Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-16
Make $4,000 Haul al
New Westminster, B. c.
Three Burglars Blow Vault and
Make Good Theii Escape.
Bank Notes and G Id Taken-.The
Silver Lefi-.Ko Clue.

New Westminster, n. G., Sept. H.
Three robbers VIZ took 1915 900 from
the Bank of Montreal's local branch
early today and thereby perpetrated
the largest successful" safe blowing
job recorded in America, are believed
to ne hiding tonight IN Vancouver
with small chances OF disposing OF
their booty undetecied Bank officials
assert that all bills taken by the ban
dts were new and mostly of large de-
nomination. and that their serial num-
hers are recorded at the bank. The
gold taken cannot be traced 50 d.
rcetly.
Besides timing the robbery to match
the vacation Of the night watchman.
it developed today that the trio select
ed a time when the banks cash sup
ply was far above normal, for the
financing of salmon shipments of the
canning season now closing Manager
Il. T. Byrmner opened the bank for
business on time today. Not much
business was done. however, Tor the
! place was crowded with sightseers.
one, of The clerks was supposed to
have slept at the bank last night but
no explanation of his absence has been
made
Several thousand dollars worth of
damaged gold pieces bent and seorch-
ed by the explosion. We're left lying
on the bed in the clerks room. Much
of the stolen money was in new bank
notes that had not feen in ciTcula
ton. but they were flliy signed and
negotiable
| nutNut.,.a. f,c..- 1.ao,,
I hank officials but there has been no
attempt as yet at chase in any di-
rectior.
New Westminster, b. c., Sept To-
Three hundred and fifteen thousand
dollars in gold and bills was stolen
! today from the branch of the Bank
Of Montreal in this city
! Fiva burglars entered the bank by
| the front door. broke through the
| thin metal coating of the vault. blew
| the safe by charges OF ro-glycerine
/ and got clear away with their booty
! without being seen except by n Chin
| csc caretaker. They probably eseap-
ID down the Frazier river in launch
or elsa by automobile toward Vancou-
| yer.
There was in all $S50ooo in the bank
safes. Chief OF Police Bradshaw be-
! hcves che men would have taken 1t
| all if they could have carried it. AS
| Il was they took all they could carry.
| leaving all the silver and notes of
small denomination as we'll as dam
| aged $500 and $40 bills, lying around
The aoors and tables OF the room of
one of the clerks.
| The first known of the robbery was
when a Chinese caretaker appeared
| at the police station and gave the
alarm, He had managed to work
loose from the bonds with which nc
had been tied, after the robbers had
| departed. He had been sand-bagged.
! but regained consciousness. Chief
| Bradshaw hurried to the scene and
| all If the available officers We're press
| Cd into service, but the only obtain
able ciew was that given by the Chin
aman.
Fror, the thoroughness of the job
and the tools with which the work
was done, the officials believe that
| the same gang which has been at
| work in Vancouver turned the work
here.
| A policeman during q good deal OF
| this time was in the next building not
more than lG yards away and heard
nothing The police station was not
moro than twice that distance away
and nothing occurred 70 disturb the
policemen coming and going to the
main office.
Three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. all in neat piles of gold and
| silver and bank notes was in view
| when the robbers had blown the in
1 ner door. The money was carried in
to the sleeping room of the absent
clerk and there prepared to be tax
en- away. Evidently the robbers took
! the pick of all they could carry.
There must have been 100000 in bills
! OF denominations of $500 and $1,000.
| tContinnod on Page Twelve)