New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-11
A PLUCKY BANK TREASURER:
DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH AN ARMED
CRANK WHO WANTED $4,000.
An EXCITING INCIDENT IN 4 CLEVELAND BANK
THE VISITOR USES HIS REVOLVER
AND THE TREASURER HAS
NARROW ESCAPE.


AND THE TREASURER HAS
NARROW ESCAPE.
Cleveland, Nov. 10-A crank attempted 10
take the life OF Myron T. Herrick, treasurer ot
the Society for Savings. at p m to-day ana
after terrible fight escaped. He shot once
at Herrick, and threatened to blow up the
place with dynamite If $4,000 was not at once
given to him in cash from the vault. At
o'clock Mr.. Herrick was seated at table In
his private office writing. Nearly all the clerks
were at luncheon. and the place was practically
unguarded. Suddenly a stranger appeared be-
fore Herrick and asked for a private interview
Herricll led him into the trustees room, when
the stranger thrust a revolver in Herrick's face
and demanded $4,000 at once. Herrlck GRABBED
the hand that held the revolver and struck the
fellow in the face, knocking him down. Inc
man was up in a minute and they chnched'
Chairs were overturned. the table upset ana
books scattered from one end Of the apartment
to the other.
Finally the intruder tore himself from Herrick' 3
grasp and fell back on the floor near the centre
Of the room. Herrck stood between him and
the door The assassin evelled his revolver
and fired The bullet passed through the lower
edge Of Herricis waistcoat, on the left side'
grazing the skin. With a yell OF rage the man
ran up and down the room seeking an outlet
one of the great windows stood signify open
and the man mounted chair, just as 'he
clerks and watchmen appeared at the uoor.
There was a rush toward him, but he leapeu
from the window to the sidewalk below start
ling the men who were working on the street.
He ran like n deer up Rockwell-st., waving the
smoking pistol. and disappeared as thoroughly
as If the earth had opened and swallowed
him up.
The excitement at the Society for Savings
building was intense. The danger was over
and the nerve that had enabled Herrick to
make a pIucky fight for life deserted him. and
for time he was almost prostrated HerrlcK
remained in his office but a few minutes aiter
the shooting. In the wall on the west siue
of the room he found imbedded the bullet that
had been intended for his heart. and with
nerves completely shattered, he called ior
carriage and was driven to his home In rros'
pect-st. .,.,o.,o,,
Some time after the attempted ASSASSINATION
Colonel Herrick was seen at the Union CiuD. ana
calmly told his story. He said: Il was stand
ing In my office when a unknown man APP
pro,ched me. He was Of medium height, mid
die aged and as remember. had sandy mus,
tache. He apparently a man OF apoul
forty. and was poorly dressed | saw tne same
man lurking around the office of the bank yes
terday and remarked that he was dangerous
looking man. He said TO me- 1 want 10 SPEAK
privately with YOU The fellows actions were
rather curious, so ! replied: I'll speak with you
here No; want to speak with you IN secret
was his response. He was cool. and spoke wlth'
out the least hesitation or indicating any ex,
into the trustees office AS went In noticed
that the window which leads out INTO tine
square was open. This fact was noticeable. as
| had closed IL myself just short time before.
ladf fbo wa N IN 10 room the man STOPPING
10 slut tho door. "'his did not arouse my sus
pioion, as 1t was OF frequent occurrence Wher
the man turned around toward me, was sit
ting with one leg thrown over the corner OF tht
table As the stranger turned toward me-
noticed he had both hands In his coat pockets
| Without any Introductory talk, he eXcitedlS
said: L want TO your vaults What dc
| YOU mean? ] asked. i mean this: and witt
| that he pulled both hands out of his pockets ant
| thrust a pistol in my face. L want S5O0OO
| You go in front of me to the vaults and get 1t
! If you move out of "A straight course or attemp
| to motion to anybody, I'll kill YOU You SCI
| this? and he opened the other hand. showing Z
small phial. IN Kill you first and then blow
| myself and the bank up with this dynamite
My first impression was that the bank wa!
being robbed and that the clerks were all II
| the same position ! was. There was but LITTLE
time TO think With my left hand grasped tn,
revolver and struck the fellow full in the face
staggering him. Then began the struggle 70
| life. We fought around the table twice. i sue
| ceeded i'm forcing him down across the table bu
| weapon. so he could not use it. BY some means
| we got out to the middle of the floor and fel
| struggling to the floor In the fall my heat
struck the floor daZng me- | was aware of IN.
| danger. however. and sprang up to defend my
| self The man was lying on the floor. and as
| struggled to my knees he fired. | then opened
| the door and ran out and turned I'm the polio
| alarm and hurried back into the room. Th
| man had disappeared
| ''The clerks who were working over the book
| were unconscious of the struggle or Of the pres
| of he Tho evidently
| crank. and made the attack with murderous in
| tent
| Myron T. Herrck is of the best know
| citizens Of Cleveland. He is a native o
| Lorraine County. but has spent many years il
| this city The Society for Savings. of which h
| is secretary and treasurer. is the largest bank
| ing institution in the State. and one of the mos
| extensive in the United States. Colonel Her
rick is a warm personal friend Of Governo
| Mckinley and member Of his staff. Last yea
| he was one of the electors-a large in the Stat
on the Republican ticket.