Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-10-30
ANOTHER BANK ROBBERY
Bandits Looted Bank of Sheridan by
Blowing OFF Safe Door With
Nitro-GIyCerine.

gang OF burglars DleW opeu VIC
safe of Scroggin & Wortman's bank,
in Sheridan, Yamhill county, Mon
day morning at 3 o'clock, and
made their escape before it could
even be ascertained how many men
were in the party. Three shots
were fired at them by the Mayor Of
the town, but without effect as a
heavy pail of fog hung over the
street. This is the second assault
on bank in Yamhill county in
side of a week and the country is
aroused over the daring attempts
of the gang. 1t is believed they
are the same men who exploded
nine charges of dynamite in their
attempt to gain an entrance to the
vault of the Bank of NeWberg at
an early hour last Monday morn
ing. In that instance the gang ex-
changed shots with citizens, who
were attracted to the spot by the
explosions. Finding that their
Efforts were futile in that attempt
they left without securing any
valuables, but leaving the interior
of the building in a damaged con-
dition. The attempt Monday
morning at Sheridan was carried
out 10 safe completion before any
one in the town knew Of the pres
ence of the criminals. Inside of
an hour after the discovery Of the
crime all points that could be
reached by telephone were notified
and a close watch was kept for the
men. 1t is not positively known,
but it is supposed there are three
in the gang, and that they had
rubber-tired vehicle in which they
made their escape and carried off
the coin. For daring and cleanness
of execution it is the greatest piece
Of criminal work ever attempted
in Yamhill county.
The bank is situated in a brick
building in the center Of town, and
was established IL years ago. The
principal depositors are the farmers
of the surrounding country. Con-
siderable business had been trans
acted on Saturday, and it was
generally supposed that large
amount of coin was on hand. The
robbers took the most opportune
hour for their work, as the town
was deep in slumber and enveloped
in dense fog. No watchman was
on duty, as there never has been
any need of guarding property.
The quiet manner in which the
men worked enabled them to force
the front doors of the bank and
drill hole near the combination
sufficiently large to insert heavy
charge of nitro-glycerine and blow
the door of the safe from its hinges,
but not heavy enough to wreck the
building.
The shock Of the explosion
awakened Mayor E. H. Eakin, who
resides over his store, diagonally
across the street from the bank.
At first he was in doubt as to the
cause of his sudden awakening,
but, upon looking from his window,
saw man standing short distance
from the bank, and, as Mr.. Eakin
noticed a bright light showing
through the fog from the bank
building, the man, who was evil
IDENTIFY standing guard, quickly
joined his companions and the en-
tire party jumped into a vehicle
and started to drive toward the
south.
In an instant the Mayor realized
that the bank had been robbed. |
He secured a rifle and fired three
shots at the men as they disappeared
down the road. The firing of the
rife and the screams of Mrs. Eakin
quickly aroused the citizens, and
in a few moments a number of
armed men were on the streets.
A hurried inspection disclosed
the fact that the robbers had made
a clean job of their work, but had
taken nothing from the safe but
money. Many valuable papers
were left intact, showing that the
only thing desired by the thieves
was ready coin.
Outside the building a sledge-
hammer and two picks were found.
These tools had been used 10 force