Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-03
ROBBERS FRUSTRATED
ATTEMPT no LOOT SANDY
SPRING BANK FAILS.
Plans Of the Burglars Thwarted by an
Attack Of Armed Citizens
Third Visitation.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special D1Spatch TO Inc Evening sur
ROCKVILLE, Md, May 3.-About half
past 1 o'clock this morning an attempt
was made to loot the First National Bank
at Sandy Spring, this county, but the plans
of the would-be robbers were frustrated
by the timely Intervention Of a number OF
the citizens.
About the hour mentioned number OF
persons residing near the bank building
were awakened by loud explosion. One
day last week two strangers visited Sandy
Spring one of whom entered the bank and
had some money changed. 1t is remembered
by the bank employees that he eyed the in
terror very closely. Since that time the
visit of last night had been anticipated, and
the meaning Of the explosion was at once
surmiSed. A number Of the men OF the
community. including Samuel b. Wether-
aid, r. H. Lansdale, Fred. L. Thomas, Hill
lis and Cole Robinson, conferred briefly
and decided to attack the burglars. They
armed themselves with shotguns and ap-
preached the bank and discovered nve
white men at work. The Shotguns were
Immediately brought into use. and the rob-
bers returned the fire with revolvers. Quite
a lively fusillade- followed, there being about
twenty or thirty shots fired. and the bur
glars finally Withdrew and started in. the
direction of Washington.
Ansexamination showed that the lock to
the outer CRATE door of the bank building
naQ sDcen down OiI diiu LIE AoCA ~ Slio IN
ner door had been charged Two hats and
overcoats, a burglars lamp and several
tools were found near the building. One
of the hats appeared to have been pene-
trated by several buckshot, which leads to
the belief that one of the men was injured.
Detective Weldon and another Washing
ton detective visited Sandy Spring this
afternoon and began an investigation. This
is the third time the bank has been visited
by cracksmen within the past four years.
At 1:15 o'clock this 1orning a telephone
message was received at police headQuar-
tiers telling of the attempted robbery.
Acting Capt Carter had Detectives Harti-
gan and Muller drive out the 7th street
road some distance into the county for
the purpose Of apprehending the men II
they should come this way. Such was not
the case, however, and 1t was after day
break when the detectives returned to
the city. A telephone message received
stated that: About 1:15 this am. an at
tempt was made to enter the bank at
Sandy Spring by Eve white men. no de-
'scriptiOn. One man was called Charlie
and he left black overcoat behind.
Two other of the men left their hats.
one a large soft black hat and the other
a derby hat. The robbers blew one of the
padlocks on the iron safe door with dy-
Mantle and loaded the other lock. When
discovered the men ran to the 7th street
pike. Several shots were fired by citizens,
and they think that some Of the men may
be wounded. Later they were seen one
and one-half miles from here at Hullen's
Corner, in a wagon"
Capt. Boardman this morning detailed
Detectives Weldon and Tyser to assist in
the investigation being made by the
county officials.