Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-07-16
ATTEMPTED BANK BURGLARY
BAfIed but the Vault OF the Citizens
Bank Made a Complete Wreck.
-Four Well Equipped Burglars do the
Business on sunday Morning.

slumbers by the report Of pistol shots and
the cry OF 4" murder -" robbers T." help p
repeated several times. Nearly all within
a square OF the Citizens Bank we're aroused
by these cries and hastened TO the locality
from whence they came. The cause OF the
alarm may be briefly told, a. follows:
Shortly after 8 o'clock Sunday morning
Mrs. D. NJ. MORSE, who resides diagonally
across the street from She Citizens Bank,
and who had been unable to sleep on Nc-
count Of the heavy thunder storm, swak-
sned her husband and requested him to
get her a drink. While listening to the
heavy peels Of thunder during the after
part OF the night che heard three strong
explosions sounding more like that OF pow
der. While relating this TO her husband
she looked out Of the window and discov-
cred n man standing in front Of the bank
The idea struck Mr.. MORSE at once that
the hank was being burglarized. Hastily
dressing he grabbed his revolver and fol-
lowed by his vile, armed with a club.
lie proceeded to the residence of Detec.
tive d. d. BATES near by and aroused
him. Mr. BATES was soon on deck in
fighting costume, shirt, pants and slippers,
but forgot to take his revolver along
The two proceeded to the bank snd Mr..
MORSE stationed himself near the front
door with cooked revolver in hand to wing
the game as it passed ont, while Mr.. BATES
hurried around through the ally to drive
the game into the trap. He had not
gone far when he discovered the outer
picket standing about 80 feet from the
back door of the bank.
"What are you doing there? ?" shouted
Mr.. BATES, and the reply came quickly in
the sharp report OF revolver in the hands
Of the sentinel, who made precipi.ate re-
treat down the alley to Front street, hal
looing to his three companies as lie ran
10 "get out, they are on u.s." The other
three ran in the same direction, each fir
ing revolver as he ran. They directed
their hasty steps up Front street and by
the time they had reached Mr.. HILLA-
BRANDS grocery Mr.. BATES had reached
Front street, aud starting the cry of help
murder, thieves, &c. At this point one Of
the burglars were heard to shout, "shoot
the id s. Of a b. ami stop his noise" ."
The hindmost man soon sent ball whz-
Eing in close proximity to Mr.. BATES
head, which made the fith shot fired.
The four ran up to Mr.. LAwRENcE's barn
where they turned south on Walnut street.
Two turned up the 6rst alley leading past
| Mr.. LIS house and tive ran to and up
Third street which was the last seen Of
them.
During the excitement the Devil " OF
this Office, j. G. HIMMELMASN, Jr., jumred
into his little brothers britches, or his
brothers little brltches, which fit him too
quick at both ends, and hastily proceeded
to notify Mr.. N: L. HANSON, the CashiC r
Of the bank, who was soon on the spot
and proceeded to investigate the results.
The double back door had been pryed
oren with a jimmy. The knob on Il Q
heavy door TO the brick vault had been
broken off and it is believed that a car
fridge OF dynamite lad been inserted in
the cavity aud exploded which destroyed
the lock. Three other heavy doors belong =
ing to the vault and safe we're tern to pie
ces by heavy charges of powder
But one more door remained, that ia
the money vault, which also had fastened
upon it the time lock. The attack on
this door, was made by wedging and by
inserting powder by means Of the all
pump exhaust, thus stripping it OF two
plates and breaking the arbor of the com
tured by the use of dynamite cartridges
after which it was possible TO remove it
leaving an opening through the door,
through which the combination lock
was charged and blown into fragments
not an entire part being found.
The time lock, the Holmes electric, al
though fractured by the explosion in th'
other lock, still held the bolts firmly in
place thus rendering other charges necessa
ry, which were in process of preparati, n
when the alarm was given. WhHt woulI
have been the result of the ext or success
siye explosions 1t is impossible 10 say but t
the lime lock is due the delay OF the fina
processes aud, without doubt, the safety 0
the funds.
The safe being made some twelve year
ago did not enjoy The full confidence o
the Cashier against professional burglar
, and very wisely and prudently Mr.. HAN
son had been in the habit Of keeping oI
hand only a small amount Of funds. TIL,
chest is estimated TO have contained Shou
$4,000 in valuableS, including pnperownt'
or held as col lateral aud for safe keeping,b
the bank, and in cash, there being neaIl.
81 900 OF the latter.
The clock had been taken from It's nc
customed p ace OH the wall aud laid upoI
the counter, face up, aud had stopped a
1858, indicating the time, it is believed
the commencement Of operations by Tia
bun glars.
Within the brick Vanlt was n valuable 10
, OF siiverware, the property Of Mr.. H.E.AvE
RnL, who is absent with his family il
the east, which had been deposited Iher
, for sale keeping. This, together wi
i many papers was scattered prOmiscuOusl
, over the floor.
About 8 O'Clock the same morning Nj
; II. C. LAWRENCE found in his yard in h
rear OF the residence large black salch,
containing four cans of powder, u lon
: piece of rubber hose, bottle Of oil. drill
chissels and several other tools, all Of til
best make, also steel jimmy about thre
feet in length. The tools were eyidentl
= the property Of professionals. There wa
I, , also found in the satchel large roll {
postage stamps, about 500 worth, whic
had been placed in the vault for safe keeI