The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-11-14
A MADE TO ORDER
BANK BURGLARY
How . Vault and a Reputation Were
Shattered by Too Much Dynamite

"SllQOlp N. L, was IOUDeQ Oy sdIo-
blowers last night. Nitroglycerin was
used to open the bank vault, with dis
astrous results to one OF the robbers,
who was blown to pieces by the ex-
plosion. His confederates successful
~ looted the bank and obtained 1885,
900 In cash"
This little item carried by the vari-
GUS New York papers was the genesis
of my connection with the great Well
don Community bank robbery. A few
hours after the papers carrying the
news were on the street / was on my
way to Weldon, ordered by the Burns
agency to investigate the case as a
representative of the National Bank
ers' Protective association.
AS the reader probably Is not famil-
lar with the Weldon coL4munity it Is
necessary to delay my story a trifie
in order that the situation may be
made more clear. This community Is
one Of several OF the sort that may be
found in southern New York and
northern Pennsylvania. 1t was found
ed about 1910 by an Englishman
AduSu " CiluOHp VINO was III ulS OWN
way seeker after a modern Utopia.
Weldon believed that our whole sys-
tenn of living in cities, crowded and
uncomfortable, or in country districts,
isolated and lonesome, was all wrong.
He believed that the small community,
fifty families, for instance, gathered
around a common center, and yet not
make an actual town, was the IDEAL, as
we'll as the practical way, for mankind
to dwell. He had made something of
fortune in the mill business in Eng
land. Unable to put into practice in
that country his novel idea, he came
to America and, after considerable
searching, fixed upon the rich farming
valley in southern New York as the
spot most favorable for the location OF
the Weldon community. There he
brought together about thirty families,
bringing most Of them from his native
land, England. He established a CO.
operative store, a blacksmith shop, a
school, a church, mill, in fact, every
thing needed to supply the welfare OF
an agricultural ommunity-including
the Weldon Community bank. This
bank, while 1t was owned and patron
lied mainly by the people Of the COM
munity, was chartered and managed
as any small country bank would be.
Weldon had conducted its affairs him.
self at first At his death it had passed
to his son so far as management was
concerned, though the title remained
in the community. Welldon's son had
continued the banking business as sue
cessfully as his father had done before
him, and the bank was as prosperous
and sound as a small bank possibly
could be. It had never become pow
er, but on the other hand, it had never
been In trouble once during its whole
existence.
WeIidon's son had died a few years
before the robbery occurred, and the
management thereupon had passed
into the hands of Giles, the cashier.
He had done fully as we'll by the bank
as the Welldons had. and the COM
munity had trusted its money to the
banks care as implicitly as ever. The
bank had proved time and again that
1t was panic-proof; but 1t wasn't bur
glar-proof. After over sixty-hve years
Of successful operation 1t had been
cleaned out by the conventional aocs-
dent of safe-blowing. Altogether It
was q remarkable situation.
found the little place in the great
est stir of its history when alighted
from the accommodation train that
carried me from the nearest city up
the spur to Weldon community. There
wasn't much Of town at Weldon.
only O few stores, offlces, warehouses
and houses strung along the road In
the center Of the farms Of the valley.
The bank was q neat, old gray-stone
building that occupied a position Of
honor In the middle OF It all. It was Q
compact, sturdy looking building, OBJ
viously built with a view to guarding
as we'll as possible whatever might be
kept inside. Around the building were
gathered most OF the people Of the
community. The rest OF them were
buzzing around the undertaker's shop
ACROSS the road, where the body Of
the slain safe-blower lay for the pres
emit. The county sheriff and the coro-
ner were doing their respective duties
In assertive fashion, and the people
had to content themselves with stand
ing and looking at the outstdes OF the
buildings containing the objects that
had aroused their curiosity. They
were the most shocked and horror
stricken group that had seen for q
long time. It was the first real crime
Of any Importance that had ever been
committed In the valley within the
memory of the Oldest inhabitant, and
the community was so awed by the
shock OF 1t that there was scarcely q
thought left in the whole crowd.
went to the bank first and my card
Let me In past the sheriff's deputy.
was received by Mr.. Giles, the presi
dent OF tho bank, and the board OF di
rectors, who were assembled in the
banking room. They We're glad to sec
al h0y