The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-04-10
Attempted Robbery Of NicoIIet Bank
Early This Morning.
Robbers Failed to Get Into the Strong
Box and Got Nothing.
Store Keeper Shoots at Them Through
the Bank Window.
Evidence That They May be Talent
From st. Peter or Vicinity.
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
An attempt was made to rob the
bank at Nicollet early this morning.
The particulars were brought to the
city by Marshal j. S. Stickney, who
came to notify the local officials.
The robbers blew open the safe with
nitro glycerine, a little of which they
left. The outer door was blown open,
but the money was all in the strong box,
and the robbers were frightened away be-
fore they could fire another charge They
got nothing except the cashiers revolt
yer, which was lying ON the desk.
Reinhart Olson, storekeeper, was
awakened by the explosion, and looking
from his rooms toward the bank, saw a
light in the building, and the shadows of
persons passing behind the curtains He
fired through the bank window at a
shadow, and this warned the robbers that
it was time to leave Mr.. Olson did not
think it prudent to venture forth into
the street until half an hour after the
robbers had left. He then awoke the
cashier and the alarm was given among
the citizens. No trace of the robbers was
then to be found. Officials of surround
ing towns were notified, but there is lit
tie hope of catching the robbers.
The robbery occurred at shortly after
2:30 o'clock. At little after eleven
O'Clock last night two strange men were
seen riding through the village on
horseback. No good description was OBJ
tanned of them, but it is thought that
they may have been the robbers.
A blacksmith shop was entered dur
ing the night and tools procured to all
in entering the bank.
The safe that was blown open was one
that was gotten in a few days ago to
take the place of a smaller one. Had
the latter still been in use the bur
glars would probably have had better
luck.
1t is thought that the parties wh5
were at Nicollet this morning are the
same ones who recently robbed the Ka-
sofa bank. That they live in st. Peter
or vicinity would seem to be the case
from the following article in yester-
days st. Peter Tribune:
quite ripple of excitement was
occasioned yesterday morning when. what
is supposed to be part of burglars out
fit was found hidden away in the rear
of The Tribune building, under some
boxes belonging to S. S. Freed. About
eight o'clock yesterday morning, Ray
mond McCabe, who is employed in the
store of Mr.. Freed, having occasion to
use a board, tore off one from one of the
boxes and thus happened to discover the
mer, several cold chisels and punches,
and leaf from buggy spring. He at
once informed Mr.. Freed, who immedi-
ately notified Policeman Albert Block of
the discovery. Upon investigation into
the matter it was soon discovered that
the tools belonged to Martin Lucken and
had been stolen from his shop the night
previous.
whether a raid had been planned for
Monday night upon the Nicollet County
bank or the postoffice, or whether they
had been hidden there to be used at
some future time may never be known.
The affair was kept as quiet as possible
and the premises watched in the hope
that the parties might come after the
tools and thus get caught"