San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-25
A BANK ROBBER.

important details. A partial account OF the
affair was published in a local paper, and
some of my readers may have seen it.
When left Ohio Grated up my bicycle,
and sent it along by express, 1t arrived in
perfect order, and when the roads were in good
condition took many pleasant spin after
banking hours.
One summer morning, after a delightful
after breakfast run in the bracing noun
tain air, rode up to the bank and having
cleaned and oiled my bicycle, stored it in one
of the rooms at the rear of the banking office
Then | went leisurely about my work. The
first thing to do was to open the vault, a sub
stantial structure of masonry with iron doors
and bracings and floor of square blocks OF
stone
The vault was not made specially strong
against burglars, for the cash was kept in the
safe within. The vault was intended only to
protect the books and records from fire. Any
mere bungler of craftsman could have got
into it in an hour or two The SAFE however,
wasas nearly burglar proof as the best steel
and latest improved locks could make it.
The vault had two doors, an inner and an
outer, which were fastened by combination
locks. Between the two doors was stone
floor, like that inside of the vault
swung the outer door open without diff
Guilty, but when pulled the inner door, to
my surprise it scraped on the stone floor, and
considerable force was required to pull it
over the obstruction, and swing it fully open.
What was the cause of this obstruction?
Had the hinges of the door been worn so as to
let it down? Had faulty construction in the
floor allowed one of the stones to slip gradually
out of place and interfere with the door? Had
the building been settling and the vault floors
thrown out of level? Grand my heart beat
faster at the thought-had some one been
tampering with the hinges.
In any case there was need of a thorough
investigation, but what was to be done! The
cashier was out of town. and the president
had told me the night before that he would
leave on the mornings train for Enterprise,
to settle up disputed balance with our cor
respondent there. The absence of both OIL
GERS left me in first authority.
But before decided what to do the safe
must be examined to see if it had been tam
pered with. l hurriedly entered the vault,
and scanned the exterior of the safe No
marks of violence appeared. The doOr}W was
protected by time lock, and by three icom-
bination locks to hold the bolts after the time
locks had released them. The clocks had
been set for 8 O'Clock, and were now run
down The tumblers of the combinations
clicked in quick time as | hurriedly whirled
the knobs Bills, gold and silver lay uudis-
turbed, just as had left them the evening
before.
Now what was to be done? did not like to
resume responsibilities which properly be
longed to some one else. And here was a
problem which possibly concerned the very
life of the bank. Unless | was forced by cir
cumstanceS the solving of it was not for me.
gave myself three minutes for a decision.
| The cashier was out of reach, and the presi-
dent was now ON his way to the station. If
! could reach the station before the train
left, | could bring him back The train was
J due at S.55, and the clock now marked S.35
The station was about four miles from the
town When the railroad was built it was
found necessary to run down the valley; and
so the town which lay back on the tableland
was left that distance to the west. 1t would
| be impossible to get a horse and buggy, and
| get to the station in the time allotted. Ny
| bicycle. | could try it, there was a chance
Of success.
The two other clerks had come into the
| bank, and were at work at their desks. got
out the cash needed at the counter, remarked
| quietly to the clerks that | was going out for
a few minutes, and told the receiving teller
to attend to my window meantime Then !
slipped on my riding shoes, ran my machine
out of the rear door and mounted. The road
was good, and | was uerved to great eXer-
ton; and although it required twenty min
utes of as hard work as ever did, succeeded.
The dark roof of the low station building
came in sight, just as up the valley | saw the
smoke of the approaching train. | was not
too late. | whisked up to the station and
hurried to Mr.. AXtell, the president, who,
valise in hand, was looking up the track at
the train.
| related to him all there was to tell in a
very few words. He asked me a few ques-
tons, and then said: 'Of course will 20
back to town. You return by your bicycle,
and | will follow by the stage Go to the
bank and attend to business as usual When
| get in we will decide what to do"
| made my return trip with all possible
speed and took my place at the teller win
dow For twenty minutes business quietly
proceeded.
Mr.. Axtel came leisurely into the bank
soon after. lie went into the vault, examined
, the floor, and he ran his hand along the
cracks between the stones. A moments in
specton satisfied him. lie came out and told
S ME that he was convinced some one was tun
neling under the vault. He asked me 70 in
form the clerks, and to keep a close watcI
over everything until he should come back
and hurried away.
He presently returned with two Of tn
banks directors whom he took into the vault
! pointed out the suspicious appearance, an,