Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-10-12
Burglars at Sandy Spring.

A bold burglary was attempted at Sand,
Spring, this county, very early on Thursda,
morning Of last week. The Savings Iust
tuition was entered and the door of the yaul
was completely torn open by charge OF
nitro gycerin. A second charge was ne.
cessary to gain entrance to the inside of the
vault
). b. Wetherald, merchant who resdes
near the bank, was aroused between and
O'Clock that morning by the first explosion,
but paid little attention to the noise, beiey.
ing it to have been pistol shot fred in the
road, common occurrence Five or ten
minutes later second explosion occurred.
From bis bedroom window he discovered a
faint light in the bank building, almost oh.
scured by the curtains, which were closely
drawn. He hurriedly dressed himself and
notified ex Sheriff A. F. Fairall, and the two.
by use of the telephone, soon assembled a
sparsely clad but we'll armed crowd, consist.
Ing of Allan Farquhar, John G. Bentley,
Walter II. Brooke, Harry Easton, William
Easton, A. G. Thomas, treasurer of the
Savings Institution; F. L Thomas, Geo.
johnson and F. D. Leizear.
Mr.. Farquhar, one of the first on the
scene, rode into town on bicycle and was
fired at by one of the "watchers." When
this shot was fired the light inside the build.
ing was extinguished, and it is presumed the
robbers at once escaped. The armed party
watched the building closely for some time,
expecting to see the burglars leave the bank,
but owing TO the dense darkness 1t is sup.
posed they passed unobserved and unheard |
When Mr.. Farquhar was fired on number
OF shots followed, but no injury was done. |
A short while after the first firing man |
was indistinctly seen leaving lot owned by |
A. F. Fairall and was ordered ~ halt. Fail.
ing to do so he was shot at by F. D. Leiz.
ear, but he escaped.
After 1t was evident that the burglars had |
made their escape from the building the par.
ty secured light and entered, finding the
big doors torn into pieces and the steel
chest, which is said to have contained large
sum of money, already prepared to be ex.
ploded. A thin wedge was driven in at the
top of the door and the crack around the
same was neatly and perfectly filed with
wax IN order to make the inside absolutely
air tight and the explosion more certain to b.
successful. In the middle of the top of the
door was cup made OF wax, 10 which the
fluid to be used had been poured. A piece
)f fuse about six inches long was lying on
he top OF the safe with cap attached, ready
% be put in place.
The only tool found which showed any
leatness in its manufacture was the wedge
which had been driven in over the door
Several sledgehammers and other tools from
/ neighboring blacksmith shop we're found
q the bank.
Later in the day Allan Farquhar discov
cred that buggy and set of harness had
been taken from his carriage house, and
James II Scott, colored, had horse miss
ng They were afterwards found at Wash
ngton Grove.
heir endeavors to apprehend the guilty par
lies kilograms have been sent 10 all direc.
ions, and the service of Baltimore and
Philadelphia detectives secured.
The First National Bank of Sandy Spring
opened for business on September and is
using the building of the Savings Institu-
ion temporarily. 1t is believed the reason
he vault was attacked at this time was ow-
ng to the fact that the two institutions were
n the same building.
Detectives Miller and Peck, of the Wash
ngton force, and Krewson, OF the Pinker-
on force, Of Philadelphia, arrived there on
evening, and pronounced the work
o have been done by experts.