Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-08-07
ROBBERY OF A MONTANA BANK.
Henry Filings Bank. Virginia City
Entered by Two Robbers, and
Robbed I'm Broad Daylight.

One of the most daring bank robberies
on record occurred in Virginia city last
week. From Mr.. w. NJ. Singleton who
was in the city at the time Of the robbery
we leal ned the following particulars.
IL started to Mr. Filings Bank about one
thirty in the afternoon OF Wednesday July
Both to get draft cashed and when almost
opposite the bank was called by an &C
quaintance into store, where WIS until
hearing Mr.. Bennett, the cashier of the
bank, give the alarm that the bank had
been robbed. With others 1 instantly
crossed the street and learned that but a
few minutes before, two men had entered
the bank and one of them putting his hand
into his pocket, as the cashier thought to
get his bag OF god dust, pulled out rev.
Oliver and placing it between MIR. Benefits
eyes, ordered him to throw up his hands,
which request was rather reluctantly but
nevertheless complied with. The other
robbcr then walked behind the counter.
tied MIR. Benefits hands with Z tuckskin
thong and proceeded to gather up the loose
currency and place it in sack In answer
to an inquiry MIR. Bennett said they had
got all the currency there was, but stated
that there were two bags of silver in the
safe. This the robbers did not care to take
as it weighed heavy, there being a thousand
dollars in each sack. There was also
sack of gold dust in the safe containing
$4,000 which the robbers did not touch.
The robbers were but few minutes in
making the haul, when after threatening
Mr.. Bennett with instant death if he gave
the alarm inside of five minutes, they left,
ran down a back street about the length |
of one block to where a third man was
holding three horses, when all three noun
ted and started out of town on the Boze-
man road. The robbers had but little more
than left the bank building before Mr.. Ben
nett was on the sidewalk giving the alarm,
but so great was the confusion that the
robbers in full sight of the town had got
at least two miles from town ere the sheriff
and others could get horses and start in
pursuit OF them. The robbers obtained in
ALL as stated by Mr.. Filing, $4,5O7 SO, and
lul tt:ldtclN ONcIlOOkcu IL IltCIl ldI1eT
amount OF currency in box in the bank.
One of the robbers is described as dark
man. considerably sunburnt.
He had on duck coat and light-colored
hat
Such, in substance. are the particulars of
the robbery, as related to us by Mr.. Single
ton. Later reports state that the robbers
are still at large. No clue has been found
as to who the robbers were. There is a
suspicion in Bozeman that possibly the
James brothers may have had hand in it.
Two Of them, engaged in the Mortified
bank robbery in Minnesota, are still at
large. The Mortified robbery WAS on the
same plan, and it would be very natural
for the escaped robbers to go west. AS ..
,oroborative of this theory, gentleman ,
from Missouri who was raised in the same
vicinity as the James brothers, told prom
nent merchant Of this place that he saw the
James brothers on the streets of Bozeman
| few weeks ago, but that he knew better
han to recognize them or show by any &C i
ion OF his that he knew them. They put i
lp" at the Northern Pacific Hotel.