Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-09
MASKED MEN
R 0 B BANK
OF $4,000
THRILLING CAPTURE AND CON-
FINEMENT OF THE MEN LEFT
TO GUARD. THE PRECIOUS
TREASURE.

ST. LOUIS. Jan. six masked men en-
tered the National Stock Yards Bank
north of East st. Louis, Ill, last msht'
and after capturing and gagging the Two
night watchmen and firemen at the plaI'
and blowing open the vaults with dyha-
mite. secured S. 900 in coin and currency
with which they decamped early today. I
For nine hours from o'clock last night
until 4 a. m they were at work on tne
vault. but without being interferred with.
Lee Philpot one of the watchers, one OF
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of President
Roosevelt. who is we'll known In Ken
lucky, was the first to meet the ROBBERS
He was standing in the stock yards,
near the Exchange building in which the
bank is located when he was addressed
by three men who sprang out OF renee
corner with revolvers in their hands. Ihey
said
eve want you, Philpot," and with that
overpowered him before he could reach
his revolver. The three robbers took Phil
pot to the composing room of the Daily
National Stock Yards Reporter, nearby
and laid him on the floor. He was bound
hand and foot and gagged with towels.
While lying there three other men came
in.
While he was lying on the floor Philpot
heard the leader of the robber gang say:
Lets kill him.
He was deferred from doing this, Phil
- says. by the other robbers.
Albert 'Estep, the other bank watch
man, was caught on the steps of the ex-
change building The robber went up TO
E.tep and addressed him by name.
Thinking 1t was a friend, Estep was ia
ken unawares and when revolver was
thrust into his face, was not in shape
for defense. Under threats of death ne
was forced to go TO the composing room
where he was also bound and gagged.
Night Fireman L. w. Clark was taken
unawares in the stamp department. OF the
exchange building. He resisted and was
badly beaten before subdued. He was
also taken to the composing room and he
was left bound and gagged with his two
companions.
With nitro-glycerine the robbers blew
open the steel doors of the vault. These
doors were of double thickness of steel
and were shattered and the banks books
and papers blown into shreds.
Entering the vault, the big steel safe
with quadruple plate doors was next en-
countered. These doors were drilled and
a charge of the explosion inserted within
blew them off. -e
The explosion destroyed more books and
papers, scattered about 5000 of silver up
on the floor. This was not taken by the
robbers. They took all the currency and
the other coin. amounting 10 about $780,
as nearly as the banks officers can esti-
mate.
Five minutes after the robber guard left
the composing ROOM. Estep, who had not
been bound securely. worked loose and
released. Clark and Philpot. This was
about o'clock. Estep then ran to the tel
ephone and called up Charles T. Jones.
general manager of the stock yards. and
informed him. of the robbery. President
G. Gordon Knox, of the stock yards, was
also called. 70. - ts'
Mr. Knox said that If the robbers had
made their haul the night before they
would have secured about $4,000 more
than they got.
They did not take any of the banks pa
pers.
The police of both cities are investigat-
ing the robbery and 1t is said some sensa-
tional arrests will be made before night