The Washington times., 1920-11-13
VAULTS
.OFTHOUSANDS
yeggmen Believed to Have Fled
Toward D. C. In
Speedy Car.
JIMMY REMAINS As. CLUE
Theft Discovered When Officials
Opened Bank for Busi-
ness Today.
JIMMY REMAINS AS. CLUE

Yeggmen broke into the First
National Bank at st. Mary's, at
Leonardtown, Nd, early this morn
ing, and after jimmying open the
safe deposit boxes, made way with
several thousand dollars in cash,
Liberty bonds, and jewels belonging
to some Of the most prominent fami-
lies in southern Maryland. Officials
say they have no approximate esti-
mate of the amount of money and
valuables taken.
Lieutenant Burlinsame. acting chief
OF detectives, was informed OF the
| robbery over the telephone. ''Flyers"
were sent to every precinct in Wash
ington to be on the lookout for the
yesgmen. who are believed to be
headed this way in . high powered
motor car.
LOCK WAS MELTED.
The robbery was discovered BY bank
amicias when they went to the bank
this morning. The lock in the front
door had been melted with an acety-
lene torch.
A jimmy and a pair Of overhalIs
were found lying near a rified depoe,
box. These articles, together with
! some well-denned finger prints, offer
excellent clues on which to work in
solving the robbery, officials said.
That the robbery was the work OF
I comparatively inexperienced men is
the belief. of officials of nard,own.
They base this theory on the fact tha,
an attempt had been made to jimmy
open tho safe, but the robbers Cvi-
IDENTIFY found II too big a proposition
and they abandoned their efforts. The
safe is new one and is of the latest
burglar-proof type.
MUCH JEwELRY TAKEN.
The floor OF the bank was Uttered
with Liberty bonds and other papers
stored in the safe deposit boxes. 1t
was said that much jewelry and
other valuablos stored in the boxes
by some OF the Oldest families in
the country was caftcd away by the
yeggmen.
Several hundred dollars worth OF
stamps and money orders left in a
deposit box last night by the post
office officials OF the town was not
| touched by the robbers.
The First National Bank is located
in tho heart of the thrifty little
Maryland town. About fifty feet
awas stands The postofficc, and busi-
ness houses arc in the immediate
vicinity.
DIR. c. v. Hayden, president Of the
Leonardtown Bank, the second bank
| in the Maryland town. was informed
| this morning by his cashier that the
First Nationals safe had not been
touched by the robbers, and that the
yeggmen had entirely ignored the
Liberty bonds stored in the safe de-
posit boxes. DR.. Hayden loft for
Leonardtown early this afternoon.
| An attempt was made about Two
years ago to break into the bank.
| u. X. Abel, assistant cashier OF
| the First National, told a Times re-
porter this afternoon that he dis
agreed with tho theory advanced 81
some quarters that the robbery visa
the work OF inexperienced men.
| II believe the mon who did this
| Job were thoroughly capabls In their
|
we're keen enough TO see that the
safe was burglarproof aud that th"
only way they could get the money ,n
Il would be TO crack II with explo-
sives. They evidently didn't want go
arouse the town by an explosion, 20
they let the safe alone.
ALL BOXES RIFLED.
"There were twenty-six safe dcposit
| boxes in the bank, all OF which were
rifled and their contents taken. We
have no means OF ascertainine the
amount OF val,Sablcs taken. and WI:
not until We hear reports from the
| owners OF the boxes. There were sew
eral thousands OF dollars worth OF
valuables. I am informed. In there
boxes. The ycggs certainly made
| fine haul"
Mr.. Abel said none OF the banks
| property was touched, and not n dol
! lar of tho banks monty taken. Rep
resentatives OF a Baltimore deteotivc
agency and the American Bankers
Association were speeding In motor
cars TO Leonardtown from Baltimore
this afternoon to conduct an investi-
gatioh into the robbery.