The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-23
KILLED A BANK ROBBER.
WATCHMAN sURPRIsES 4 GANG ar
WORK IN CANTON, OHJO

The outside Guard Pirea on Min and m. NJ.
turns the Fire. WoundinE Ono Man Pn,,,I,
-rhieVes Werc Mt work on tho Vault or IN.
Savings Bank OF ISnnc Hnrtcr a sam,
CANTON, o., Aug. GAN unsuccossful nj.
tempt was made to crack the vault OF the I.,oo
Hartcr & Sons Savings Bank at an early hopr
this morning. II was frustrated by Watchm,n
Charles Hemmingcr, who killed ono OF the rob
bers. The Waterman, in making his rounds
surprised tho guard outside the building, who
fired upon him. Homminger returned the fra
and brought down one OF the mon who had bccn
at work in tho uscm OF the building on tho
foundation OF the vault. The wounded man
died at the hospital this morning without xiv.
ing any clue TO his identity. The others o.
capped by scaling a high fence in the rear of tho
building.
That they were expert cracksmcn was evident
by tho tools and explosives found in the cellar
where they had been at work. The victim O,
tho watchman's bullet was n man about 20
years old. OF medium height, and weighing
about 1875 pounds. His face was smoothly
shaver, except for a closely cut mustache; he
was slightly bald on the fore part Of his head
and his dark hair was closely cut. He wore
good clothes.
After q post-mortem examination and inquiry
the body was sent to tho morgue of an under.
taker tonight, and people by the hundred have
been fiocking to the place to sec 1t. Many say
they recognize him as one Of a crowd Of men
who have been about the city without apparent
business for about q month. Descriptions OF tho
others. of this crowd have been taken, and they
are being looked for. The body will be held tho
usual time for Identification.
The discovery of the attempt at robbery was
an accident largely. The Waterman had made
his usual rounds about half an hour before. when
the men undoubtedly were at work, and had not
noticed them. On Saturday night he goes homo
at midnight with a timid patron. and on his re-
turn makes an extra inspection OF the business
places on the square. This he did last night,
and his quick. return to the building undoubt,
eddy showed the burglars that they had been
discovered.
The shooting occurred in a small court In tho
T Stairway VI thf from osnt th su seaond e fni' Of Y F tSs bsild 9g ,
The Waterman had gone up the front stairs and
was on the third step down Of the back one
when a shot rang out, followed by three others,
drawing his gun and a police whistle signalled
for help and fired down the stairs. In quick
succession I'VE shots rang out from his revolver.
Then he reloaded and went downstairs. where
kept him covered until other officers arrived
and then had him sent to the hospital.
Waterman Hemniinger Is not q municipal of.
hcer, but n private Waterman, employed by
merchants about the square, and has the power
OF a special policeman. Isaac Harter, the man.
ager Of the bank, does not think the attempted
robbery would have boon successful. He says
the vault is not constructed on an open founda-
low the floor OF the cellar to the floor of the
banking room.
Inside OF the vault proper there is q burglar
conditions combined. he thinks, would not have
been overcome. The bank Is a private one,
established by the late Isaac Harter, father OF
former Congressman NJ. G. Harter, and now
conducted under the original name by Isaac
Harter. Jr,