Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-08

SOUTH BEND, IND, Dece moer The
South Bend National Bank, one Of the
largest and most sound banks in North
ern Indiana, was robbed OF over $4,000
to-day.
The bold deed was committed In
broad daylight while hundreds OF peo-
pie were on the streets, and the robbers
succeeded in getting away with their
rich booty without leaving the slightest
clue.
Chief Benjamin Rose was at once In
formed and set his officers at work i'm
mediately, but up to this hour no clue
has been obtained. Chief Rose believes
there were no less than four men Ia the
gang and possibly more. Cashier
Campbell remained at the bank, which
is in the heart OF the city, until all the
em ployes were gone. He then, as he
supposed, locked the middle door OF the
big vault and left everything In the
usual shape at the noon recess. IL was
fifteen minutes after twelve o'clock
when he left. At ten minutes OF one
he returned entering by the front street
| door
HE PASSED DOWN THE CORRIDOR
alongside the cashiers. collectors and
other desks and turned to his left to en-
ter the door opening back OF this line
OF continuous desks. As he was about
to enter the door his foot struck
chise. He picked it up but thought
nothing Of the matter, as the plumbers
had been in the building and bad pass
ed by where he had found the chisel, he
thinking they had dropped 1t. Ten min
utes later Assistant Cashier Campbell
showed him the chlsel. Mr.. Browns sus-
piclons were aroused to such an extent
that an investigation was Immediately
Instituted, and the man found rear
window open, the back door unlocked
and the door between the directors
room and tue counting room mutilated.
A rush was then made for the vault.
Tue door was as Mr.. Campbell loft 1t.
THEY SWUNG IT 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 this afternoons
business went on about as usual. No
particular effort was made to determine
the exact amount until the days BAL
auces were made up, when Ii developed
that the robbers secured Sl5.900. There
Is little doubt but the bank has been
watched for several daVs, perhaps
weeks 1t is located on North Mchl-
gan 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 and
one can see clear through to the direct
ors' room, and all over the counting
room, the vault doors being In plain
view.
All the doors and windows have
| heavy curtains, but these were up at
the time OF the robbery, and every por-
tion OF the large counting-room was
fully exposed, with a stream OF people
continually passing on both sides Of the
street.
The wood and glass door between the
directors room and counting room was
pried open and raid begun on the
vault The raid was well planned. as
| Is shown by the fact that the robbers
touched no money that would be at. once
missed. On the top OF the safe was .
counter tray containing about $1,000.
Not dollar OF this was touched. They
confined themselves to the safe, which
contained In the neighborbood OF $685.
600, s14, 900 being gold. OF the gold
only 81, 600 was taken. The rest Of the
$4,000 stolen was in paper money
to believe that the robbery was the
work of professionals, as the prepara-
tions were perfect and the men were
probably fully armed for action II caught
ia tight place.