The Washington times., 1909-12-05


Cosmopolitan explosion was tax
en- up by men employed by the
bank itself under the eyes OF
the police. Gold in bags and out OF bags
was sifted out and returned to such
places Of storage as could be arranged
for. The doofs Of the bank were closed
temporarily.
OF course. this caused panic Of a
mild sort. The smaller deposftors were
loud in their clamor, insistent IN their
fight 10 gain admission.
But the Federal authorities prevented
anything being done by the people until
the extent of the damage could be as
certained.
Expert accountants were Immediately
set 10 work upon the books and the
second day there was a rumOr that less
money had been taken than might be
supposed.
The same news arrived from Balh-
more and Washington. The Baltimore
bank was the first TO make a definite
report OF its condition. and it claimed
to have lost not over six thousand dol
lars. trifing amount to so strong an
institution.
The third day the Philadelphia
bank was reported to have lost only
about eight thousand In the evening
word came from Washington that the
Monument National had accounted for
every cent except four thousand.
But reports from Boston came more
slowly. The newspapers were urging
their correspondents to get some de
tails Of the situation at all costs They
urged without effect The authorities
refused to give out any statements for
publication The police were mostly in
the dark. The few detectives. who
knew were men who could be trusted
10 keep secrets.
But when the other banks opened their
doors and began business in rooms half
repaired. the Boston North Harvard was
placed In control Of the comptroller of
the currency.
A cold million dollars, apparently all
IN bills of large denomination. had been
taken. The bank was not in position to
make the loss.
The police situation was amazing.
With every extra evening paper some
new theory was aired to account for
the inability Of the forces of the four
cities TO solve the riddle.
General alarms had been sent in all
directions. There was not a city IN
The country that had not been notified
10 watch for suspicious characters.
There vas not a railroad station
through which a man could pass with
out enduring the scrutiny OF dozen
plain clothes men There was not a
steamer on which you could engage
passage without having a secret inquiry
made about your history.
But these precautions had been pretty
much neglected for the fret twelve
hours after the explosions, SO Ear as the
four cities in which the robberies had
taken place were concerned.
In those towns there had been such
excitement, such hurried and strenuous
efforts to prevent the robbers from leav-
ing had occupied so large a portion Of
the police forces. that any number Of
crooks could have entered and hidden
themselves.
Too late the authorities realized That
they had made a mistake I'm this course
Well enough do the police know that a
big criminal can almost always get
away from the town where the crime IS
committed. His great difficulty lies In
attempting TO enter another town.
The Philadelphia police afforded an
ample Illustration. The only chance
they had for holding their nan was
that of catching him on the spot. once
away from the immediate surroundings,
he could have taken train for any
where.
And they were forced to admit that
,he had ample opportunity for getting
away from the surroundings while the
officers on the beat We're recovering
! from their shock, and before the arrival
OF any Of the reserves