The Red Cloud chief., 1893-12-15
UNGUARDEDA
SIXTEEN THOUSAND TAKEN FROM A
BANK BY ROBBERS,

who Might Have Carried OF $4,000
More, hut Were Not Hoggish-A Job
That Was as Easy as Lying, and No Clue
TO the Sharps That Executed the Same.
South BEND, Ind, Dec. S.-The South
Bend National bank, one Of the largest
banks in northern Indiana, has been
robbed Of over 1 5000. The bold deed was
committed in broad daylight while hun.
dreds of people were on the street, and the
robbers succeeded in getting away with
their rich booty without leaving the
slightest clue. Chief Benjamin Rose was
Mt once informed, and set his officers at
work Immediately, but so far &c clue Of
any reliance has been obtained. Every
train or other means Of leaving the city IL
carefully watched, and the officers hope to
obtain some tangible clue soon. Chief
Rose believes there were no less than four
men In the gang. and possibly more.
The Cashier Picks Up u ChIsel.
Cashier Myrin Campbell remained a
the bank, which Is In the heart Of the
city, until all the employees were gone.
He then. rs he supposed, locked the middle
door OF the big vault and left everything
In the usual shape at the loon recess. 1t
was fifteen minutes after IL o'clock when
he left. At ten minutes OF one he returned,
entering by the front street door. lie
passed down the corridor alongside the
cashiers, collectors and other desks and
turned to his left to enter the door open
ing back Of this line Of continuous desks.
As he was about to enter the door his foot
struck a chisel. lie picked it up. but
thought nothing OF the matter as the
plumbers had been In the building and
had passed by where he found the chisel.
he thinking they had dropped 1t.
He Suddenly "smelis u Mice"
Ten minutes later Assistant Cashier
Brown called his attention to the chisel.
Mr.. Browns suspicious were aroused to
such an extent that an investigation was
Immediately instituted and the men found
u real window open, the back door u
locked and the door bet ween the directors
room and the counting room mutilated,
A rush was then made for the vault. The
door was as MIR. 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 were at once notified
and during the afternoon business went
Oh about rs usual. No particular effor,
was made to determine the exact amount
until the days balances were made up.
And the doodle Was 49,
And then it was developed that thu
robbers had secured $4,000. There Il
little doubt but the bank has beer
watched for several days, perhaps weeks
II Is located on North Michigan street
and has m 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 see 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 up a,
time OF the robbery and every portion Of
the large counting room was fully ex
posed, with n stream OF people continual
ly passing on either side Of the street.
SOUTH BEND Ind, Dec. 1.-THE police
have clue to the perpetrators Of thu
South Bend robbery. The man on whom
suspicion rests is the notorious gold bricl
man Frank Smith, who assisted Red Aus
tin in swindling George w. Swygart, o
this city. nj of $1,000 last year. Smith
picture has been identified as that of
man who vas seen in front of the banl
about the time the robbery was com
mitted.