Milford chronicle., 1921-04-08
YEGGS FAIL In EFFORT
TO CRACK P. 0. VAULT
BEFORE VISITING The POSTOFFICE THEY
STOLE LEONARD ABBOTT'S CAR and
TOOLS FROM RAILROAD.
FRIGHTENED AWAY BY DOGS
tits THOUGHT THAT The ROBBERS LEFT
FOR FEAR OF DETECTION BEFORE
COMPLETING The JOB.

A gang of thieves visited Milford
early Tuesday morning, stole an am
tomobile, tools from the Pennsvl,,a,ia
Railroad, and attempted to blow omen
Lne vault at the Milford postofice
nat they were not successful in their
JoD at the postOfiice is due to the fact
Ihat they were frightened away he
Iore the job had been completed
The robbers, it is thought. first Wis
tied the tool house of the PennsvIva-
MA railroad Company at which place
they secured tools, crowbars and 9th
er implements which they would need
at the postoffice job. The garage of
Leonard Abbott, of Washington street
south Milford, was next visited. and
g large Nash touring car was STOLEN
The cracksmen then proceeded to tbe
postoffice building.
AT this place they jimmied a rear
window, opened a small safe which
contained stamps and small change
ana ransacked things in general
Inc stamps and other loot was placed
IN mail sack; but in their haste tn
IeaVe this bag and contents was left
Inc large vault is located in the ofica
occupied by the assistant postmaster
ana races Walnut street. This Office
IS plainly visible from both Walnut
ana Second streets. The yeggmen
LOOK a blanket from the Abbott auto-
mobile, together with the tools from
the car and went to work on the door
OI the vault. A number of holes wero
drilled in the steel and a CHARGE of
was set off. The tl,m-
olers and lock combinations were
blown off; but the handles which
urn the bolts were also dislodged
rms fact probably accounts for tbe
act that the thieves did not comp1ete
heir job.
When the charge of powder ex-
'loded persons residing in the neigh
'orhood heard dull muffled expIos-
on and dogs owned by V. M. D. Har-
1ngton barked loudly. The stirring
I persons in the nearby homes prob
Dly frightened the crooks, for thew
imost Immediately left town in tbe
Abbott car.
Residents of Washington street
eard Mr. AbbOtt's car leave the gar
se shortly after two o'clock in the
forming, but thought that the owner
as using it. The loss was not dis
overed until Mr.. Abbott got I'D Tues
ay morning. Persons near the most
NICE generally agree that it was
bout 2.10 o'clock when the explosion
as heard. Nightwatchman Davis
ad made his rounds at one o'clock
40 again at two o'clock but found
othlng to excite his suspicious. Will
am AcKerman, an employee at the
passed the building at 2:3O
clock and said that at that time the
llnds IN the office were drawn. He
fought nothing of it, however. Ac-
)rding to Officer Davis his attention
as nrst drawn to the postOfice short
aIter 2:3O O'Clock. At that time he
as walking south on Walnut street
ID noticed the lights on an automo-
lie flash up in front of the home of
lll1am Aldred. He started to see
hat was the trouble and had reach
the pOStOhice corner when the men
the stolen automobile turned into
'cond street at rapid rate of speed,
did not know at that time that the
'stofice had been entered, but soon
'ticed that things were not as they
ould be. He Immediately got in
uch with Postmaster Robinson. and
gether they entered the building.
ley found the door of the vault dam
ed as described above, and dust and
ap blown all over the room.
Just how near the cracksmen came
making big haul was disclosed
Iesday afternoon when employees at
2 postoffice succeeded in opening
vault door in very few minutes
the use of a chisel. Large uuan-
les of stamps and other valuables
re stored in this place.
The car stolen from Mr.. Abbott, in
ich the thieves got away, is con-
cuous enough to betray them, pro-
ed they do not discard it. It is
lve-passenger Nash, with light blue
iy and yellow running gear. The
ense number is Delaware 3,218 and
engine number 3O,634. 1t was val
at about $4,000.