The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-04-19
An Extraordinary Robbery.

ware avenue, near Vine street was rob-
bed on the night of October II, 1865.
The safe had been opened apparently
by false keys, and upward of nine thou
sand dollars In greenbacks were abstract
ed. A package of bonds to the amount
of $4,000 more remained untouched.
Two clerks, both young men, usually
slept in the store. August Yerkes had
been in the employ of Mr.. Harrison
Purvis about four years and enjoyed the
confidence of his employer. Pembroke
Sharon, the other clerk had only recent
ly been taken, but the manner in which
he took hold of the business impressed
Mr.. Purvis so much in his favor that he
predicted successful future for the
young man as very able salesman and
ultimate prominent merchant. Under
this impression he placed implicit trust
in Sharon, and selected him as COM
panion of Yerkes in the store at night.
Both of these young men were in the
store on the night the robbery occurred
but when the place was opened in the
morning Sharon was missing and
Yerkes lay on the floor near the safe
with severe cash on the side of his
head, which had been bleeding profuse-
ly, judging by the amount of blood on
the floor.
The unfortunate young man had evil
IDENTIFY endeavored to staunch the blood
for both his hands were stained, as also
were his clothes. By the disorder in the
Office and the numerous blood stains
both on the floor and walls ii was evil
dent that desperate struggle must have
taken place.
1t was conjectured from this that
Sharon, having provided himself with
false keys, had opened the safe and been
surprised by his fellow clerk in the midst
of his work who in turn dealt him the
blow near the temple, and then, after a
severe struggle between them, Yerkes
tainted from loss of blood and the rob-
ber fled with his booty.
Varnoe, the detective, and physician
were at once sent for, and while DIR. Ed
son attended to his patient the detective
examined the premises with his usual
carefulness, particularly the second floor
and returning to the lower floor found
that Yerkes had recovered and sat in an
arm chair with bandage around his
head.
We'll, Mr.. Varnoe, what have you
discovered ?" asked Mr.. Purvis.
&C L find that the robber has been to
the second floor" replied the detective
"possibly he has taken some valuables
from there as we'll"
The merchant hastened upstairs, but
presently returned, saying nothing had
been disturbed or removed as far he
could see.
Whatever his object may have been,
/ am positive that he visited the second
floor after the bloody struggle had taken
place.,,
Then Yerkes gave the following ac-
count:
He awoke suddenly and found that
Sharon had left the bed, and fearing that
some mishap had overtaken him he lit
parafine candle by the small gas. jet in
the room and began to search for him.
Not finding him on the second floor
he descended to the first floor, and dis
covered him before the open safe. They
saw each other at the same moment, and
Sharon was spell-bound at being discov-
cred in his criminal act Then began
the struggle, the evidence of which was
so plainly evident. Sharon being the
stronger of the two soon overpowered
his opponent, and threw him so violent
ly on the floor that he became insensi-
BILE.
Varnoe listened with wrapt attention
to the end, then made few notes in his
book, after which he walked out of the
store with his eyes bent on the floor be-
fore him until he reached the street;
then, after casting his eyes searchingly
around on the ground, he walked over
to the dock and gazed for few moments
into the water in thoughtful manner.
When he returned to the store and re-
Joined the others in the office, il was
with grave countenance.
Mr.. Purvis, the robber has evidently
escaped by way of the river, as the blood
tracks reach to the docks.'
All eyes were now directed toward the
wounded man who had suddenly grown
very pale. He opened his mouth as if
to say something, but fell back In his
seat with groan and tainted away.
While the doctor was applying resto-
ratives to his charge the detective drew