The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-03


National bank, and was known to have
in his possession the keys of the bank
building and the combination to the
bank vault. The five men entered the
house noiselessly, with the aid of false
keys, previously prepared. Passing up
stairs to the sleeping apartments they
oYefpoWered seven inmates of the house,
&aggmg and binding them so that re-
distance or alarm was impossible These
were Mr.. Whittelsey and his Wife Mr..
ana Mrs. It. b. Cutler Miss Matte
White, Miss Benton and a servant girl.
The bedroom of Mr. and Mrs. Whit
telsey was entered by two men who
seemed to be leaders of the band. one
wore long linen buster buttoned near
y TO the knees, also gloves and over
GnOeSi the other wore Jacket and over
ais. Both men had their faces con-
cealed behind masks, and one of them
carried a dark-lantern. on entering the
Eoom the two men went directly to the
ped one standing on either side, and
handcufed Mr.. Whittelsey and his wife.
Both carried revolvers. The proceedings
were much the same in the other rooms.
After some delay and whispered con-
sultation, the robbers ordered the five
women to get up and dress. When they
had done so, they were rODed together
by ankles and wrists, and taken into
small room, where they We're kept under
guard by one of the band MI. Cutler
also was imprisoned i'm the same way
Then the two leaders devoted them
selves to Mr.. Whittelsey. They told
MIN plaluIg LHdl lNEy udQ CblHE lOl lilc
keys of the bank and the combination
of the vault, and that they would make
ii hot for him unless ne gave them
what they wanted. Mr.. Whittelsey re
piled that it was useless to attempt to
break into the bank as the locks were
too strong for their efforts and he would
not betray his trust. At this the man
fn the linen buster shrugged his should
ers and said they would see about that
Mr.. Whittelsey was then taken
downstairs and again summoned to
surrender the keys. Again he re-
fused. At this the man in the over
aIls put his hand in the cashiers
trousers pocket and drew forth key
els this the key to the bank2' he
asked.
'sYes it is" answered the cashier
hoping to gain time.
"You lie" said the rObber. with
threatening gesture. at the same time
trying the key i'm the lock of the front
door of the house, which it turned.
Don't hit him yet said the other;
che is sick" Then he asked Mr.
Whittelsey if he wanted a drink of
brandy. Mr.. Whittelsey shook his
head no. Then the man in the linen
buster renewed his demands He
wanted the combination of the vault.
MI Whittelsey gave him some figures,
which the rObber wrote down on
piece of paper. These were for the
outer door of the vault He demanded
the combination for the inner door,
and MT. Whittelsey gave him other
figures. Having written these down
also. the rObber came close to his pris-
oner and said ''Wilf You swear these
figures are correct2"
II will" answered Mr.. Whittelsey
You are lying again. If they are
correct, let's hear YOU repeat them"
The cashier could not do this and
so disclosed that the figures were not
the right ones.
"see, Number one" said the rob
wasting timei Wen have TO. teach him
TO stop lying
AS he spoke he struck the sharp
point of his lead pencil into Mr.. Whit
teIsey's face so violently as to make
wound. and followed this with sew
eral blows ON the body.
''Wil YOU tell us now2' he asked.
Mr.. Whittelsey kept silent. Then
both men came at him. wringing his
ears. shaking him by the throat hurl-
ing him to the floor. and pounding
their knees into his chest. For three
hours this torture was continued
More than once the ruffians placed
their revOlvers at Mr.. Whittelsey's
head. declaring they would blow his
brains out unless he yielded Finally
he did yield; the suffering was too
great; the supreme instinct of self
preservation asserted itself. Toward
four o'clock i'm the morning. bruised
from head to foot. and worn beyond
further resistance he surrendered the
keys. and revealed the true combina-
ton Of the vault.
Then the robbers went away. leav-
ing two of their associates to watch
over the prisoners. one of the band.
before his departure. did not disdain
TO search Mr.. Whittelsey's clothes
and take his watch and chain and s14
fn money. The last of the band re-
manned i'm Che house until six o'clock !;
and it was an hour later before Mr..
Whittelsey succeeded in freeing him.
self from his bonds.
He hurried at once to the bank. ar
irving there soon after seven o'clock
He found the vault door locked, and
its dials broken off, so that it was
impossible at the moment to deter
mine the extent of the robbery, or.
indeed whether there had been any
robbery 1t was necessary to send
to New York for an expert before the
vault could be opened. which was not
accomplished until late at night. 20
hours after the attack had been made
Then it was found that the robbers
had been only too successful. having
secured money and securities estimated
st q million and quarter dollars.
Much of this sum was safe deposits,
and the loss fell on the depositOrs;
and to some it was the loss OF their
whole property.
At this time the authorities had no
clew to the identity OF the robbers
though they had left behind them nu-
merous evidences of their presence. sucT
as dark lanterns. masks, sledge ham
mers. overshoes and the like Thei1
escape had been managed as skill
fully as the robbery itself. Sheriff's
officers and detectives did their bes
during subsequent days and weeks, buf
their efforts We're in vain The presi-
dent Of the bank offered reward OF
$4,000 for the apprehension of tht
robbers and the return of the prop
erty; but there were no discoveries.
When several months had elapsed
the PinkertOns were called into tn,
case They began by carefully study
ing certain communications that haC
been received by the bank directors
from persons claiming to have in thei
possession the missing securities. Tn,
first of these communications was dat