Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-28
$4,000 IN BOOTY.
Secured by Burglars from
Wenthram National Bank.
Vault Blown Open With Dynamite
Burglars Make Their Escape.
Only $1,000 in Cash, The Rest Beias IN
Notes and Securities

/
Wrentham, Nov. 27.-The wrentham
National Bank was robbed of securi-
ties and cash representing $67 900, early
Saturday morning Besides the wreck
| ing of the safe and the business room.
the robbers left the bank poorer by the
temporary loss of notes representing
$4,000 and currency amounting to 1894
| in bills and $296.66 in specie.
Dynamite was used Three ex-
plosions inside of the little bank build
| ing sounded within a few minutes of
each other. The last one occurred at
2.05 A. NJ, for Waterman Tyler of
| Browns straw factory, hearing the
noise, remembers looking up at the VIII,
large clock in the moonlight, while he
was hurrying across the village green.
Charles L. Brown, son of Daniel
| Brown, the proprietor of the straw fac
tory, had awakened at the first explo-
sion and hunted up the Waterman.
The Brown residence is adjacent to the
factory.
These two men were the first on the
scene after the smoke had cleared
| away. They found the business room
of the bank wreck. There was
strong smell of crippled steel and dyna-
mite. A few pennies were seen at their
feet at the edges of the big, old fash
Toned safe.
The door, as big and many times as
heavy as any that ever swung on a
stable, was creaking on it's hinges.
No books were missing, but a neat lit
tie drawer, such as might have seen
service in an old bureau, was empty
The lock on the outside door was cut
out with chsels, an instrument had
thrown back the snap lock on the door
to the banking rooms. Behind the
grating at the cashiers desk was
scene of wreck and ruin and of finan-
cial emptiness. The vault had two
doors. Both had been drilled and the
combination locks literally torn from
the steel slabs.
Inside the vault was safe within
a safe. The doors of these were found
shattered upon the floor The. apart
ment was full of bits of iron and steel,
splinters of glass from the broken win
dow panes and pieces of woodwork. !.
The wonder is that the explosion,
such was its energy. did not move an
entire side of the little brick building
and hurl it into the adjoining lot. The
vault was located within four or five
feet of that wall.
The burglars must have made
quick escape after the last blast. MIR.
Brown heard it and wasted no time in
dressing and going to the bank, but
when he got there the bank was bare
and no criminals were to be seen.
The tools with which the cracking
operation was performed were stolen
from the blacksmith shop of Edison
George here in the village, and the local
authorities do not believe that they
brought anything with them except
sticks of dynamite.
A stick of dynamite. chisel, a
blacksmith's hammer and a whiskey
bottle were left behind in the building.
No masks were found. Blankets to
cover the windows during the work
were not needed, as heavy curtains,
sufficient for their purpose. were hang
ing in the banking rooms.
+. N. Plimpton. the cashier. who has
held that position for half century, Mas.
shocked by the news of the robbery. IA
of the explosions. until Brown came uIt-
der his chamber window, about this
morning, and notified him that there was
trouble at the bank. He went there to
"
gone. and hardly a clew to the perpetra-
tors of the deed.
Mr.. Plimpton says that about a month
ago stranger came into the bank and
asked to have $50 bill changed. little
later on the same day second stranger
WITH h, SO Bill for which ,, he
at the time and paid no particular atten-
ton to, them, Asked, today; to describe
them he could not tb He didn't even re-
shaven or with whiskers black or red
haired.
Mr.. Plimpton says that two railroad
bonds of $1,000 each and stocks of slight
value were stolen besides the bills, specie
and notes. The bank now has. $4,000 IN
notes safe in the Suffolk Bank Of Boston.
heartily that the other $65, 900 in notes had
been in Boston also.
Samuel Warner is president of the Ma
Iional Bank of Wrentham, the capital Of
which is So, 500, deposits 1880 He has
to the parties in Boston, OF
whom most Of the s65,oOo in notes were
bought, requesting them to stop payment
lpon the paper whenever it may fall due.
Twice before futile attempts have been
made by robbers to break the bank III
his town. The last was some half dozen
years ago. They did not at that time get
through the outside door of the vault 10
say nothing of the inner doors and the
Two doors of the inciosed safes.
The cashier states that there will be no
serious interference with the business Of
he bank. OF course, the absence Of the
payment having been stopped, 1t Is be-
ieved that it is possible ITO realize fully
IN the whole of 1t.
State Detective Khoades is in full
.harge of the case. Among those assist
ng him is Deputy Sheriff Brown of
North Attleboro.
Mr.. Rhoades and other detectives, after
| careful inspection of the place. an
lounced their opinion that the bank had
,een robbed by professionals, who had
aid their plans carefully in advance.
lfter having studied the place for some
ime.
In support of this theory, they claim
hat novices certainly would have been
frightened away without having secured
urred. NJ - 80
The store occupied by William r. Ell
lott, picture dealer at Pawtucket. r.
:, was badly damaged by fire, SATURDAY.
vening, while number OF other ten
nts IN the building also suffered from