The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-11-14
4. he Robbery OF the Manhattan Bank,
of New York City.

NEW York. Oct. a.
Between six and ninc O'Clock this morntr Z
masked burglars entcr.si the Manha4 tan Saw.
ings Bank building, corner Broadway ana
Blocker street, and, after handc,gnng the
janitor, made him, under threats 81 instant
death, reveal the combination OF the sure 10
them and deliver up the keys OF the nanK.
They rilcd the vault Of presumably large
amount OF money, ~ twenty tin boxes known
to have contained bills wcie found ON the
floor quite empty.
At $3.50 O'Clock, Wendell kohlman, who
keeps barber shop In the Msc'nen', was
startled by the appearance ut the basement
stairs Of the janitor, Louis Werk l. wh,G win
fright and excitement, with hts bands hand
cuffed tightly and the hey Of the bank
clutched between them. III was only nall,
Come and i'' see f%"' Tie barneS .rs ompanieA
him into the bank, and saw the dHa rs OF the
great vault wide open and the nOn~ Uttered
with tin boxes, all cmrticd of their q mtcnts.
Burglars tools were scattered IN every direc-
tion The barber notified tbs police, VINO
sOon appeared.
The janitOr's statement was to, Shc e Tect
that at 6:lO, while he was drcss' ~ ven
masked men suddenly rushed into hts sOt IN
and hanicufIcd him and his wife, and II :
manded the keys Of the bank. His :UusheN
in-law, an old lady, who was present, scrcasossS,
when the burglars drew pistols and threat
ened instant death to any one who male
noise. They then carried him into an ad
joining room and forced him to deliver up
the keys Of the street doors. With these
four OF the party went down stairs. leaving
three on guard in his room. Three hours
passed, and Wertel heard clock strike
niEe; just then one of the men from down
stairs returned, and after whispered con.
sultation, they all left. After he re-
gained his courage he went to the barber
shop as described. Wertel admitted to
N,,,. all L.
given the combination Of the unlocking of
the doors of the vault to the robbers. He
gave it under threats Of instant death, but he
failed to ST: te how he got possession of the
combination. His wife corrobOrated his story
OF the attack, but said there were only five
men in the party. Mr.. Lent a Broadway
merchant, passed the bank soon after seven
o. m, and saw q young man busting the
shelves and desks inside. 1t is supposed this
was one of the burglars, endeavoring to make
Van Norton and Tully said they looked
through the bank window between six and
seven o'clock, and all was quiet The vault
can be seen from the street. Inside the main
doors Of the safe vault the burglars found the
space with shelves. upon which were tin
boxes filled with jewelry, silyerware and val
liable papers These they emptied. They over
looked one box on . back shelf, containing
100000 in valuables, the property of Edward
Schell, President of the bank. The open space
hftwPPn Of va,,lt
and the door Of the inner safe cave N. h"r'
glars annie snacr to work in. They nr;ad
small, hills Thsv newt forcad ~ iotto,, -,
drawer hut GOT nothing of vaiue tber"fr..,n
The wedges were foumd in the nnrer comnsrt.
mrnts. which they we're irving * force ,rhon
thev we're evidentiy disturbed do.an ar;.Sa
a sledge-hammer, three sectional jimmies and
otFc,rs ~ +hs h.nL admit 49, ~. ;! ae
nossessed the comh;na alton ~ tho "v vos.