The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-30
RIFLED BANK VAULTS.
The True Story OF the Manhattan
Savings Bank Robbery.
Bvi&eBse Of the Most Thorough Prepaxa-
tons by the 0racksmsn.
short History of the Way I'm Which
osh~y Bank vaults Have Been
Cracked.


was fairly invited by the unutterable folly OF
the bank directors in placing the combina-
ton of the lock of the safe in the hands of
an old aud worn out janitor. The individual,
Werkle, is small weak, timid and ignor
autp5Yson, united for any responsibility
above his brooms and dust pan. The first
thou sht suggested by the burglary was that
Werkle was implicated with the thieves.
THIS theory seems 10 be untenable-at least
the man IL at liberty and is not suspected of
the eri ne either by his employers or the pc
lice Monday morning he had egnDed his
c0roposurs Sufficiently to make some in
teresEing ADDITIONS to the story be told the
day before. He said hat when the robbers.
who were at least six in number, threatenC
him with pistols and demanded the cOmbi-
nation he was so dazed and frightened that
a. ffst be could DOT remember it. When
he denied that he knew the combination
they told him he lied and said thSt they had
seen him open the door many times. After
waiting minute or two for him to collect
his thoughts rs be still continued silent they
cried, Bring him OUT" and dragged him
Into The entry, where one man grabbed him
bS the hair and held q pistol to his head
threatening him with instant death unless
he revealed the combination. The terrified
plaa then gave the correct combination as
follows: go 9, D." Ooe of the burglars
then SAID, with an i'm DrecStiou, You lie
shere's another number" He insisted that
there was not, and they finally took his
word. The fact is that the combination lock
was originally made with four wheels, but
had been altered to three for convenience in
opening. Werkle declares that he never
knew before that the lock ever had more
than three wheels.
While Werkie was under guard he says
one OF his .wo custodians asked him what
time the rsilkman came how much milk he
took and what he paid for il. He told the
man who left the room about the time the
milkman came. When the milk peddler
came Monday he told Werkle that Sunday
morning man met him on the sidewalk as
ne drove up to the bank and told him that
Werkle was out of town with his family,
and, therefore, didn't want their usual milk
supply. All the signs indicate the most
thorough preparation for the crime. The
police think 1t is probable that the robbeA
have been planning the job for some months.
They knew at what time the janitOr, Werkle,
relieved the night Waterman, and also the To-
cation of his rooms which are in the upper
part of the building. They had watched
him through the Broadway street windows
and seen him unlock the combination vault
door. There is good evidence that weeks
ago they studied every part of the building
infinitely. They of course wished 10 know
lf they could intimldate Werkle and his
family in their rooms without mourning any
Last week Mr.. Meureusse, who deals in
sundries on the floor where Werkle lives,
Was visited by large, eoarse-featured man,
who asked to lcok over the goods, stating
that he was about to open a ore. When
Meureusse asked him his name he said he
intended to pay cssh, and that he had no
card with him. He showed no kuo Wedge
whatever OF the business, and Meureusse re-
garded him with suspicion. He saw the man
next day loungipg in front of the bank, and
he thinks he could identify him. Two men
also visi.td she store of K. Menges, On the
fourth floor, and asked 10 be shown loft in
toe floor above which they said they wished
20 rent MsDgss Jaw one OF these men the
day after In the bank. All the circumstances
indicate that il was the work of the most
expert professional burglars, and was very
carefully planned.
Mr.. Butler The safe man, makes the
curious statement that it Is the rule and not
the exception for janItors OF bank buildings
tn be in possession of the combination of the
vault, aud ne knows OF at least so banks in
the city where this rule prevails. He says
that all valuable articles are supposed to be
locked up in the safes within the vaults, and
the lsnitors are given the COM
bInetIon to enable them to bring out
the books and 6isttibute them for the
days work The flct that this ia proved to
be the case In ons OF the most trusted insti.
tulions of New York has profoundly i'm.
pressed the public, and the papers are asking
what sort of security deposit companies Of
fer their patrons, aDyhoS.
Monday morning the bank directors held
A mt e5ir". The robbery WIS very warmly
discuss, Sc, eral of the dire otors EXPIRE ssed
surprise that tue combination OF the outer
vault door should have been in the posses
sion Of the janitor and the details of the
MANAGEMENT were explained TO them. The
Of nHarinO a ard was 1isruSGad
Some were in favor of making the otter in
the hoIe Of huTrying up the return
OF the registered securities and of
tie coupon bonds. No action was
tBksn on the reward question, how
ever, and the board adjourned
after session of nfariy two hours. The -
rectors refus d the press particulars OF The
proceedings, but this much is certain: up 2ss
the police are speedily on the track of the
thieves the bank officials will make overtures
for q com promise with the latter. Humili-
atiDg as this step may be, 1t will be taken as
the necessary means OF gaining possession OF
over two millions OF securities. The thieves
will have everything their own way and are
doubtless shrewd enough to make the most
of their advantage. Toe total loss is not yet
known Inc thieves have $8&, 900 in money
aud negotiable bonds. The officers OF the
bank say they don't yet know who were the
owners of all the private treasure boxes In
the outer safe. For these the bank assumes
no responsibility, aud what the rhed boxes
contained the officers say they do not know.
Fresh walls from newly discovered sufferers
will probably arise every day for some time
20 come. All busips IS in the bank was sus'
pended Monday, the clerks and tellers finf-
ing their time fully occupied In talking with
tie crowds who flied the bank. There was
but little excitement. though q large num-
Der of depostors left the sixty days notice
OF intention 10 Withdraw their funds.
The robbery has la no fleet on the stock
and moaey markets, chiefly because the
bank lost little that was in the shape oil
money or u gotisble securities. The reg s.
tered securities IL is assumed, will be recoy
cred st certain expense. very herent
stats of things would have besn seen in
Wall street " some OF the great speculators
Who ere now on the bull SIDE had happened
10 De interested the other way.
OTHER BANK RoBBEEIss.
In ls7O man dressed in the uniform OF
polio officer went into the kensng'on banH
- and said the cashier. II