Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-09
" CROOKS YARN.

This is Andy Cummings story OF the
celebrated Pittsfeld bank robbery:
"The Pittslleld bank was very solid
institution and could afford to lose good
stiff load of coin without going into bank
ruptcy They put up all kinds of jobs to
locate everything in the bank from tho
outside without showing themselves too
prominently, and after several weeks got
an accurate idea of all the operations and
the habits of the clerks As usual thing,
there was very little business going on at
the noon hour, and nearly all the clerks
went out to dinner They staid away
about half an hour. The cashier and pres.
ident did not leave until after the clerks
got back, II they went out at all before tho
bank closed up, and as they were the sof-
test marks the noon hour was fixed by ABB
Taylor as the time to do his little act.
ION Monday, which is always the slow.
est day in banks, promptly at noon Abt
turned up at the bank, looking as slick as
fiddle in new suit of clothes and carry
ing an air of prosperity that was very
charming. When the occasion required
it, there was no man in the business whd
could turn off a prettier confidence deal
than the bold Abe, and his lay on thia
particular occasion was that Of railroad
advance agent getting values on land.
"Abe pushed into the presidents room
as if he had IA mint at his back After in
PRODUCING himself he proceeded to OUTLINE
the scheme for new railroad and showed
the president how he could get in on the
ground floor if he would aid in keeping
down the expense for the right of way.
The president became greatly interested
in the scheme, and Abe kept up his run.
ming talk until a man who wore a white
duster similar to the one used by the head
bookkeeper stepped into the room and hur
ried out again when he saw the president
was busy. This supposed clerk was jerry
Connor, and Abe kept the presidents at
tention so close that he did not get gOOt
look at the supposed clerk.
1.-THE object of jerry going to the pres
ident's room was to get to an inside dool
which opened into the bank near the cash
ier's desk. He shut this door quietly be-
hind him, but did not close it tightly, al
he intended to come back the same way
when he had done his little bit. Only q
man with an iron nerve would have taken
the chances.
Jerry picked up book from the first
desk he reached and went directly to the
vault, which was about six feet behind tn,
cashiers desk. There were two clerks
working at desks on the other side of thu
room but they did not get on to Jerry,
who walked with a confident tread, as il
he were used to being there. The cashier
was busy with figures and did not pay
any attention to the supposed clerk. II
was just as well that he did not, for Jerry
would have slugged him with bit of lead
pipe which he had up his sleeve. When
he got into the vault, he fused over the
books for q second and then showed thu
bank notes in a sack that he had conceal.
ed under his coat. He moved as rapidly
as possible and when he got his load I'D
picked up book again, held it in front
of him to conceal the bag and started to
60 back to his desk. The cashier looked
up this time, and after Jerry got by him
he called the clerks name.
THE cashier noticed the difference in
the build of the men, was taken by sur
prise and did not know what to do for {
second, which gave Jerry chance to dror
the book and make for the president 8
room. He locked the door after getting
into it and put the president to sleep with
rap on the soonce. Jerry shed the coat
and went out with the bag in his shirt
sleeves. Abe was bit slower in getting
away, as he wanted to make sure that the
president was done up for good, and this
little delay gave the cashier chance tc
collect his senses.
when Abe stepped into the main room,
the cashier had the front door covered with
gun, and he let go a couple of shots. His
aim was good, and both shots landed on
Abe who fell on his face. He was up
again in second, but did not have heart
enough to keep going, and he fell just out.
side the bank door. There were horse and
buggy waiting in front of the bank, and
Jerry reached it with his money bag.
When he saw Abe fall, he knew that hG
was badly hurt, and it was useless to stop
for him, so he sent the horse going and
was out of the town with $16O, 600 in cash
before the robbery became known outside
of the bank. 1t was lively hustle, and
Jerry knew that he would surely be nailed
if he stuck to the wagon. He stuck to the
roads which kept him away from tele'
graph stations, and after going about ID
miles he jumped out Of the wagon at