Year: 1869

An Ingenious Attempt to Rob National Bank


This special despatch from Sandy Hill, N Y, yes
terday, is published In the New York Times Of to-
day.


The attempt to rob the First National Bank Of this
place, on Wednesday night, was second only in
ocean Bank robbery In New York The robbers
were oied only because of the time required to get
into the vault and by the too free use of punpow-
der They succeeded in blowing the safe open bTt
were driven away, having aroused people by the
noise OF the explosion with only few hundred dol
lars in revenue stamps as their entire booty. The
explosion inside the vault set of the papers on
fire. but the books, and vouchers were saved and
the bank is in sound condition. The burglars left
lage collection OF fine tools.


EFurther Particulars of the Burglary.
From the Troy Times, July 16.


We yesterday made brief announcement OF the
attack made upon the vault OF the First National
Bank at Sandy Hin by burglars on the previous
night and now, through the kindness OF Mr.
Lewis, OF the firm OF Lewis & Sterling, of this
city, are able TO lay the full particulars OF the
transaction before our readers. Mr.. Lewis was
up ana look over the wreck, with the view To
repairing the bank vault, and returned TO the
city this morning. The burglars were six or eight
strong. They entered the bank by means of false
keys, and commenced operations probably about
midnight About O'Clock A. M. a family living in
house adjoining the bank were awakened by the
explosion Of the vault, and saw man standing upon
the sidewalk. The hotel keeper was also aroused,
but supposed the report was caused by a clan OF
thunder or stroke OF lightning. The family were
too much frightened to give the ALARM and permitted
the burglars to continue their operations undisturbed





by blowing open the vault doors. The vault
was built of stone. The burglars dug out the
top wall, and, filling the aperture with powder,
touched it of The doors were blown OH, and fell
upon the floor. The safe-one of Bacons steel safes
still remained to be opened before the rascas could
realize the fruits OF their toll Wedges were forced
between the doors, and a charge Of powder in
serted The explosion tore out the whole front Of
the safe scattering the books and papers about the
vault. The family first alarmed now managed to
muster up enough courage to rattle the window
blinds, and the man watch outside blew q blast
q
Drought MS companions out OF the building
on the double quick. The night was very dark
and the people in the house could not distinguish
the clothes or features of the robbers Seeing the
numbers of the burglars, they now more fright
ened than ever, and dared not venture from the
house so no alarm was given until about half an
hour afterward Wien Patrick Kelly, who was going
home after nights debauCh, staggered along past
the bank, saw the broken windows in the building
and a nre burning within, and ran down to the
hoteL and aronsed the inmates, Upon entering the
bank II was found that the ignlted powder had set
nre TO the books and papers OF the institution, and
large opening had been burned in the floor. The
fire was extnguished, and an investigation made
OF the extent OF the nights operations.
open as described the building was much shattered
and the windows blown out but the inner safe con-
tanning the money OF the bank still intact-con-
sequenty the burglars had secured nothing for their
labor Half an hour more of undsturbed occupation
OF the premises, and they would have cleaned the
institution entirely out; but some frightened woman
rafting on the blinds scared away six or eight
armed villains, bent upon the commission of q great
crime. Such is the fear of the law and Us conse-
quences 1t the burglars had first tried to omen
the vault by placing an Indicator under the dial to
steal the combination, for upon taking the dial Off
yesterday Mr. Lewis discovered the presence of the
te-tale but this plan did not work, and the other
eNpedent of blowing the doors Off was resorted to-
This is the fourth attempt that has been made within
Few years to enter the Sandy Hill banks and like
all the previous ones, 1t proved unsuccessful so far
at least, as reaching the funds of the institution.
This time however, they came nearer to it than ever
before, and the frightened women and Pat Kelly
deserve TO be lberaly rewarded by the bauk folks.