ROBBING A BANE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2425, 30 December 1875, Page 3

ROBBING A BANE.

Western Virginia has been thrown into a state of terrible commotion. A few weeks ago four men took up their residence in the town of Huntington. They were plausible fellows, made a favourable impression upon all with whom they came in contact, and by depositing a considerable sum at the local bank gained general credit for being persons of substance. Eaoh of them was provided with a horse of excellent mettle ; and one day, without exciting suspicion anywhere, they rode into the principal street, and calmly dismounted. Two of them entered the Dank j one kept watch over the horses'; the fourth made lor a store whioh commanded a view of the bank premises. Tho object of all this mysterious manoeuvring was soon made clear to a limited number of the citizens of Hunt* ington. The gentleman who entered the store, finding three men there, asked them whether they bad any " shooting-irons "ab«ut them ; and, ascertaining that they were unarmed, he coolly produced a revolver and intimated that bis two friends had some business in hand over the way and did not wish to be disturbed. The hint was understood, and the worthies at the bank were allowed to com* plete their business without molestation. They found the cashier alone, and requested him to be good enough to band over to them every oont in the place. Resistance was useless, and the hapless clerk produced about 10,000 dollars. The robbers were slow to believe that so small a sum represented the entire resources of the establishment, but* careful examination of the vault* and of the books convinoed them that they had got all. They turned dejectedly away, banding to the cashier the few dollars he claimed as hi* own, and remonstrating with him on the poverty of the oonocrn and the inonitrous impropriety of ''tempting honest men with false appear* ances," They stalked across the street, and, with their companions, were in the saddle in an instant. The hue and 017 wai now raised 5 horsemen set off in hot pursuit • but although at the latest date the chase had been kept up for several days, the freebooters were still at large. When last seen they were making for the mountain* of East Tennessee, and by this time they are probably safe in some secure hiding place. One of them at least appears to have been formally a trooper under Mosby, the notorious Confederate guerilla leader; and the probability is that the rest of them also belong to the too numer* out olaes of "old soldier*" who since the close of the oivil war have adopted the profusion of brigandage.