The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-12-10
YEGGMEN WRECK A BANK
ROBBERS SEND SAFE THROUGH
CEILING OF BANK BUILDING.
Amount of Money Secured Cannot BE
Ascertained.-Suspe are Ar
rested.


rested.
Mullins, Dec. 3.-Three explosions
from charges of nitroglycerine prac-
ticaly destroyed the bank building
of Nichols, five miles from here, when
the safe was blown open by yeggmen
at 2:3O o'clock this morning. Por-
tions of the heavy safe door were
hurled into the ceiling, tearing
through the roof. All windows in
the bank were shattered and the
building was generally demolished.
Just how much money was taken
cannot yet be determined. The final
charge, which was to open an inner
chest containing the money, was so
powerful that 1900 81 bills were
torn into shreds. Of the 1854 in
currency in the safe, 1864 was
picked up in the debris this morn
ing.
Three men have been arrested.
Two coming from the direction OF
Nichols were arrested early this
morning by Policeman Byrd. An
other giving his name as Tom Rey-
nolds and his home as Richmond,
Va, was arrested at Pee Dee by Of
fcers Berry and Davis. Reynolds is
apparently about 80 years of age.
His left arm is off just below the
shoulder. He has blue eyes, light
hair, and a fair complexion. Rey-
nolds vigorously protests his inno-
cence.
Shots are Fired.
Several shots were exchanged with
the robbers when the bank was be-
ing robbed. Later when the yegg-
men were leaving, Harl Griffin came
to the porch and inquired what the
trouble was. The answer was one or
two shots fired at him by the escap-
ing safe blowers.
A telephone message from Nichols
told of the robbery soon after it oc-
Cured. Rural Policeman Hunter
with several deputies left by daylight
| for Nichols, Sheriff Dozier with Of
ficers Berry and Davis going to Pee
Dee, believing that the yeggmen
might possibly attempt to board a
train at this junction. Shortly at
ter daylight, Officer Byrd arrested
| two suspicious characters, who were
lodged in the Mullins Jail. These
were coming down the railroad from
| Nichols. A few minutes later mes
sage was received, telling of the ar
rest of Reynolds at Pee Dee. The
same train that bore the Pee Dee
prisoner to Nichols also brought
Guard Robbins from the State penl-
tentiary with his bloodhounds, who
had been called over the long dis
tance telephone in time to catch the
| early nlOIn!uS lldlu.
DoogS Find Trail.
AS matter OF precaution, the
bank building had been roped off.
In consequence the trail was readily
picked up by the dogs, and the trail
followed several hundred yards down
the railroad, thence into the public
road to the new bridge. Here the
trail was lost, and the conclusion
drawn was that the robbers had en-
tered a vehicle held in waiting.
Robbins then took the dogs back to
Nichols, where 800 or 400 persons
had gathered.
Instructions were then given to
have the suspect taken to the woods
and made to climb tree. Several
people were made to follow close by
to guard the movements of Rey-
nolds, The dogs were then turned
loose over the yard traversed by the
crowd. They at once picked up the
trail of Reynolds, which was follow
ed to the tree. Others were made to
strike trails, but the dogs repeatedly
refused to follow these. Reynolds
was placed in the Jail at Marion to
await developments in the case.
Wilson is Invited.