The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-28

! REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Union. Mo-. Dec. 2I-Burglars blew the
vault of the Union Bank between l and 4.
O'Clock this morning and procured about
$4,000 in cash. besides 4 large amount in
notes, bonds. etc.
The first explosion was heard shortly aft
er l O'Clock. ard Immediately afterwards
several shots We're fired in rapid succession
in front of the bank.
Most of those who were awakened by the
noise supposed it was made BY boys still
celebrating Christmas. and they paid no at
tention to II; but those living In the vicin-
ity of the bank soon learned that robbers
We're about.
Oscar Busch. a hardware merchant. living
across the street from the bank, started TO
raise an upstairs window in his room, hut
had no more than touched the window sash
before 4 bullet came whizZing by and he
was ordered to keep quiet.
One mar apparently did all the work in
side the bank. He would first fix his ex-
plosfves in the vault door and then quickly
leave the building through 4 window to the
rear OF the vault. After the explosion he
would enter the building in front. This
was repeated four times. when the whole
inside of the bank was demolished. The
door OF the so-called burglar-proof safe was
blown entirely off.
- NNe VI lIlc
safe. put them in a bag. which he slung
over his shoulder, and then he and his COM
panions started out of the town to the east
afoot.
Meantime the man on the outside had not
been idle. He had two 45-caiiber reyolvers
which he fired necessarily in all directions
ana from various positions, his object evil
IDENTIFY BENZ to terrorize all who would hear
him Seven of the bullets struck the house
Of Oscar Busch. and two of these hit the
window. in whicR Mr.. Busch had appeared.
1t Is not known whether the two men had
any other assistants,
F. w. Reinhard. president of the bank.
was sick in bed at his home two blocks
away, and just before the explosions were
heard three or four shots were heard near
his house. and one bullet went through a
window. and entered the room where he Law
sick. His family had a light lighted, and
had been giving him some medicine.
All the burglars left in the bank besides
the ruin were several pounds of soap and
the burner of a lantern, which had been
taken out OF the depot at this place. The
explosive used was evidently ~nitrogiycerin.
A. ". Hoffman. cashier Of the bank. is do
ing all he can to ferit out the burglars.
A horse belonging to Henry soph was al
so stolen last night, but whether by the
bank thieves is not known.
POLICE HAVE A CLEW.
The horse and saddle stolen from Hy.
Soph at the time of the safe robbery last
night was found early this morning running
loose about four miles southeast of Union.
where 1t no doubt was abandoned by the
bank robbers.
The bank officials have received informa-
ton that has led them to suspect a man
who has been employed on the railroad here
as q day laborer as being one of the men
implicated in robbing the bank here.
He was recognized by Mrs. Joseph Soph
OF this place as being a mar who had done
time in Jefferson City for safe blowing.
Soph knew him years ago. He is said to
have been one Of the old James gang.
He had been seen around here for the
last two weeks. but cannot be found to-day.
His description has been telegraphed to the
Chiefs Of Police in St Louis. Kansas City
and Springfield. Mo.