8573. Bank of Ridgely (Ridgely, MD)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
March 16, 1931
Location
Ridgely, Maryland (38.948, -75.884)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
325d7c0c

Response Measures

None

Description

Vault of the Bank of Ridgely was blown open by robbers on 1931-03-16. The bank was closed all morning because of the robbery but reopened the same day at noon. No depositors' run is described; the closure was a temporary one due to the crime.

Events (1)

1. March 16, 1931 Suspension
Cause Details
Bank closed temporarily after robbers blew open the vault and removed cash and securities; closure was to assess damage and loss.
Newspaper Excerpt
The bank was closed all morning as a result of the robbery, but Mr. Wilson stated it would be open for business at noon today.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Cumberland Evening Times, March 16, 1931

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Article Text

VICTIM OF CRASH Killed When One Auto In Collision Is Hurled Across Sidewalk. Baltimore. March collision between today. Mrs. Mary automobiles Griffn, killed when one the autos hurled across sidewalk where she standing. William Ecloman, 42. and inspector Bureau Highways. the drivers the automobiles were both of charged with the womrested death. An inquest will be held. police said. tomorrow afternoon. The aged victim was employed cook local doctor and was by her way work when the accident police said. automobile hurled Sloman's sidewalk striking Mrs. across Griffin with such force that was thrown distance 30 feet, police She rushed taxi to the Union Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead arrival. Her skull had been fractured and she suffered internal injuries, doctors said. Robbers Escape In Auto Fire Whistle Arouses Resident Heard Explosion Ridgeley, Md., Mar. Bank robbers early today blew open the vault of the Bank of Ridgeley and escaped with the entire contents estimated to include more than $2,000 in cash. The robbery. which was believed have about this morning, was discovered by the driver bread wagon liveries in the neighborhood the bank. Lawrence Wilson. cashier at the bank. said this that while complete of the not possible, he that more than $2,000 cash had been taken robbers with the rest the contents the vault. Preliminary examination of which partially the blast no clues left the Authorities said they believed had been blow open the vault. Resident Heard Explosion Irvin Salisbury. who lives the street from the bank heard the explosion about this morning and looking out three back into the bank. He called Fire Chief Joseph orderthe town fire whistle to blown. The signal brought practically every man Ridgeley the the supposed but by the time they arrived robbers had fled. The blast demolished the vault. tearing the outer door from hinges damaging the inner Windows were broken in the buildand other damage done. was found that the robbers had cleaned the vault the money stored there well Liberty bonds and other securities owned by depositors. Abandon Bucket Silver all the silver money into bucket. about $800 but evidently when the fire whistle menced blowing, they abandoned the change blocks from where recovered later and returned to the bank. Mr. Wilson declined to give any estimate the said it was entirely covered by and that check made this morning to determine its extent The bank was closed all morning result of the robbery, but Wilson would be open for business noon today. Many the three men suspected of the crime, but believthey were on their way to the ing supposed fire. they were not believed the men had their escape they left parked near an about three blocks from the house, One suspect was arrested by Sheriff Tarbutton, Caroline counand police of Maryland Delaware have been asked be on the lookout for them.


Article from The Daily Times, March 16, 1931

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Article Text

ROBBERS BLOW OPEN VAULT OF RIDGELY, MD., BANK AND ESCAPE WITH ITS CONTENTS All Currency, Liberty Bonds And Securities Of Depositors At Eastern Shore Institution Stolen; Bucket Of Silver Coin Later Abandoned WITNESS RESIDING ACROSS STREET HEAR BLAST AND SAW THREE MEN RUN INTO BANK AT 3:35 A. M. Robbers Quickly Seize Loot And Escape Amid Confusion As Siren Sounds And Firemen Arrive; Several Persons Saw Trio Leaving; One Suspect Arrested RIDGELY, MD., March robbers entire blew open the vault of the Bank of Ridgely and escaped early with today the contents estimated include to more than The robbery, which was believed to have occured $2,000 about in cash. 3:30 ing this deliveries morning, was in discovered by the driver of a bread wagon makthe neighborhoods of the bank. Lawrence Wilson, cashier at the bank, said this morning that while a complete estimate of the loss was not possible, he estimated that more than $2,000 in cash had been taken by the robbers along with the rest of the contents of the vault. Preliminary examination of the vault, which was partially wrecked by the blast revealed no clues left by the robbers. Authorities the vault. said they believed dynamite had been used to blow open Irvin T. Salisbury, who lives across the street from the bank said he heard the explosion about 3:35 this morning and looking out, saw three men run back into the bank. He immediately called fire chief Joseph K. Snowburger, who ordered the town fire whistle to be blown. The signal brought practically every man in Ridgely to the scene of the supposed fire, but by the time they arrived, the robbers had fled. The blast demolished the vault, tearing the outer door from the hinges and damaging the inner one. Windows were broken in the building and other damage done. It was found that the robbers had cleaned the vault of all the paper money stored there as well as and other securities owned by depositors. The robbers dumped all the bank's silver money into a coal bucket, about $800 in all, but evidently alarmed when the fire whistle commenced blowing, they abandoned the bucketful of change about three blocks from the bank where it was recovered later and returned to the bank. Mr. Wilson, declined to give any estimate of the loss in securities. He said it was entirely covered by insurance and that a check was being made this morning to determine its extent. The bank was closed all morning as a result of the robbery, but Mr. Wilson stated it would be open for business at noon today. Many people saw the three men suspected of the crime, but believing they were on their way to the supposed fire, they were not stopped. It was believed the men had made their escape in an automobile while they left parked near an ice-house, about three blocks from the bank. One suspect was arrested by Sheriff Tarbutton, of Caroline county today and police of and Delaware have been asked to be on the lookout for them.