A DARING BANK ROBBERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 95, 21 April 1906, Page 13

A DARING BANK ROBBERY.

THE HOLDING DP OF THE. CREDIT MUTUAL IN MOSCOW.

The Credit -Mutual, one of the largest banks in Moscow, was mysteriously robbed by masked men at dusk on March 20. the robbers securing £96,500. It was aa unusually daring Job. The farts already developed raise the question whether the robbery was committed by or under the direction of some on» at present or previously employed at the lnatltntion.

The bank is situated fn riinka-street. in the heart of the city. The last of the clerks had just departed, leaving an inelde guard of three men. while under the porte cochere outside wore a policeman and the house porrer. The street was crowded with people hurrying homewaTd. According to the atory of the guards, 'in the twinkling of an «ye they were confronted with revolvers in the hands of twenty masked men. who had entered silently by the main door, which had been, locked when the office force left After a command to the guards to hold up their hande not a word was spoken.

The guards were quickry bound and gagged and thrown into a dark corner. The robbers then took up posftjjena at all bha entrances and the curtains of the windows were lowered. The chief of the robbers, who directed the. operations of his associates by gestures and. without speaking, showed thorough familiarity with the location of the vaults. When all was ready he went to the heavy burglar-proof safe, and with a few Wihirla of the knob tarew the combination of the lock, the heavy door swung open and the treasure of the baak was revealed.

Tie plunder, consisting of gold, silver and notes, was speedily tarust into sacks. When a clean haul of the money had been made, not a kopek being left, the robbers departed a≤ silently as they came, mating their exit through the main entrance and leaving no trace behind them. They had been in the bank less than half an hour. Twenty minutes later one of the guards succeeded in releasing himself and gave the alarm. The dumbfounded policeman and Souse porter, who had been standing In front of the bank throughout, claimed they had seen no. one enter or leave it. An Immense crowd was attracted ta the scene by the news ef the robbery.

M. VUeSmiaion*. the managing director of the bank, after a haaty investigation, hastened off to consult Governor-General Doubaaoff. It is the general impraaelen t3uz the lc«3> ta tfe*-4B?«t«i7 Is >wttnla i&e ****£. „„„• i,,,^,,,,^