The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-08

SOUTH BEND, IND, Dec. 7.-The South
Bend National Bank, one Of the largest
and soun dest banks in Northern In.
diana, was robbed of over 'S15,oOo to-
day.
The bold deed was committed in
broad daylight while hundreds Of peo-
pie were on the street and the robbers
succeeded in getting away with their
rich booty without leaving the slightest
clue.
Cashier Campbell remained at the
bank, which is in the heart Of the city,
until all the employees were gone. He
then, as he supposed, locked the middle
door of the big vault and left everything
in tho usual shape at the noon recess.
1t was fifteen minutes after IL when he
lett At ten minutes Of he returned.
entering by the Front street door. He
passed down the corridor alongside the
cashiers, collectors and other desks
and turned his back to enter the door
opening back Of this line Of continuous
desks. As he was about to enter the
door his foot struck a chlsel. He
picked it up, but thought nothing OF
the matter, as tine plumbers had been
in the building, and had passed by
where he found the chiSel, he thinking
they had dropped it
Ten minutes later Assistant Cashier
John NJ. Brown arrived and he showed
him the chisel. Mr.. Browns suspiciona
were aroused to such an extent that an
investigation was Immediately institu-
! ted and the men found rear window
open, the back door unlocked and the
door between the directors room and
the counting room mutilated. A rush
was then made for the vault. The door
was as Mr.. Campbell left it. They
swung 1t back and examined the safe
within. A glance showed that money
| had been taken but they could not Tell
how much. The police wero at once
notified and this afternoons business
went on about as usual.
No particular effort was made to de-
| termine the exact amount until the
days balances were made up, when 1t
developed that tho robbers secured
Sl5900 There is little doubt but the
bank has been watched for several days,
perhaps weeks 1t is located on North
Michigan street and has an immense
plate glass front. The cashier is located
less than ten feet from the front and his
desk, books and currency are always in
plain sight; from across the street one
can sec clear through to the directors
room, and all over the counting room,
the vault doors being in plain view.
At the doors and windows are heavy
curtains, but these were M at the time
OF the robbery and every portion OF the
large counting.room was fully exposed
with stream OF people continually
passing on either side OF the street.
The wood and glass door between the
directors room and the counting-room
was pried open and a raid began on the
vault. The raid was well planned, as 10
shown by the fact that tho robbers
touched no money that would be at
once missed. On the top Of the safe
was counter tray containing about
1000 Not q dollar OF this was touch
ed. They confined themselves 10 the
safe, which contained in the neighbor-
hood ot $25. 900, $1,000 being gold, OF
the gold only $4,000 was taken. The
rest OF the $4,000 stolen was in paper
money--none in silver.
There Is every reason TO believe that
the robbery was the work OF profession
ais, as the preparations were perfect
and the men were probably fully armed
ior action ii caught in tight place.