Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-10-31
HEAVY ROBBERY.
NAKED Burglars Enter Bank In New York
In Broad DayIIght-A Haul OF 62,76O, 900.


New York October o. Between
6 and O'Clock this morning masked
burglars entered the Manhattan Saw
ings Bank building, corner Broad
way and Blocker street, and after
Handwriting the janitor, made him,
under threats of instant death, re-
veal the combination of the safe to
them, and deliver up the keys of
the bank. They rified the vault OF
presumably large amount of money,
as twenty tin boxes, known to have
contained bills, were found upon the
floor quite empty. The building is
six story one, the bank occupying
the ground floor, with entrances on
both Broadway and Blocker street.
Wendell Kohlman keeps barber
chop in the basement, under the
bank, aud the janitor lives on the
second floor. The barber opened
his shop at thirty. five minutes past
six o'clock. lie says there was moth
ing unusual about the bank at that
time. At twenty minutes past nine
o'clock he was startled by the APP
pearance at the head of the base
ment stairs of the Janitt r, Louis
Wertel, white with fright and ex-
oltement, with his hands handcutfed
tightly and key of the bank
clutched between them. He was
only half dressed, and gasped,
'Thieves Robbers Come and see. .
The barber accompanied him into
the bank and saw the doors of the
great vault wide open and the floor
Uttered with tin boxes, all empJied
of their contents. Tho burglars
tools were scattered in every direc-
ton. The barbar notified the 20
lice. and Superintendent Walling, In.
spector Dix, Captain Byrnes, and
Captain Kelly. 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 keely, night watch
man, said he left his post at a, m,
and aroused the janitor, locking the
hall. door after him. He left the
corner at Clio a. M, and then every
thing was right and quiet. A litho-
grapher who does business on the
upper floor says that at 6 O'clock he
arrived at the building and found
the entrance open, and wondered at
the carelsssness of the watchman.
He passed up stairs and met nobody,
| and heurd no noise or disturbances
| The janitor, Wertel, created an UNI
favorable impression. On cross ex-
animation he said that at ten min
utes to 6, while he was dressing,
seven masked men suddenly rushed
into his room and handcuffed him.
self and bis 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 ono who made noise. They
then carried him into an adjoining
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 a clock strike nine.
Just then one of the men from down
stairs returned and. after whis-
pered consultation, they all left.
After be regained his courage he
no al
described. Wertes admitted to
Superintendent WallIng that BIO had
given the combination used in un-
locking the doors of the vault to the
robbers. He gave it under threats
of snstant death, but be failed to
state 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, Broad way merchant,
passed the bank soon after Z a. M,
ard saw young man busting the
desks and shelves inside. 1t is sup
posed this was one of the burglars,
eodeavoring to make things look as
| natural as possible. Officers Van
Norton and Tully said they looked
through the bank windows between
6 and o'clock, ard all was quiet.
The vault can be seen from the
street. Inside the main doors Of the
safe vault the burglars found q space
with shelves upon which were tin
boxes filed with jewelry. silverware
and valuable papers. These they
| emptied. They overlooked one BOX
on q. back shelf, containing fifty
thousand dollars in valuables, the
property Of Edward Seheil, president
of the bank. The open space, six
feet between the main door of the
vault and doors of the inner safe,
gave the burglars ample space to
work in. They pried oped one COM
partment, obtaining 81, 900 in small
| bills. They next forced the bottom
drawer, but goS nothing of value
therefrom. The wedges were found
in the upper compartments, which
they were trying TO force, when
they were evidently disturbed. A
uOAOb uiilio, q SiouS bUn uucr, tbAoC
sectional jimmies, and other tools
were found scattered around. The
| officers of the bank admit that the
janitor possessed the combination TO
the vault. 1t was given him months
ago so that he could take out the
books end make ready for business.
The officers of the bank are Edward
Schell, president and treasurer; c.
F. Alvord, secretary.
Following is the bank officers
statement: Manhattan Savings In
stitution was, on the morning OF Sum-
day, the 9th of October, 1878,
robbed of securities to the amount
of S2,757,700, of which $2.505, 700
was registered in the name of the
institution, and not negotiable, and
$168 900 are made payable to it. and