Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-27
SEVEN BANDITS
Wreck State Bank at Somer-
set, Chic, and Escape.
Secure $500, Overlooking $4,000
in Securities and $4,000 in Gold.
Officers on Trail With Bloodhounds and Early
Capture Is Expected.

Somerset, Perry Country, Ohio.
March 26.-Sevcn bandits partially
wrecked the State Bank of Somerset
early, today, by exploding a heavy
charge of nitro-glycerine in the vault
doors, secured $500. appropriated tive
livery rigs. held a posse of citizens a,
bay and escaped in the face of a heavy
fire. Bonds and securities to the
amount of $50. 900 and $4,000 in gold coin
were overlooked by the bandits. The
bank was fully insured and its business
will not be interrupted.
A heavy explosion in the bank build
ing shortly before a. NJ, aroused clti-
zens living in the vicinity of the bank
of Somerset. John Hayes, whose hous,
is directly opposite the bank building
raised window quietly and observed
four men standing in front of the bank
He saw that the whole front of the
two-story brick building in which the
institution was located had been shat
tered and believing he could brighten
away the men who it was evident were
much alarmed by the strength of the
explosion. hastily donned his clothes
and sailed forth. When he reached
the sidewalk he was challenged ano
under the insurance of four rifles
pointed at his head, he returned to hi.
oWn house.
Meanwhile many other persons
began to appear in the darkened
streets of the village. VIM
Lovett opened fire on the bandit:
with q rifle. but his aim was
not of the best and his shots only
served to draw the fire of the robbers
The shooting soon became general as
citizens crept toward the bank from ali
directions and the robbers evidently
began to think of escape.
At a signal from the four on guard
three others emerged from the debris
of the bank. bearing several sacks into
which they had hurriedly placed THEN
loot. The robbers We're under good dis
cipline and their leader gave his or
ders like 4 military leader: "All ready.
forward march
In single file they marched under the
shadows of the trees which lined the
sidewalk. turned a corner, clambere.
into two rigs and drove in a northerly
direction. Citizens took up the chase
and at A. NJ. found the rigs deserted
along the roadside. The sheriff of Per
ry county had been notified by tele-
phone and arrived at daylight with q
pack of bloodhounds. to be used in tho
chase.
The robbers We're successfully follow
ed by the hounds. 1t Was found they
had broken open a blacksmith shop to
secure tools and then had taken the
rigs in which they escaped, from the
livery stable near the bank. So sue
cessful were the hounds in their work
that it is hoped the entire gang will be
bagged
President Samuel Eeam of the Som
erset Bank, said, this morning, that his
institution would not suffer in the least
except for the Inconvenience caused by
the wrecking of the vault and the
blowing out of the whole front portion
of the building. The loss is fully COW
cred, he said, by burglar insurance. Tho
bulk Of the bank funds, he said, are on
deposit in other cities. otherwise the
robtsrs might have been richly re-
Warded for their daring.