The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-24
cREPr TO TIE BANKS VAULT.
A Sneak Thief Secures $4,000, But He
Might Have had $4,000.
From the Nelg York Sun

rum Tue 4fefU } Ofh sum-
EAsToN, Pa, July 2l.-Ihe double doors
of the Easton National Bank building, a
handsome structure in the very heart of the
business section of the city, stood wide open
at noon to-day, revealing the interior to
passers-by, and the large plate glass
windows were also swung open, giving an
unobstructed view of the count
ing-room. The floor is almost
level with the pruemant, and the vault doors,
desks, and furniture can be seen plainly from
the street. The lobby, which extends around
the partition, including the space occupied
by the clerks, has a tile floor. No one can
enter the building without being seen from
any portion of it. The vaults have the adj
ditional protection of an iron grating,
room.
1t was thought that robbery in such a
place would be impossible, and yet "a 200
was stolen there to day. Three men were
engaged in the robbery. First a nicely
dressed man entered, and, going to the
discount window, asked:
Nv hat is your nameY
"Bixler," answered the clerk.
you are the man l want TO see, then"
said the stranger. 81 represent the Bixler
estate In Germany" and then he began to
talk with Mr.. Bixler relative to fortune
left in the old country for the Bixler heirs.
After some conversation he left. A few
minutes after he entered man stepped to
the teller's window and addressed
Chief Bookkeeper Frank Sleter, who
was serving in the absence at din
ner of Jacob Holt, the teller. He asked
Mr.. Sleter to accept $50, which he proffered,
and hold it for note which would soon fall
due in the bank. Mr.. Sleter told him it
was not the custom to do business in that
way where the makers of notes kept no ac-
count at the bank. However, the stranger
could open an account if he liked. While
saying this Mr.. Sletsr was counting the
package of money. He found it to contain
$7S and told the man to take it back to the
place where he got it and have the mistake
corrected.
The stranger got Mr. Sleter to count it
again, and then saying that he was satisfied
the package was short, left the bank. He
had held Mr.. Sleter's attention about three
minutes. A few minutes later Mr. Sleter
missed package OF 81 bills, which had been
IN a safe inside the money vault in the rear
OF the counting room. William Hackett,
the cashier, returned from dinner at l
o'clock, and Mr.. Sleter informed him. AN
investigation was made at once, and it was
found that package containing $4,000,
mostly in 81 bills, was gone. The
package was bulky, and how the thief got
man with beard, well dressed, and wear
ing tennis shoes with rubber soles Mr..
Sleter saw him come IN while he was talk
ing to stranger No. ?. Stranger No. 3 went
to desk at the left and began TO write. Mr..
Sleter does not remember seeing him after
that time. The theory is that this man
entered the cashiers room from the
lobby, entered the counting room next,
crept under table, and getting into
the vault, grabbed the first package he
could, making his exit from the la TX
swiftly. He made good haul, but Just
foot away was smaller package contain
ing $4,000 and within space four feet
square and twelve inches from mis- hand
were $780, 200. Most of this was in the upper
part of the safe.
The whole affair took place in less than
five minutes. People were passing in front
of the bank constantly. 1t is usually the
custom to have three clerks in the bank at
the noon hour. The bank will not feel the
loss, as it has surplus fund OF 800, 900 and
undivided profits Of $4,000.