Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-19
NEW ENGLAND.
Massachusetts.

Daring Robbery at SprinRdeld-BurgIar
 Work in Sight of the Police Omce-The
 County Trsasurer Bound and Gagged
 and the Vaults Ransackod.
 SPRINGFIELD, Jan. 1S-The most daring robbery ever perpetrated in this city took place at the County Court house at 5:15 to- night Three masked men entered the office of the county treasurer, Mir. Wells Bridge and after gagging and binding him, went through the safe and vaults. There is the highest excitement tn the city to night over the affair and it is thought to be fortunate that MT. Bridge, who is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the city and who has for ssverEl yesrs held the position of county treasurer, was not dangerously in- jured. As it is he is cut about the head and wrists and his throat is bruised from being ohoked by the rufians. He Is over fifty years old and although short is knotty and well built. q fought them as long as my strength held out'' he said, ''and then said to them, I will give in" He is in highly nervous state tonight. Mir. Bridges story is as follows: I was in the court house in my office making out two or three checks which thought would attend to before going home. The gas was lighted and was busy with my work when man came in and asked me if I could change $5 bill He called me by name, but I do not remember having seen him before. He was a young man below medium height and wore heavy green glass goggles. turned to go into the vault, when before I could real ize what had happened two masked men had joined the third, who jumped over the office rail and holding two revolvers to my head forced me back into the vaults. Ho told me to be quiet, but I fought hard to get my hands free. When inside tie safe they fas- tened handkerchief over my:.mouth ,gagging me completely. When this was done lot of small hemp rope was produced with which they bound my hands ann feet. My boots were carefully taken off and the burglars did not appear to be in any way hurried about their work. was roughly thrown on the floor of the vault, one man holding revolver to my head, while the others ransacked the papers and drawers of the vaults. When they had taken all they wished they quietly went out, turning out ths gas as they went and closing the vault doors upon me. There Is win dow leading from this room to the street and when loft in the dark my only hope was
 
 managed to free my hands. Then sprang to the window, raised it and cried out that the vault had been robbed. The men were yet in sight running toward the river. la a few moments help came and was let out of the room. The robbery appears to have been done by men who thoroughly under stood the lay of the land.
 The office where the robbery was committed is on the upper or second floor of the court house and in sight of the police headquar- ters, only small square dividing the two buildings. The burglars probably under stood that Sheriff Sanderson was out of the city and the offices were generally closed at o'clock. At this time the amount taken cannot be estimated. Five hHndred or six hundred dollars in bills is known to have besn taken, but these are of little value compared with the thousands of dollars in checks and value papers which were in the vaults. City Marshal Hamilton was at once notified of the robbery and the police have been put upon the case.