The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-03-09
ROBBERS LOUT
CLOVER HILL BANK
Persons Living Across the Street
Aroused by Explosion-Colored
Man Coming to Glover Saw
Robbers Fleeing To
wards Richmond.

tnat was on nanO-WaS Naken-
There were five men I'm the
party, according To the most re-
liable information, and all were
white. They made good their eS-
cape, though the Officers are be-
loved to stand some chance OF
capturing them.
The bank building Is located on
the main street of the town, next
to the pOstOfficc, and I'm close
proximity TO many OF the larger
stores.
Directly in front OF the institu-
ton is located the town hotel, and
the noise Of the explosion and the
work of the thieves aroused eeve- .,
raj men who had q room over
looking the front or tho bank.
These citizens, w. j. Finch and
Il. II. Daniels, president OF the
bank, hastily dressed and went to
mako an investigation, and as
they stepped from the door OF
the hotel they were met by q fu-
sllladc of shots.
They made good their retreat
and did not again attempt TO como
out until the burglars were gone.
Every time n citizen appeared
they were fired on by the pickcts,
and IL was evident that the burg
lars were old hands ut the busi-
ness, and their efforts at intimi-
dation were so successful that
they finished their work and de-
parted without further interior
ence.
While the burglars were at
work on the inside two of their
pals stood guard I'm front of the
building. and It is believed that at
least one other did picket duty on
the rear and sides. About score
of shots were fired by the mon
who were protecting those on the
inside, and while not n bullet took
effect. several OF the leadcn mis-
siles came close enough to those
Investigating TO compel them to
seek safer quarters. This morn
ing the bullets were found inn
bedded iu the walls of the hotel
Made n Complete Haul.
The thieves used nitrO-glycc-
rine in forcing the huge steel
doors Of the safe. They rcSorted
to the same tactics which have
been tried in other eases, wrench
ing of the combination. pouring
in the explosive and ignitiug IL.
Once inside OF the heavy outer
doors, the task of shattering the
inner doors was OF small cOnse-
quenCe. The job has every ap-
DfAEAAtN0 VI AAiN VI
master.
Cn, q inside the safe, tho men
prOC ePCicd To make a cleanup Of
cveryt hing in sight. There was
only about $4,000 to- $4,000 i'm
cash i'm the vault. as the cashier,
l.. B. Gibson. observed the custom
OF sending all the money not
mex eSSary for the transaS ton OF
business 10 Richmond, Lynch
Il 10
needed.
q - understood that a few days
ago - relieved himself or sew
CraI thousand dollars I'm This way,
thereby unCOnSCiOusIy saving the
bank a greater loss.
The robbers took along with
them "a large number Oh notes.
drawn by private parties. which
had been given TO secure loans.
The notes still arc missing, but
they arc accounted for and arc
on the books of the hank. They
are worthless 20 any but the off
GERS of the institution.
COlOrcd Man Saw Robbers.
Early this morning n cOlOrcd
man came to town and declared
that lac had just arrived from
Randolph. five miles northeast of
Clover, and that about 3 o'clock
this morning ne passed five white
men on the line OF the railroad.
They were making tracks for
Randolph, and Il is believed that
IL was their intention 10 board
the early train from that point
20 khmOnd, thereby getting out
of the danger zone.
The negro explained that the
white mon did not look at hini
and that they said nothing. They
appeared To he dead in earnest
about getting away from the
Clover ncighborhoOd.
Tho only other CIew TO the
robbers Is the reCOIleS ton ar n
stranger here Saturday. man
whom no one seemed to know,
and who IOafed around for the
entire day. He may have been
the scout of the party. He was
tall and spare, and yet the negro
VINO met the five men on the rail-
road track says he did not sec
SUCH person in tho gang.
just as soon as the people OF
the town could get into action
they notified the police of Rich
mond, Norfolk, Petersburg, Roa-
noke, LynChburg, DanviIIe, South
Boston and other places.
The agents of the National
Surety Company. of New York.
IN which the bank has a burglary
policy, were also notified. The
bank Will iASc practically moth
mig on account of the robbery.
the policy covering all that was
lost.
There Is reason TO believe that
the same gang who tried a few
days ago 20 rob the pOstoffIce a.
Houston, and were beaten of by
the clerk, who armed himself
with baseball bat are the men
that pulled on the Job at Clover
Everything possible Is being done
to bring the robbers to Justice
Big Farming Section.
Glover is on the Southern Rail.
way, In the southeastern part OF
Halifax county, some five miles
from Staunton River. II f. a
thriving little place with several
good stores and churches. a bank
tobacco warehouse and one OF
two tobacco factories. The cOun.
try surrounding is wholly devoted
TO agriculture, and IL is a pros.
porous section IN every way. The
people are hOspitabIe anC
Straightforward. The town oil
Glover is a mercantile center FOL
ten miles of surrounding territory
while il is a tobacco market Of
some pretensions.
Several years ago the place was
visited by a disastrous fire, which
entaiied a heavy loss on the bust.
ness men, but such was theiI
pluck and determination, tina
they soon built new stores and
resumed business and now arr
prospecting as before.
W. 70. Morton. agent OF the NatfO