Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-23
CENTRAL NATIONAL
ROBBED OF $4,000
IN OPEN DAYLIGHT

Continued from First PaKe)
Charles Hutzlcr OF what had occurred
a thorough Investigation was begun,
ana careful balancing Of the days
accounts showed that at least $4,000
mad been stolen. Tho bank officials
said last night that this was the sum
as nearly as could be determined ut
that time.
BANK WAITED TO VERIFY LOSS
BEFORE NOTIFYING POLICE
1t required until 5:25 o'clock In tho
afternoon for the bank officials to com
plete their Investigation of the loss
sustained. and during that time the
news OF the robbery was carefully
guarded from the outside world Tho
police were informed later, and petec-
tive kellam began work on the case
at once.
However. the great loss Of time re-
suiting from the failure to notify the
police Immediately after the discovery
that there had been robbery has
enabled the robbers to escape from
Inc city, the police believe. Detective
heilnm Is OF the opinion that the dccoy
telephone message was prearranged
after careful study OF conditions In
me bank had been made. There was
some business being done, but the clerk
could spend several minutes in n talk
win prospective customer without
heSlecting his work. The switchboard
operator. Miss Ransom, at her desk in
the next booth was unable to see above
the ledge within the steel railing Of the
windows. and Vinccnts back was
turned to the interior OF the bank
when he was talking over the teie-
phone.
MUST HAVE USED WIRE Or
LIGHT WALKING CANE
All Of this was true of the actual
occurrence OF the robbery. Detective
keilam said that man could have
entered unobserved, and later escaped
without attracting attention
The detective Is Of the opinion that
the space between the window shelf
ana the lover bar OF the steel wicket
is too small to allow mans hand
to enter. and believes that a wire or
some tool OF n similar kind was used
window. 1t was then a simple matter
Tor the thief to make his exit from the
bank and to disappear
The disappearance was complete
There il no way OF telling whether the
thieves had secured an automobile in
case 1t was necessary to make hur-
ried departure. or whether the man
simply walked away with the $4,000
tucked into an overcoat pocket. There
Is no description by which thu police
can hope TO locate the thief, for no
thief was seen, and there IL no evil
can furnish d start for the detective
Investigation.
HANKS LOSS FULLY
COVERED BY INSURANCE
The Central National Bank IS under
the protection Of the American Bank
ers Protective Association, FOR which
the Burns National Detective Agency
Investigates all robberies. Burns do
,ectives were notified last night OF
the robbery through Gibson & Moore.
insurance agents. and at once began
their Investigations
President Charles Hutzler told a
reporter for The Times Dispatch last
night that the amount of the banks
loss WAS fully covered by Insurance
and that there would be no loss to
depositors or stockholders as n result
or the robbery. The president would
not express himself as to whether there
was negligence shown in allowing the
theft to occur. but appeared to think
the robbery unavoidable in the light
OF the existing circumstances He said
that the large number OF deposItors In