New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-31
PICKpOCKETS BUSY
At RUN ON BANK
Two Women Robbed OF
About $1,000 Savings in
Surging Crowds.
DAYS WITHDRAWALS e.
EXCEED 81 ,000,OOO
Van Tuyl's Notice That Their
Money Was Safe Fails to
Impress Frightened Ones

mONtN " % JUN
Impress Frightened Ones.
Pickpockets and hold-up men real
;,irg that moro than 100000 in cash
was being carried into ODD street by
the frightened deposItors seized their
OPPORTUNITY yesterday when the un-
founded rumors about the Bank for
SAVINGS. at Fourth avenue and 20
street continued to cause a run on that
institution Despite the strongest state
mcnts that the saving bank was abso-
luteiy safe. even more persons with
drew their accounts than on the pre-
cedins day.
At least two women. both aged and
IN moderate circumstances. were robbed
81 their savings as they passed through
the crowds around the bank. That
more cases OF a similar nature did not
take place was due To the unusual safe
guards taken by the bank and the po-
lice.
A long line Of depositors, mostly SER
wants and others Of humble position
were waiting for the banks doors 70
oren. when the tellers resumed their
work Of paying out deposits ranging
from So TO $500 1t was soon seen
that the rush had not diminished, and
police reserves under Inspector Gil
len came to keep order.
When il was seen that the assur-
ances of the bank officials and Of SU-
perintendent Van Tuyl were Of no
avail. a notice was posted to the effect
that the doors would be open until 6
O'Clock i'm the evening to pay those
who wished. Additional tellers were in
place, and several special deputy
sherins and watchmen surrounded the
crowd 20 keep away the dips"
Woman Robbed Of Savings.
Before the police could drive away
the more adventurous picllpockets the
two women were robbed Of savings Of
about $1,000 After thar detectives
forced every dcpositor entering the
bank to show passbook.
1T is soft picking for the pickpock-
cts and hold-up men, said a head
quarters detective. "All they have to
90 is to watch some old woman come
out Of the bank with money. follow
her until she is alone somewhere, and
then take 1t away from her"
Observation at the window Of the
paying tellers disproyed any idea that
the S97O0OO0O o. deposits was made
up mostly Of small amounts. Men and
women whose appearance would indi-
cate poverty. if not destiution, drew
amounts Of from 500 10 $500 While
there We're few Withdrawals Of less
than 500
The average deposit is about $500,
and with the Two thousand men and
women estimated 10 have been in the
line during the day, the bank officials
believed more than 100000 had
4 been drawn out. The bank had So
. 100000 IN the vaults in cash at the
lightning OF the day. but just how
much was taken ont could not be told
untn the books were checked over.
II the scenes I'm the bank had not
meant the loss Of thousands Of dollars
in interest 20 the depos.to-s. their COM
ments on the yum would have been
amusing. one. who smiled sheeplshly
as he tucked 5000 in his pocket. said.
"Of course, knew all the time 10 was
foolish % take the money out. but now
that have r. ] am doubly sure
Some Deposit Money.
one woman. who held a passbook on
another bank. was indignant because
she was not paid the amount Of her
deposit there. Not all Of those in the
line came 90 draw out none Several
more courageous came 90 deposit
money. orr have their interest figured.
eome. on receiving 40 the door little
card bearing Superintendent Van
Tuyrs assurance Of safety. dropped out
n line and ieft .eir money IA the
bank.
While nothing definite could be-
learned o. the origin o. the rumors. 10
was still thought thar some ignorant
person. seeing rhe usual long Monday
night lre 81 deDoet0rs. rold her &C.