vaults. 1t was given him months
ago so that he could take out the books
and make ready for business. The
officers of the bank are Edward SchelI,
president and treasurer; c.. T. Alvord,
secretary.
The following is the bank officers
statement: The Manhattan Savings
Institution was, on the morning of fSun-
day, the 9th of Oct, 1878, robbed of
securities to the amount of $2,75S, 700,
of which S2,550,70 were registered in
the name of the institution and not ne
gotiab1e, and $16S,000 are made paw
able to it, and $4,000 are in coupon
bonds and S11 200 in cash. For the
purpose of preventing loss to depositors
1t is deemed advisable that no payment
be made without sixty days notice, as
provided by the bylaws of the instiUu-
ton. EDWARD SCHELL, president.
CHARLES T. ALyoRD, secretary.
A FUGITIVE swarm of bees recently