Connecticut western news., 1909-09-16
ATTEMPT TO ROB BANK
At LaksvilIs, But Burglars Were Fright.
 ened Away.


 night an attempt was made by yeggmeu to rob the vaults used jointly by tus Robbins. Burrall & company, private bankers, Lakeville, and the Salisbury Saving Society. Giant powder was used and while the explosive failed to destroy the door to the vault, nevertheless it wrecked the combination lock to the safe door The robbers would perhaps have been successful had not Poter Radier. a Millerton young man, happened to pass the bank just about the time that the mon had gotten fairly at their bold work. Radier, was waiting for friend who had gone to sharon to see his sweet heart, and was walking up Furnace hill about quarter past one when he was confronted at the head of the street by one of the burglars who thrust a pistol i'll his face and said, You move on. and keep quiet, see" The Millerton man was dumfounded and did not know what to make of the incident, and answering, "I have done nothing." he moved very swiftly on, just as he was told to do.
 Radier had no sooner departed than she man who had covered him with a gun fired shot. This was doubtless done as signal to the men who were working on the bank vault and, fearing that the villagers would discover them . the yeggmen hurredly made their de- parture.
 Early Friday morning threo men apparently tramps, were taken from a. o. N. k. railroad freight train entering Poughkeepsie from the east, suspootsdA of being implicated in the attsmpteos robbery, but there was not enough, evidence to hold any of them. somy automobilists entering Poughksepsie were arrested on suspicion but the authorities had to let them 20, too.
 After securely fastening the door leading to the apartments of Miss DeliaA Fretts, who resides directly over the bank, with a rope, the burglars broke As window glass near ths main entrance. turned the catch on the window, and two of them entered and drilled a holea In the combination of the vault. whilsh the third stood guard outside. The hole was plugged with giant powder, which. was ignited, and the report of the explosion awakened Deputy Sheriff Perry and his son, W. B. Perry, Jr..- general superintendent of tho Hotchkiss school, who reside opposite the bank on Main street, and others in the vicinity Sheriff Perry and his son dressed. hurriedlY and went out into the street. but saw nobody. The light in the bank was burning. MT. Perry, Jr., proceeded up the street to the Wononsco house. about l9o yards distant, aud aroused Peter Flynn, the clerk, and Bert Chapman, who boards at the hotel. while Deputy Perry looked about for some trace of the orAcksmsn.
 About this time Raiders friend drove along and picked him up. Msssrs.. Perry, Flynn and Chapman visited the livery of the Wononsco house, and on finding that none of the animals had been taken they rsjoined Deputy Perry and all four went to the bank. By this time other villagers were in the street and plans to apprshend the burglars. if possible, were immediately laid. o. O. Bartholomew, telsgrsphsr st the Central New England railway station, was routed out of bed and he notified the Poughkeepsie, N. Y, office to have all incoming westbound frieght trains searched for suspicious characters, Officers in other towns were appraised of the attempted bank robbery and told to keep sharp lookout for suspicious persons.
 Walter Norton, assistant treasurer, and H. B. Callender, a bookkeeper in the bank, were summoned by telephone. An examination of the interior of the bank showed that the vault, save for the combination, which was wrecked, was intact. It required the services of an expert to open the vault, which con tained about 5000, one of the bank. officers said. Bolts in the face of the vault were loosened and the cast iron mouldings were blown to pieces One piece of the iron was driven a wooden cupboard.
 Shortly after the explosion Mrs. Nellie Thrall, who lives near the bank, SAW three men walk by her home, going, ostsnsibly in the direction of the TAiJ- road tracks. A little later freight train, westbound, passed through town Radier says he was held up less than half an hour before the arrival of thu freight. Miss FrettS was awakened by the report of the explosion but was too frightened to give an alarm.
 That the burglars made nasty exit is evidenced by the fact that they lsft two heavy iron bars and slsdgs hammer ip the bank.