Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-22
BAfFlEO BURGLARS.
Midway. Mass. Savings Bank Wrecked Bui
Burglars Secure No Booty.

Midway. Mass, March 21-The gang
of bank burglars who have been oper-
atlng extensively throughout New Eng
land during the past few months, enter
ed the Midway Savings Bank Just be-
fore o'clock this morning. and blew
open the vault. The robbers. who are
! believed to he five in number, escaped
without obtaining any plumber
From the fact that a second fuse APP
Piled for the purpose of forcing open
| the strong box, had not been lighted. it
is thought the robbers were frightened
away by the noise of the explosion
The bank Office was completely wreck
ed. The authorities have been able to
find no clew whereby they could follow.
The Midway Savings Bank is located
on the street floor of a wooden build
ing in the center of the town At about
1.So this morning. persons living near
by were awakened by the report and
shock of a violent explosion. Windows
were opened quietly and it was seen
that the corner of the block in which
the bank was situated. had been shat
tered and it was at once surmised that
burglars had heen at work
Citizens gathered quickly but when
they reached the bank those who had
caused the explosion had disappeared
Herbert Norton, who lives a short dis
lance from the bank stated that from
his window he saw five men leave the
place. almost Immediately after the ex-
plosion.
Those who first entered the office saw
that great havoc had beer caused in
the attempt to blow open the safe. The
outer doors of the vault had been
blown Off all of the furniture was shat
tered. the windows and doors o. the
office were blown out hole had been
forced through the ceiling and bar of
iron was blown through one of the par
titions into an adjoining store.
Although so much damage had been
done outside. the strong box had not
been injured. but a fuse had been ap-
piled to an opening made by the burg
lars. but apparently no attempt had
been made to ignite it. and it was plain
that the robbers had secured no booty.
The bank officials and the town au-
thorities who reached the bank among
the first of the citizens. as soon as they
found that nothing had been taken. be-
gan Il thorough search of the premises.
They soon learned that the burglars
mad gained an entrance to the bank by
forcing the side door of n iewelry store.
which is in the same building as the
bank. but which runs across the rear
of it.
After entering the jewelry store they /,
passed through a door on the inner side |
and from there gained access to the |
bank with little chance of being OBJ
from the outside
In the iewelry store clock was
found lying on the floor 1t was stopped
at ITO A. NJ. The clock i'm the bank
office. evidently stopped by the explo-
sion. marked 1.35 A. NJ. 1t is taken to
Indicate that the burglars were en-
gagged in the bank for about % minutes.
Excepting the evidences of their work
in the bank and the jewelry store. the
authorities We're unable to find no other
trace of the robbers. AS soon as pos
sible, messages We're sent to all adj
Joining towns. and the police Of Bos-
Ton. announcing that the bank had
been broken into. and requesting that
III officials endeavor to locate the bur-
glars.