The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-11-16
SAFE CRACKERS IN AMSTERDAM
Make an Unsuccessful Attempt to Rob
the Bank of Amsterdam. But Have
Better Luck on the Safe in
Graham Sons Store.

Amsterdam Mo, Nov. I3.-Safe-
crackers visited this place. SATURDAY,
! night or Sunday morning. and after
breaking into \. e. Vantrees' black
smith shop 20 secure tools. made an
attempt to blow the bank safe. but
, failing to reach the money. went
across the street TO Graham L Son.
blew their safe, taking about 500
there was in il.
They Were evidently experts and
drove into town. tied their team To
a rack at the rear of the bank. broke
into Nantraes shop. secured hara-
mers, chisels. wrenches and punches
went to the back door of the bank.
cut out panel, reached in and un-
locked the door. Entered and exam
ined the safe which is a new model
Hall safe. Went across the store,
broke into Graham's and secured the
powder can, returned. wrenched OFF
the handle TO the outside-or fire
door OF the safe, put in shot and
blew the door TO pieces. They took
a punch and drove it into the KEY
hole Of the next door and displaced
the lock. Tansacked ali the drawers
and secured $50 which Mrs. Elmer
son had i'll small box. also some rel
les of old coins and fractional cur
rency belonging TO Cashier Emerson.
They then made a desperate attempt |
to enter the cash chamber which is !
secured bya chilled steel door, ground |
to fit air tight and locked from with |
IN with a time lock. They attempted |
to drive some small wedges into the
JOINT between the door and casing.
but on failing they placed putty at
each end and the lower side of the
door and tried to force nitro-glyeer,
inc into the crack with an air pump.
but on opening the door in the morn
ing it was found that the chemicals
had not penetrated the joint quar-
ter of an inch and the time lock had
not been stopped. The door bears
evidence of five separate shots, APP
parently dynamite caps. as the fuse
and caps We're found where they had
been placed. After repeated attempts
at the door they gave it up and took
most of the tools to Graham's store.
leaving behind hammer, several
the cap to Graham's powder
AN, some powder and three bottles
n little nitro-glycerine
Zach, and bearing the name of The
Wells Drug Co. Carthage. Mo. blown
n the glass
At the store of Graham K Sons.
they blew the door of the safe to
pieces in the same manner az at the
bank, pried out the cash box and
took it to Eantrees shop, broke it
open and took the contents. The
robbers took their time for they had
-he whole night for it and were not
disturbed, as no one knew of it until
morning. Some say they heard a
lull thud about = a. IN. Sunday
of 18th inst. There were
resh buggy tracks leading out east of
own and some living east say they
heard IA rig being driven very rapidly
ust before day.
The Bank of Amsterdam was estab-
ished Jan. 20. 1892 with II p. Nickoi
president. e. A Emerson cashier and
L. Emerson assistant cashier. and
has been run successfully since.
The safe Is a new pattern Hall.
square built. weighing 5000 pounds.
The bank carries burglar insurance
which would have covered all losses.
having at the time about 81 900 in
he safe.
We learn from DR.. Lockwood, that