The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-18
BOLD BANK ROBBERY IN
 SUFFIELD, THIS STATE
SAVINGS INSTITUTION BROKEN INTO AND SAFE BLOWN
 OPEN.

Eitro-GIycerine Used-AbOut S0O,OOO
 Worth of Non-NegOtiabIe Registered Bonds and Stocks Taken-RObbers
 First Bind a Watchman and His Son
 One Keeps Guard Over Them With
 Loaded RevOIvers-RObbers' Work
 Most Deliberate But S4OO in Cash
 and Negotiable Securities Worth
 Nearly ss,OOO Are Overlooked.
 sufleld, Dec. 17.-After binding the railroad watchman, William Jones, and his twelve year old son to chairs in the railorad station here this morning before daylight, five bank robbers prfed their way into the Suffield Saw ings bank on the main street. blew open the safe after the fourth attempt and made away with about $5O,OOO worth of registered bonds and stocks, not negotiable, according to Presldent M I. Newton of that institution. AL though the safe was wrecked ana the explosion was heard for quarter or a mile away, the robbers made their escape from town, and left no cIeW whatever. While the bank was being robbed a sixth member of the gang stood guard over Jones and his son at the 6epot, covering them both With revolvers. and threatening them with death if they made an outcry. The -four explosions necessary to break open the big safe in the bank were heard easily by the men at the depot and after the fourth one, the sixth member of the band left Jones and the boy and Joined his pas making his escape with the others. Jones' son was not as securely tied as his father and after working for fifteen minutes over the knots in the ropes which strapped him to the floor, he freed himself and later united his father. The belated alarm aroused scores of citizens, and a rush was made for the bank, as Jones told everybody that the robbers said they ''were going to crack the savings bank open" ..
 When the party, headed by Jones reached the bank there were outward evidences of the work of the cracks men. Windows were broken, and the front door was wrenehed off its hinges, the crowbars stolen from the railroad freight house which broke down the doors, being found just within the out side door of the institution. r...:
 The men worked at the safe for over an hour, entering the bank, according to Watchman Jones, about 2:S0 and leaving the place about 3:4O' All wore masks which entirely covered their features and while their work inside the bank seemed to be somewhat bun giing, 1t is the opinion here that the men Were professionals. Nitroglycer- inc was used in blowing open the safe, which was completely wrecked. Aft CT a search of the interior of the bank was made 1t was found that the men carried away nothing of any value to them, as the stocks and bonds which they took can not be disposed of. On the other hand S400 in cash and bonds, valued at nearly $S,000, and which could have been converted into money almost anywhere were overlooked in a nearby drawer. Although the men are believ- ed to have searched carefully all through the bank after they put out the lights, they found nothing and missed the most valuable package in the place, that containing $4O0 and the negotiable bonds.
 Miss Sophia Bissell, who lives next door to the bank and within fifty feet of it. said to-day that she heard all four explosions, and knew that rob bers were breaking into the safe in the bank. She said she was too frighten- ed to give the alarm, fearing that her house was watched, and that she would be killed if she made a sound. About a fifth of mile down the street lives President Charles l.. Spencer of the First National bank of Suffield, and he said to-day that he, too, heard the ex- plosions, and endeavered to reach some of the officers of the Savings bank by telephone, but failed to rouse any one. Soon after his last call he heard the alarm of the excited citizens, and join ed in the Investigation. None of the officials of the bank, although some lived near to the institution, heard the explosions. Though the report of the robbery spread rapidly no report of the men having been seen in surround a1o, +rryy,c hoo J1aaYo 1,aoniund