Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-07-16

\ O'CLOCK Jne nnal race was rum anu IN
hour later we were hard at it in the
| town, wiring full accounts of the days
doings. Only the three of us already
mentioned knew of the projected at
tempt and our counter-plan; and we,
4 convinced thatwe would be overlooked,
\ assumed TO the bent of our abilities an
ordinary manner and bearing. Harper
produced us usual his cash-box and
sheets, counted and balanced his ac-
4 hcouut,rNtclling the money, which
amounted to about eighty pounds, out
on the counter before him. Finally, he
replaced it in the box, which he handed
to the boss, who placed it in the safe,
closing, but not locking, the door.
Meanwhile had quietly and unob-
served procured box very similar to
Harper's, and after partly filing it with
some odd pieces of metal / fastened one
end of n long wire to its brass handle.
l prepared another similar piece of
wire. Ostensibly for working purposes,
/ had gathered all the batteries at our
command underneath the counter, and
when the work was over Iquietly kuelt
down and joined them all together in
series. At the same time l fastened
| Ouc clu VI my SDdEC WlEO W OiiO
tive pole of this monster battery, and
then standing up and leaning over the
counter succeeded, unnoticed, in at
taching the other end of the wire to a
narrow brass rail which ran along the
top edge of the counter. l must explain
that in order to reach the safe from the
pantry door, as we called it, 1t was
necessary to pass almost the entire
length of this counter, and of course to
repass it in returning.
The hour for closing arrived. My
three friends had been waiting some
time. Everything being ready the
boss sent our three colleagues home,
saying we would follow shortly. The
three guests went with them. 1t was
still raining and they hurried off. The
gas was Immediately turned off, and
at once opened the safe and removed
the cash box, which Harper put in a
place of safety, and substituted the one
had prepared with the length of wire.
There was plenty of slack wire, which
we brought round the back of the safe,
over the other end of the counter,
fastening the free end to the positive
pole of the battery.
All was now ready. We hid behind
the counter and waited. Harper, who
was very bitter against the thieves on
account of their unflattering description
of himself, took up his place close to
the Wheatstone transmitter, clock
work machine driven by heavy weights,
and capable of attaining very high
speed.
An hour passed. It struck twelve.
, The rain was still beating against the
windows. / was stiff and cold and
weary, and was beginning to wish we
, had called in the police, when l heard
something trifie louder than the rain
, at the pantry window. There was a
quick scratching sound like a nail
, drawn across slate, and Immediately
! after we heard the window latch slipped
: back and the sash quietly raised. The
, men were certainly expert at their
: work. Had we not been alert and ex-
pecting them, we should not have heard
: their operations In a few moments
I the pantry door opened with a gentle
, creak, and the marauder was in the
+ room. We held our breath. Confident
in his knowledge, the man had no light
save what came from the windows. lie
JlC od1S, anu SOulu hOU cll-
r together suppress an exclamation of sur
prise and delight at finding it open. He
was destined for more surprise and less
5 delight shortly. Peeping carefully over
the counter, could just discern him in
{ the dim light, with the box in his right
6 hand, turning to retrace his steps. As
g l had anticipated, and indeed reckoned
|. on, n" stretched out his empty left hand
n to guide J. self along the counter
a and-sezed The brass rail AS ne did
o so the full force of the battery struck
/. him. "Blazes!" he shouted or rather
n yelled out. He tried to let go the rail-
. but in vain. Then he tried to drop the
4 cash box, but that stuck to him too.
p He began to hop about, and stamp, ano
a groan, and swear, and pray continually
and all at once. We could hear the
e cash box thump and rattle against the
4 floor or counter as the current jerkec
: his arm spasmodically to and fro
t At this point Harper quietly turned
d on the transmitter and pushed the lever
v over to top speed. Anyone who has
!, heard an instrument of this descrip.
o tion set in motion at it's maximum
: speed knows what a sensation of com
y ing disaster is given by the rapidly in
g creasing revolution of a score O.
r wheels which gather speed and force
\. and noise until it seems as if the whole
machine will burst up by excess of We
locity. Imagine the effect this had OIL
It the nerves of the man already in the
t grip of some mysterious, unfghtabl,
e agony. OF course he jumped to thu
conclusion that the noise indicated
some fresh increase of his torments
e He began to scream for mercy
}. "Oh-h-h! Help me! Murder! Oh, gen
S tlemen, stop it! Don't kill me! Help
Help" He writhcd and struggled, fcl
e on his knees, and, by an enormous eff
a fort, tore the rail from it's place; bu
l. the battery wire still held on. For
k time his cries and struggles redoubled
;. but at last he lay exhausted on TIL
= floor. l then turned OFF the curren