Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, January 4, 1925, p. 2.
BANDIT TRIO LEAVE TODAY FOR PRISON
Sheriff's Force Start at Early Hour for State Reformatory
NEXT STEP IN THE GAME
Expect to Arraign Two Women and Man in Jail Sometime Monday or Tuesday.
One week after the arrest of the first bank robber in connection with the South Marion and Upland bank robberies, six of the nine bandits alleged to be implicated in both jobs have been arrested and three of the six given sentences of from ten to twenty-five years in prison, who will start on the trip to prison this morning, while the other three, one man and two women are in jail awaiting arraignment in circuit court on charges of automobile banditry.
James Robbins, the first bandit to be arrested, at Lebanon; William Behrens, arrested next at Monticello, and Marion, alias "Red" Smith, arrested at Indianapolis, will be taken to the reformatory near Pendleton this morning over the traction line to begin their long sentences. They will be accompanied by Ralph Malott, sent up for obtaining money under false pretenses, and Ray Wilson, who was given a sentence for forgery. They will leave in the company of a sufficient number of deputy sheriffs to insure their safe arrival at prison.
Only three of the bandits who are alleged to have taken part in the robbery of the Upland and South Marion banks, remain uncaptured, but operatives from the Webster agency at Indianapolis, the department at Indianapolis and sheriffs from several counties are on the job and it is believed that the three will yet be arrested, but it may not be accomplished for some time.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morse, who were arrested at their home in Indianapolis Friday evening and Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, arrested at Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon, will probably be arraigned in court Monday or Tuesday of this week, Sheriff Bert Renbarger said yesterday. Morse and his wife have admitted to having taken part in the South Marion robbery, Mrs. Morse remaining in the automobile, while the men went in the bank. Mrs. Bridgewater has admitted to being in the car with the bandits when they came to Marion to rob the South Marion bank, but said that she was not aware of the bank being robbed or of the nature of the automobile trip from Marion to Indianapolis on November 26, the day on which the South Marion robbery took place.
The round up of the bandits during the past week, in which the active co-operation of Sheriff Renbarger, the Webster agency and the police of Indianapolis and Lebanon took part, was one of the biggest roundups of any gang of robbers which has taken place in the state for some time, all of which resulted from James Robbins displaying a big roll of money at Lebanon a week ago yesterday.
------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the Upland State bank and South Marion bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Showing posts with label Black Sheep Sunday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Sheep Sunday. Show all posts
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Black Sheep Sunday: Two More Bandits Fall In The Trap
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, January 3, 1925, p. 1.
TWO MORE BANDITS FALL IN THE TRAP
Couple, Man and Wife, Admit They Were Part of the Gang Which Robbed Marion Bank
Romance Enters Into the Lives of Bandits, Stranger Than the Most Imaginative Fiction, for Girlhood Friendships, and Boyhood Love Affirs, Form Chapters in the Lives of Men and Women In Jail, and of Others Not Yet Captured
Robert Morse, 25, an automobile mechanic and his wife, Emily Morse, 27 years old, were arrested shortly after five o'clock last night by Sheriff Bert Renbarger, detectives from the Indianapolis police force and operatives from the Webster Detective agency at their home, 59 South Lasalle street, Indianapolis, on charges of automobile banditry. They are charged specifically with robbing the South Marion State bank on the afternoon of November 26, when approximately $4,000 was taken.
Morse and his wife both admitted to being in the gang of seven people, five men and two women, who took part in this robbery, but denied being with the gang at Upland and Noblesville. They were brought back to Marion and put in the Grant county jail, arriving here shortly after ten o'clock last night.
Although they had read accounts of the robbery at the Marion bank, and arrests the couple did not leave Indianapolis but moved to the LaSalle street address on December 30, from another part of Indianapolis, and they showed no surprise when they were placed under arrest.
Old Schoolmates
Mrs. Morse was the other woman, Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, who is also in jail here, who sat in the seat of the automobile, while the men entered the South Marion bank and robbed it. It was brought out with the arrest of the Morse couple last night that Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Bridgewater are old schoolmates and that Morse was a sweetheart of Mrs. Bridgewater, before her marriage to her present husband.
The Morse residence was searched by the officers and all that was found of any consequence WAS A BLOND SWITCH, WHICH WAS SAID TO BE WORN BY MRS. MORSE ON HER TRIP TO MARION. MRS. MORSE HAS A HEAD OF BLACK HAIR.
After the officers had grilled Mr. and Mrs. Morse for some time at Indianapolis, they admitted to having taken part in the South Marion bank robbery. Morse said that he was an automobile mechanic by trade and that he and his wife had never been in trouble of any kind before and that he was coaxed into joining the gang by the other members of the band. He said that he received as his share of the loot only $153, while he was supposed to get as his share about $600. He said that his share was counted out and handed to him by another member of the gang and was told that the pile of money contained $600.
Plans Are Changed
Morse and his wife said that the gang of five men and two women had driven to Hartford City with the intention, at first, of robbing a bank at that place, but changed their minds and came on to Marion, on November 26. They drove around the city in their Nash car and drove past the South Marion bank several times to size up the lay of the land.
Later they drove up to within two blocks of the bank, Morse said, when four of the men got out and went into the bank, while the two women and one man remained in the machine and drove around in the vicinity and then up in front of the bank. After the bank had been robbed, the gang jumped into the car and drove to Lebanon and then on to Indianapolis. They had at first intended to use a Dodge car on the trip to Marion, but this car was wrecked and then they secured a Nash car.
Sheriff Renbarger left for Indianapolis yesterday afternoon and arrived there in the afternoon and in company with detectives from the police department and Webster agency, they drove to the Morse home and made the arrests.
Three Are at Large
The total number of arrests made in connection with the robbing of the Upland and Marion banks, now totals six, four men and two women. Three of the five men who took part in the South Marion bank are now in custody, as well as the two women and three of the band of five men who robbed the Upland bank are now behind prison bars. Three members of the gang are yet at large.
Sheriff Renbarger said last night that Mrs. Bridgewater and Mrs. Morse would be arraigned in court on charges of automobile banditry. Although the women did not actually hold up the bank officers and take the money, under the law they are equally guilty with the men and now face long terms in prison.
While Mrs. Bridgewater told a Leader-Tribune reporter, after her arrest, that she did not know that the bank was being robbed while she was out in the automobile, Mrs. Morse admitted to the officers last night that she knew the men were going out to rob the Marion bank.
------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the Upland State bank and South Marion bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
TWO MORE BANDITS FALL IN THE TRAP
Couple, Man and Wife, Admit They Were Part of the Gang Which Robbed Marion Bank
Romance Enters Into the Lives of Bandits, Stranger Than the Most Imaginative Fiction, for Girlhood Friendships, and Boyhood Love Affirs, Form Chapters in the Lives of Men and Women In Jail, and of Others Not Yet Captured
Robert Morse, 25, an automobile mechanic and his wife, Emily Morse, 27 years old, were arrested shortly after five o'clock last night by Sheriff Bert Renbarger, detectives from the Indianapolis police force and operatives from the Webster Detective agency at their home, 59 South Lasalle street, Indianapolis, on charges of automobile banditry. They are charged specifically with robbing the South Marion State bank on the afternoon of November 26, when approximately $4,000 was taken.
Morse and his wife both admitted to being in the gang of seven people, five men and two women, who took part in this robbery, but denied being with the gang at Upland and Noblesville. They were brought back to Marion and put in the Grant county jail, arriving here shortly after ten o'clock last night.
Although they had read accounts of the robbery at the Marion bank, and arrests the couple did not leave Indianapolis but moved to the LaSalle street address on December 30, from another part of Indianapolis, and they showed no surprise when they were placed under arrest.
Old Schoolmates
Mrs. Morse was the other woman, Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, who is also in jail here, who sat in the seat of the automobile, while the men entered the South Marion bank and robbed it. It was brought out with the arrest of the Morse couple last night that Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Bridgewater are old schoolmates and that Morse was a sweetheart of Mrs. Bridgewater, before her marriage to her present husband.
The Morse residence was searched by the officers and all that was found of any consequence WAS A BLOND SWITCH, WHICH WAS SAID TO BE WORN BY MRS. MORSE ON HER TRIP TO MARION. MRS. MORSE HAS A HEAD OF BLACK HAIR.
After the officers had grilled Mr. and Mrs. Morse for some time at Indianapolis, they admitted to having taken part in the South Marion bank robbery. Morse said that he was an automobile mechanic by trade and that he and his wife had never been in trouble of any kind before and that he was coaxed into joining the gang by the other members of the band. He said that he received as his share of the loot only $153, while he was supposed to get as his share about $600. He said that his share was counted out and handed to him by another member of the gang and was told that the pile of money contained $600.
Plans Are Changed
Morse and his wife said that the gang of five men and two women had driven to Hartford City with the intention, at first, of robbing a bank at that place, but changed their minds and came on to Marion, on November 26. They drove around the city in their Nash car and drove past the South Marion bank several times to size up the lay of the land.
Later they drove up to within two blocks of the bank, Morse said, when four of the men got out and went into the bank, while the two women and one man remained in the machine and drove around in the vicinity and then up in front of the bank. After the bank had been robbed, the gang jumped into the car and drove to Lebanon and then on to Indianapolis. They had at first intended to use a Dodge car on the trip to Marion, but this car was wrecked and then they secured a Nash car.
Sheriff Renbarger left for Indianapolis yesterday afternoon and arrived there in the afternoon and in company with detectives from the police department and Webster agency, they drove to the Morse home and made the arrests.
Three Are at Large
The total number of arrests made in connection with the robbing of the Upland and Marion banks, now totals six, four men and two women. Three of the five men who took part in the South Marion bank are now in custody, as well as the two women and three of the band of five men who robbed the Upland bank are now behind prison bars. Three members of the gang are yet at large.
Sheriff Renbarger said last night that Mrs. Bridgewater and Mrs. Morse would be arraigned in court on charges of automobile banditry. Although the women did not actually hold up the bank officers and take the money, under the law they are equally guilty with the men and now face long terms in prison.
While Mrs. Bridgewater told a Leader-Tribune reporter, after her arrest, that she did not know that the bank was being robbed while she was out in the automobile, Mrs. Morse admitted to the officers last night that she knew the men were going out to rob the Marion bank.
------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the Upland State bank and South Marion bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Black Sheep Sunday: Hold Woman As Bandit Accomplice
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, January 1, 1925, p. 1
HOLD WOMAN AS BANDIT ACCOMPLICE
Was In Auto When Marion Bank Robbed
Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, 29, Denies Complicity in Crime
Married But A Month
Was Asked, She Said, to Take Auto Ride and Ignorant of the Plan
One more thread of the web covering up the identity and activities of the bank bandits who robbed the Upland state bank of $2,500, the South Marion bank of $4,000, the Lebanon hardware store, and attempted to rob the Noblesville bank, was unwound by the authorities yesterday when Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, 29, of Indianapolis, was brought to Marion and placed in jail.
Mrs. Bridgewater, claiming to have been married less than a month, admits she and another woman were in the car when the South Marion bank was robbed.
The woman denies she had any part in the robbery, and says she was not with the gang when the other robberies were committed.
Takes Precautions
Because of alleged statements made about their desire to avoid punishment, Sheriff Bert Renbarger has thrown a close guard around the prisoners. They are kept separately and are being watched closely.
William Behrens, one of the bandits, under sentence of from ten to twenty-five years, said yesterday he would prefer to take a man's place condemned to the electric chair than a long prison term. He has already served time.
Marion "Red" Smith plead guilty in the circuit court yesterday to auto banditry and like his two associates, Behrens and Robbins, was given a sentence of from ten to twenty-five years.
Three men of the gang and one woman are still at large, but it is thought authorities will soon have them.
Sheriff Bert Renbarger is working closing with the Webster detective agency at Indianapolis, and other authorities in solving the robberies. It is believed the whole gang will soon be behind bars. Three now await long terms, a third awaits hearing.
With three of the gang of six bank robbers who have infested Grant and other counties in jail and sentenced to prison, the unceasing vigilance of detectives, sheriffs and other officers in attempting to round up the entire gang, met with success again late yesterday afternoon, when a woman was arrested at Indianapolis on a charge of complicity in the bank robbery of the South Marion State bank. She is Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, 29 years old, giving Indianapolis as her home. She was brought to the Grant County jail last night by detectives from the Webster agency of Indianapolis, who made the arrest.
Talks to Reporter
According to her story told to a Leader-Tribune reporter last night, Mrs. Bridgewater had been visiting with relatives in the southern part of the state since Christmas and had not heard of the arrest of the three bandits. She had just returned to Indianapolis yesterday afternoon and was just starting to enter her home when she was placed under arrest.
She admitted last night to being one of two women who occupied the Nash car as it stood in front of the South Marion State bank on the afternoon of November 27, when the male occupants of the car held up the officers and customers in the bank and secured about $4,000. She denied being with the bandits at the Upland bank and also at Noblesville.
"The men asked me and another woman if we wanted to go on an automobile ride," Mrs. Bridgewater said, "and we replied that we would go. They did not tell us where our destination was or for what purpose the trip was being made. When the automobile reached the South Marion bank, the men got out and said for us to remain in the car, as they were going into the bank for a few minutes. They did not tell us why they went into the bank and I did not know that the bank was being robbed."
Drove to Indianapolis
"After the robbery, we drove back to Indianapolis. I did not get any of the money which was stolen from the Marion or Upland bank."
Mrs. Bridgewater, who has dark complexion, hair and eyes, seemed to bear out her statement that she had received none of the stolen money, as she was dressed very ordinarily, wearing a long coat of imitation fur. She said she had been married to her present husband less than one month and that this is her third marriage, and has four children by the former marriages. She said that she had never been in trouble of any kind before and that last night was her first night in any jail.
The woman stated that she was not well acquainted with her present husband before she married him and that his occupation was that of a lineman.
Marion Smith, alias "Red" Smith, the third bandit, who was arrested at Indianapolis Tuesday afternoon, was arraigned in circuit court yesterday, where he entered a plea of guilty to a charge of automobile banditry and was given a sentence of from ten to twenty years in the state reformatory, from which institution he was released only five months ago, after serving a sentence for vehicle taking.
William Behrens, also known as "Red," who was given his sentence Tuesday afternoon, told Sheriff Renbarger yesterday that he is willing to trade places with some condemned....in the electric chair...long term in court yesterday morning, admitted to taking part in the South Marion bank robbery, as well as the Upland robbery. He said that he was taken from his mother when he was only fourteen months old and had not seen his parents since that time and that he had just recently received word that a woman he believed to be his mother, was located in Sedalia, Mo., and that he needed some money to go to that city. He gave his home address as Brazil, Ind., where he had been employed in washing gravel.
Following a statement made by Behrens to Turnkey Marsh that he, Behrens, would get out of jail if he could find any possible way, has led to extra precautions being taken with the bandits. Each bandit has been placed on separate floors, with the woman, arrested last night, placed in the women's department.
------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the Upland State bank and South Marion bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
HOLD WOMAN AS BANDIT ACCOMPLICE
Was In Auto When Marion Bank Robbed
Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, 29, Denies Complicity in Crime
Married But A Month
Was Asked, She Said, to Take Auto Ride and Ignorant of the Plan
One more thread of the web covering up the identity and activities of the bank bandits who robbed the Upland state bank of $2,500, the South Marion bank of $4,000, the Lebanon hardware store, and attempted to rob the Noblesville bank, was unwound by the authorities yesterday when Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, 29, of Indianapolis, was brought to Marion and placed in jail.
Mrs. Bridgewater, claiming to have been married less than a month, admits she and another woman were in the car when the South Marion bank was robbed.
The woman denies she had any part in the robbery, and says she was not with the gang when the other robberies were committed.
Takes Precautions
Because of alleged statements made about their desire to avoid punishment, Sheriff Bert Renbarger has thrown a close guard around the prisoners. They are kept separately and are being watched closely.
William Behrens, one of the bandits, under sentence of from ten to twenty-five years, said yesterday he would prefer to take a man's place condemned to the electric chair than a long prison term. He has already served time.
Marion "Red" Smith plead guilty in the circuit court yesterday to auto banditry and like his two associates, Behrens and Robbins, was given a sentence of from ten to twenty-five years.
Three men of the gang and one woman are still at large, but it is thought authorities will soon have them.
Sheriff Bert Renbarger is working closing with the Webster detective agency at Indianapolis, and other authorities in solving the robberies. It is believed the whole gang will soon be behind bars. Three now await long terms, a third awaits hearing.
With three of the gang of six bank robbers who have infested Grant and other counties in jail and sentenced to prison, the unceasing vigilance of detectives, sheriffs and other officers in attempting to round up the entire gang, met with success again late yesterday afternoon, when a woman was arrested at Indianapolis on a charge of complicity in the bank robbery of the South Marion State bank. She is Mrs. Mary Bridgewater, 29 years old, giving Indianapolis as her home. She was brought to the Grant County jail last night by detectives from the Webster agency of Indianapolis, who made the arrest.
Talks to Reporter
According to her story told to a Leader-Tribune reporter last night, Mrs. Bridgewater had been visiting with relatives in the southern part of the state since Christmas and had not heard of the arrest of the three bandits. She had just returned to Indianapolis yesterday afternoon and was just starting to enter her home when she was placed under arrest.
She admitted last night to being one of two women who occupied the Nash car as it stood in front of the South Marion State bank on the afternoon of November 27, when the male occupants of the car held up the officers and customers in the bank and secured about $4,000. She denied being with the bandits at the Upland bank and also at Noblesville.
"The men asked me and another woman if we wanted to go on an automobile ride," Mrs. Bridgewater said, "and we replied that we would go. They did not tell us where our destination was or for what purpose the trip was being made. When the automobile reached the South Marion bank, the men got out and said for us to remain in the car, as they were going into the bank for a few minutes. They did not tell us why they went into the bank and I did not know that the bank was being robbed."
Drove to Indianapolis
"After the robbery, we drove back to Indianapolis. I did not get any of the money which was stolen from the Marion or Upland bank."
Mrs. Bridgewater, who has dark complexion, hair and eyes, seemed to bear out her statement that she had received none of the stolen money, as she was dressed very ordinarily, wearing a long coat of imitation fur. She said she had been married to her present husband less than one month and that this is her third marriage, and has four children by the former marriages. She said that she had never been in trouble of any kind before and that last night was her first night in any jail.
The woman stated that she was not well acquainted with her present husband before she married him and that his occupation was that of a lineman.
Marion Smith, alias "Red" Smith, the third bandit, who was arrested at Indianapolis Tuesday afternoon, was arraigned in circuit court yesterday, where he entered a plea of guilty to a charge of automobile banditry and was given a sentence of from ten to twenty years in the state reformatory, from which institution he was released only five months ago, after serving a sentence for vehicle taking.
William Behrens, also known as "Red," who was given his sentence Tuesday afternoon, told Sheriff Renbarger yesterday that he is willing to trade places with some condemned....in the electric chair...long term in court yesterday morning, admitted to taking part in the South Marion bank robbery, as well as the Upland robbery. He said that he was taken from his mother when he was only fourteen months old and had not seen his parents since that time and that he had just recently received word that a woman he believed to be his mother, was located in Sedalia, Mo., and that he needed some money to go to that city. He gave his home address as Brazil, Ind., where he had been employed in washing gravel.
Following a statement made by Behrens to Turnkey Marsh that he, Behrens, would get out of jail if he could find any possible way, has led to extra precautions being taken with the bandits. Each bandit has been placed on separate floors, with the woman, arrested last night, placed in the women's department.
------
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robberies of the Upland State bank and South Marion bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These earlier robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-25.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Black Sheep Sunday: Third Bandit Is Caught In The Trap
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, December 31, 1924, page 1.
Third Bandit Is Caught In The Trap
Two Bandits Plead Guilty, Get Long Prison Terms, And Third Arrested Yesterday
Thread by thread the web which has hidden the Bandits is being unwound, and "Red" Smith is the third member of the trio to be caught in the trap, with outlook that before the old year has checked out for all time others may be caught, and the end come for one of the most vicious criminal conspiracies in the state, with two women as a part of the plot.
The arrest of Marion, alias "Red" Smith, third of the gang of six bandits who robbed the Upland State bank of $2,500, and the sentencing of James Robbins and William Behrens, two other bandits, under arrest for from ten to twenty years in the state reformatory, for auto banditry, on their please of guilty and the statement that at least two women are members of the gang were the outstanding features yesterday in the work of Sheriff Bert Renbarger and officials in surrounding counties to round up the band, and expose one of the boldest and most high handed conspiracies to rob in the entire history of the state.
The third man to be arrested, who admitted to taking part in the robbing of the Upland bank on December 23, was Marion Smith, alias "Red" Smith, 22, who was arrested at Indianapolis yesterday, upon his return from Springfield, Ill., which he gave as his home, by an operative from the Webster Detective Agency of Indianapolis. He was brought to the Grant county jail about 7:30 last night.
Two Men Arraigned.
Robbins and Behrens were arraigned in circuit court shortly after 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when they entered pleas of guilty to charges of automobile banditry. After being questioned by Judge J. Frank Charles and Prosecuting Attorney Jay Keever, each defendant was given a sentence of from ten to twenty years in the Indiana state reformatory. Sheriff Bert Renbarger said last night that he would try and have Smith, the third bandit arraigned in court late today if possible.
Efforts toward rounding up the three other members of the gang are being made in a number of counties. It was stated last night that one or two women are believed to be implicated in the bank robberies.
Planned "Sure Go."
From what information which could be obtained from the three men under arrest, the men had planned to get together again one day this week and return to Noblesville, where they were to again attempt to rob the bank at that place and it was their intention to make the job a sure go this time, they said.
Smith had just returned to Indianapolis from Springfield yesterday morning and knew nothing of the arrest of Behrens and Robbins. As he was entering a rooming house at Indianapolis he was placed under arrest by A.M. Larsh, an operative from the Webster agency.
Smith was carrying two suit cases. He was brought to the Grant county jail last night.
Before coming to Marion he was searched at Indianapolis, where $137.25 was found on his person. He was again searched in jail here last night and $109 was found hidden in the back of his coat.
Seventy-five cents in change was found in his pockets and when he asked to have the money returned to him, suspicion was aroused that he had more money hidden about his clothes and every bit of clothing which had on and was in the suit cases was searched, which resulted in the finding of the $109 hidden in his coat. He admitted to having taken a part in the Upland robbery, but denied having anything to do with the South Marion or Noblesville cases.
New Bills Found.
Much of the money found on Smith was new bills issued by the First National bank of this city.
Smith has also served time in the state reformatory on a charge of vehicle taking, being sent up from Paoli, Ind.
Behrens and Robbins were brought into court at 5:15 yesterday afternoon. The indictment charging them with automobile banditry, which was read to them by County Clerk Sam Connelly, was sworn out by Deputy Sheriff Woody Smith and charged the defendant that on December 23 they unlawfully and feloniously aided each other in stealing and taking away in person the chattels and personal property of the Upland State bank in the form of United States money, the sum of $2,000, and then making their escape in an automobile.
Worked on a Farm.
Judge Charles then asked them what plea they desired to make and both replied "guilty."
Robbins was placed on the stand and questioned. He said that he was 22 years of age and that his business was that of a farmer, and that he had spent about four years on his father's farm which was located on a rural route out of Crawfordsville. He admitted to being in trouble before, stating that in 1921 he was sentenced to the state reformatory on a charge of grand larceny and that he was also arrested in 1920 on a charge of grand larceny and before that had been arrested for speeding. He told Judge Charles that he had not taken any part in any bank robbery except that at Upland and the attempt at Noblesville was his first experience in banditry at the latter place. He also said that he had taken part in the robbing of the Lebanon hardware store.
His Father Dead.
Behrens, when questioned, stated that he resided with his mother at Monticello, his father being dead. He said that he had been employed in a textile mill until recently. He said that when he was a small boy he had been given a suspended sentence on a charge of petit larceny and that in May, 1921, he had been given a sentence of from two to fourteen years at the reformatory on a charge of attempted burglary, he having served the minimum term. He told Judge Charles that he was not addicted to the use of liquor and that he had not been drinking on the day the Upland bank was robbed.
He admitted that he had taken part in the Lebanon hardware store robbery and that he was in the gang which attempted to hold up and rob the Noblesville bank, but said that he did not carry firearms on that day and denied having any part in the robbing of the South Marion bank on November 27. He said that the Upland and Noblesville banks were the only ones he had taken part in.
Judge Charles then passed sentence on them and when the sentence was pronounced, neither man gave any evidence of having been affected by the heavy sentence.
It was stated from the jail last night that Behrens had remarked that he might as well be in prison as any place else, while Robbins seems to be effected. According to the jail officials, Robbins is engaged to be married to the girl who appeared at the jail Monday afternoon to visit him.
More Booty Found.
Sheriff Renbarger received word yesterday from the sheriff of White county at Monticello, that an electric drill, which was stolen from the Lebanon store, and about $125 had been found in a suit case in the room occupied by Behrens at that place.
Robbins talked more freely of his trips with the bandits yesterday and said that he had become acquainted with all of the bandits while at the state reformatory and that for some time after his parole he met two of the members who had been in prison and they told him that it would be an easy thing to rob banks, as they had robbed the South Marion bank a short time before and had gotten away with it, the officers having no clue to work on. He said that he had no work and that the stigma of having been in prison weighed upon him and that he finally was persuaded to join the bandits, which he did, taking part in the robbing of the Lebanon store on the night of December 22.
Go Through Upland.
"After resting a few hours after the Lebanon robbery we drove toward Upland, went through the town slowly and on to Marion, arriving about noon," Robbins said.
"After driving around town for a short while, we parked our car on the east side of the public square and went into the Club cafe to eat dinner. After dinner we again got in the car, without walking about town, and drove about again, stopping at a filling station in North Marion, where we talked with Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith.
"We did not know they were deputy sheriffs, but thought they were state highway officers who were looking for the Moon car stolen from Indianapolis, in which we were riding.
When they started following us in their car, we switched around and went west on Highland avenue, coming into town on the Wabash pike.
"The other members of the gang wanted to show me the South Marion State bank which they had previously robbed, and we drove up there, stopping for a minute, while they described the robbery to Behrens and me, Behrens not having been with them either on that raid.
Robbins said that they drove through Upland and south of town and drove back at once, when they stopped at the Upland bank, when two of the men remained in the car and the four others went inside and robbed the bank. After leaving Upland they started back to Lebanon, but the Moon car became mired in the mud, which they were forced to leave, proceeding the rest of the way in a car which they hired from a garage.
Guilty as the Rest.
Robbins said that he had been persuaded to join the men and that he was as guilty as the rest and that he is willing to take his punishment.
Although he said he was not with the gang that robbed the South Marion bank, Robbins told of the robbery. He said that a Nash car was used, in which were two women, one being the wife of the leader, and that after robbing the Marion bank drove directly to Indianapolis where they transferred the stolen money, about $4,000, to a Dodge car.
That Grant county has "an excellent system" of roads was given by Robbins as the reason for pulling off the two bank robberies in Grant county.
---
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robbery of the Upland State bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These earlier bank robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-1925.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Third Bandit Is Caught In The Trap
Two Bandits Plead Guilty, Get Long Prison Terms, And Third Arrested Yesterday
Thread by thread the web which has hidden the Bandits is being unwound, and "Red" Smith is the third member of the trio to be caught in the trap, with outlook that before the old year has checked out for all time others may be caught, and the end come for one of the most vicious criminal conspiracies in the state, with two women as a part of the plot.
The arrest of Marion, alias "Red" Smith, third of the gang of six bandits who robbed the Upland State bank of $2,500, and the sentencing of James Robbins and William Behrens, two other bandits, under arrest for from ten to twenty years in the state reformatory, for auto banditry, on their please of guilty and the statement that at least two women are members of the gang were the outstanding features yesterday in the work of Sheriff Bert Renbarger and officials in surrounding counties to round up the band, and expose one of the boldest and most high handed conspiracies to rob in the entire history of the state.
The third man to be arrested, who admitted to taking part in the robbing of the Upland bank on December 23, was Marion Smith, alias "Red" Smith, 22, who was arrested at Indianapolis yesterday, upon his return from Springfield, Ill., which he gave as his home, by an operative from the Webster Detective Agency of Indianapolis. He was brought to the Grant county jail about 7:30 last night.
Two Men Arraigned.
Robbins and Behrens were arraigned in circuit court shortly after 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when they entered pleas of guilty to charges of automobile banditry. After being questioned by Judge J. Frank Charles and Prosecuting Attorney Jay Keever, each defendant was given a sentence of from ten to twenty years in the Indiana state reformatory. Sheriff Bert Renbarger said last night that he would try and have Smith, the third bandit arraigned in court late today if possible.
Efforts toward rounding up the three other members of the gang are being made in a number of counties. It was stated last night that one or two women are believed to be implicated in the bank robberies.
Planned "Sure Go."
From what information which could be obtained from the three men under arrest, the men had planned to get together again one day this week and return to Noblesville, where they were to again attempt to rob the bank at that place and it was their intention to make the job a sure go this time, they said.
Smith had just returned to Indianapolis from Springfield yesterday morning and knew nothing of the arrest of Behrens and Robbins. As he was entering a rooming house at Indianapolis he was placed under arrest by A.M. Larsh, an operative from the Webster agency.
Smith was carrying two suit cases. He was brought to the Grant county jail last night.
Before coming to Marion he was searched at Indianapolis, where $137.25 was found on his person. He was again searched in jail here last night and $109 was found hidden in the back of his coat.
Seventy-five cents in change was found in his pockets and when he asked to have the money returned to him, suspicion was aroused that he had more money hidden about his clothes and every bit of clothing which had on and was in the suit cases was searched, which resulted in the finding of the $109 hidden in his coat. He admitted to having taken a part in the Upland robbery, but denied having anything to do with the South Marion or Noblesville cases.
New Bills Found.
Much of the money found on Smith was new bills issued by the First National bank of this city.
Smith has also served time in the state reformatory on a charge of vehicle taking, being sent up from Paoli, Ind.
Behrens and Robbins were brought into court at 5:15 yesterday afternoon. The indictment charging them with automobile banditry, which was read to them by County Clerk Sam Connelly, was sworn out by Deputy Sheriff Woody Smith and charged the defendant that on December 23 they unlawfully and feloniously aided each other in stealing and taking away in person the chattels and personal property of the Upland State bank in the form of United States money, the sum of $2,000, and then making their escape in an automobile.
Worked on a Farm.
Judge Charles then asked them what plea they desired to make and both replied "guilty."
Robbins was placed on the stand and questioned. He said that he was 22 years of age and that his business was that of a farmer, and that he had spent about four years on his father's farm which was located on a rural route out of Crawfordsville. He admitted to being in trouble before, stating that in 1921 he was sentenced to the state reformatory on a charge of grand larceny and that he was also arrested in 1920 on a charge of grand larceny and before that had been arrested for speeding. He told Judge Charles that he had not taken any part in any bank robbery except that at Upland and the attempt at Noblesville was his first experience in banditry at the latter place. He also said that he had taken part in the robbing of the Lebanon hardware store.
His Father Dead.
Behrens, when questioned, stated that he resided with his mother at Monticello, his father being dead. He said that he had been employed in a textile mill until recently. He said that when he was a small boy he had been given a suspended sentence on a charge of petit larceny and that in May, 1921, he had been given a sentence of from two to fourteen years at the reformatory on a charge of attempted burglary, he having served the minimum term. He told Judge Charles that he was not addicted to the use of liquor and that he had not been drinking on the day the Upland bank was robbed.
He admitted that he had taken part in the Lebanon hardware store robbery and that he was in the gang which attempted to hold up and rob the Noblesville bank, but said that he did not carry firearms on that day and denied having any part in the robbing of the South Marion bank on November 27. He said that the Upland and Noblesville banks were the only ones he had taken part in.
Judge Charles then passed sentence on them and when the sentence was pronounced, neither man gave any evidence of having been affected by the heavy sentence.
It was stated from the jail last night that Behrens had remarked that he might as well be in prison as any place else, while Robbins seems to be effected. According to the jail officials, Robbins is engaged to be married to the girl who appeared at the jail Monday afternoon to visit him.
More Booty Found.
Sheriff Renbarger received word yesterday from the sheriff of White county at Monticello, that an electric drill, which was stolen from the Lebanon store, and about $125 had been found in a suit case in the room occupied by Behrens at that place.
Robbins talked more freely of his trips with the bandits yesterday and said that he had become acquainted with all of the bandits while at the state reformatory and that for some time after his parole he met two of the members who had been in prison and they told him that it would be an easy thing to rob banks, as they had robbed the South Marion bank a short time before and had gotten away with it, the officers having no clue to work on. He said that he had no work and that the stigma of having been in prison weighed upon him and that he finally was persuaded to join the bandits, which he did, taking part in the robbing of the Lebanon store on the night of December 22.
Go Through Upland.
"After resting a few hours after the Lebanon robbery we drove toward Upland, went through the town slowly and on to Marion, arriving about noon," Robbins said.
"After driving around town for a short while, we parked our car on the east side of the public square and went into the Club cafe to eat dinner. After dinner we again got in the car, without walking about town, and drove about again, stopping at a filling station in North Marion, where we talked with Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith.
"We did not know they were deputy sheriffs, but thought they were state highway officers who were looking for the Moon car stolen from Indianapolis, in which we were riding.
When they started following us in their car, we switched around and went west on Highland avenue, coming into town on the Wabash pike.
"The other members of the gang wanted to show me the South Marion State bank which they had previously robbed, and we drove up there, stopping for a minute, while they described the robbery to Behrens and me, Behrens not having been with them either on that raid.
Robbins said that they drove through Upland and south of town and drove back at once, when they stopped at the Upland bank, when two of the men remained in the car and the four others went inside and robbed the bank. After leaving Upland they started back to Lebanon, but the Moon car became mired in the mud, which they were forced to leave, proceeding the rest of the way in a car which they hired from a garage.
Guilty as the Rest.
Robbins said that he had been persuaded to join the men and that he was as guilty as the rest and that he is willing to take his punishment.
Although he said he was not with the gang that robbed the South Marion bank, Robbins told of the robbery. He said that a Nash car was used, in which were two women, one being the wife of the leader, and that after robbing the Marion bank drove directly to Indianapolis where they transferred the stolen money, about $4,000, to a Dodge car.
That Grant county has "an excellent system" of roads was given by Robbins as the reason for pulling off the two bank robberies in Grant county.
---
This article is another in a series of follow-up stories to the robbery of the Upland State bank by a group of robbers, led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later became famous as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These earlier bank robberies terrorized Indiana during 1924-1925.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Black Sheep Sunday: Bank Bandits Confess to Sheriff
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, December 30, 1924, page 1.
BANK BANDITS CONFESS TO SHERIFF
Daring Thefts Here Have Been Cleared
Written Confession Is Secured from James Robbins and After William Behrens Is Identified by Upland Bank Cashier He Changes His Denial and Admits He Help Put Over the Job There -- Local Sheriff Works Hard On Case -- Roll of Bills Led to Arrest of the Men
One of the gang flashed a roll of bills, and this caused suspicion, and led to his undoing, and two of the six bandits who held up the officers of the Upland state bank and took $2,500 on the afternoon of December 24, are now in the Grant county jail with confessions in the hands of Sheriff Bert Renbarger from both men that they not only took part in this robbery, but from one of the two that they robbed a hardware store at Lebanon, attempted to robe the bank at Noblesville, but were frightened when the bank president pushed his foot and sounded the burglar alarm, that five members of the gang, on claiming innocence, had robbed the South Marion State Bank of approximately $4,000 on the afternoon of November 27.
The arrests, beginning at Lebanon early Sunday morning, are considered among the most important ever made in the state, for it is believed they will put an end to a reign of banditry which has run wild in the state for some months.
The arrest of two of this band, with other arrests expected, and the arrest of the band at Peoria, Ill., said to have robbed the Converse bank, clears up the three bank robberies in this particular section of the state.
Sheriff Works Hard.
Sheriff Bert Renbarger and his deputies have been working hard on the case, and are being widely commended for their success.
The men under arrest are William Behrens, 20 years old, of Monticello, Ind., who was arrested yesterday by Sheriff Bert Renbarger, Deputy Sheriff Woody Smith and the chief of police of Monticello, and James Robbins, 22, of Lebanon, who was arrested late Saturday night by the police at Lebanon.
Robbins has confessed also to taking part in the attempted holdup of the Noblesville bank on December 17, and said that the other five members of his gang had robbed the South Marion State bank of approximately $4,000 on the afternoon of November 27, but said that he was not in this robbery. Behrens, when brought to Marion yesterday afternoon at first stoutly denied knowing anything about the Upland, Marion or Noblesville affairs, but when Earl Bragg, cashier of the Upland State Bank, and S.G. Stump of Upland, who was pulled inside of the bank by one of the bandits, came to the jail last night and identified both men as being among the five bandits, Behrens then changed his story and admitted to having taken part in the Upland job, but maintained that he was not with the bandits when the South Marion bank was robbed.
Identification Sure.
Both Bragg and Stump were positive in their identifications. Stump was the man who stepped into the bank when the robbery was taking place, and started to go out when one of the bandits grabbed him and pulled him back into the bank and demanded that he hold up his hands.
The news of Robbins' arrested was given out at Indianapolis yesterday morning.
A confession was secured from Robbins by Sheriff Renbarger, who has spent the last two days at Lebanon and Monticello in an effort to round up the entire gang.
The confession of Robbins, in part is as follows:
"On the night of December 22, 1924, we drove to Lebanon at about two o'clock in the morning and we broke into the hardware store of John B. Shelby and stole three shot guns, five rifles, 25 to 30 boxes of shells, electric drills, two radio sets and some other goods.
"Then we planned to go to Upland and rob the Upland State bank. We had a Moon sedan, which was stolen in Indianapolis the day before. At Upland, one remained outside of the bank in the car, while the rest went into the bank and held up the employees with revolvers and stole whatever money could be found. I received between $300 and $400 as my share. We, except myself, took part in and robbed the South Marion State bank on November 27 and also in the attempted robbery of the bank at Noblesville on December 17.
"After the Upland robbery the gang separated. The reason for the robbery of the bank at Noblesville not being successful was because the burglar alarm went off. The airplanes flying overhead at the time had nothing to do with us at the time of the attempted robbery" (Signed) James Robbins.
Have Served Time.
Both Robbins and Behrens have served time in prison. Behrens was sent up some time ago from Monticello on a charge of burglary and was later paroled, after serving about twenty-six months. Robbins has also served time in the state reformatory on a charge of grand larceny, having been sentenced from Lebanon. It is said that the other members of the gang have also served prison sentences.
Both men were interview at the county jail last night by a Leader-Tribune reporter.
Behrens had a number of watches on his person, and last night he said he had bought them, and had not robbed any store.
Behrens Was Seen.
Behrens was identified by Deputy Sheriff John Schell as one of the men who was in the Moon car when it stopped at a filling station on North Washington street and Highland avenue two hours before the Upland bank robbery. Behrens told Schell that his face "looked familiar," but could not tell just where he saw him.
Robbins admitted last night that he took part in the Upland bank robbery, and was also with the band at Noblesville, but denied being with the crowd when the South Marion bank was robbed. He said that all of the other members of the gang robbed this bank except himself.
Robbins' mother, father and sweetheart arrived in the city yesterday to visit him, but the parents did not go to the jail. Last night Robbins was told that his mother was very ill at Lebanon. HIS SWEETHEART APPEARED TO FIND OUT IF HE HAD GOT HER WRIST WATCH WHICH SHE SAID HE HAD PROMISED TO GET FOR HER.
Behrens, after he confessed to Sheriff Renbarger, in the presence of Cashier Bragg and Mr. Stump of Upland, also told the sheriff where he had hidden a part of the money which was stolen from the Upland bank, and the sheriff at Monticello was notified.
Flashes Big Roll.
The flashing of a roll of money led to the arrest of Robbins at Lebanon. Robbins, who has been in trouble before, was seen to show a roll of money of considerable size, and he was arrested as a suspect late Saturday night. When searched the police found $263.90 on his person. Robbins told them that he had spent $60.35 out of the money for clothing. When Robbins was arrested Sheriff Renbarger was notified, and early Sunday morning Renbarger and Deputy Sheriff Schell drove to Lebanon, where information was secured concerning Behrens, after Robbins had told the officers of the movements of the gang. With the prospects for arresting all members of the gang, it was agreed that nothing should be given out by any officer in any county until all of the bandits had been arrested and placed in jail.
Go to Monticello.
Yesterday morning Sheriff Renbarger and Deputy Woody Smith drove to Monticello, where Behrens was arrested. When searched he had a number of Ingersoll watches in his possession, which the officers said were being given away by him. He was brought back to Marion and lodge in jail late yesterday afternoon.
Every effort will be made by the authorities of several counties to round up and arrest the four remaining members of the gang.
The robbery of the South Marion bank took place about fifteen minutes before closing time on the afternoon of November 27. Five of the bandits entered the bank and commanded the two bank officials and two customers to hold up their hands. They then attempted to lock the bank officials in the vault, but failed to succeed. The bandits took all of the money in sight on the counter, and secured more from the vault, and ran out and disappeared in what was described as being a Nash car, leaving in a southerly direction.
Machine Was Stolen.
The same gang, apparently, stole the Moon sedan from George W. Killinger, 1922 North Pennsylvania street, Indianapolis, in front of his residence on Monday night, December 23, drove to Lebanon, where the hardware store was robbed, and then came to Marion, arriving here shortly before the noon hour. In their confessions they did not mention being around the city for some time and of getting a supply of gasoline at a filling station in North Marion.
When the Moon car was going north on Washington street, it was seen by Deputy Sheriffs Schell and Smith, as well as by Detectives Humble and Andrews of the police department. Believing the Moon car to be a car they had been looking for, which was thought to contain liquor, the deputy sheriffs followed the car to the filling station. Schell held a short conversation with one of the men, not either of the two under arrest. The men asked the direction to reach State Road No. 35, stating they wished to go to Hartford City. About an hour and a half later, news of the Upland bank robbery was received.
----
This article is a follow-up to the robbery of the Upland State bank by a group of robbers led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later came to fame as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These stories about his early career as a bank robber in Indiana have proven most interesting.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
BANK BANDITS CONFESS TO SHERIFF
Daring Thefts Here Have Been Cleared
Written Confession Is Secured from James Robbins and After William Behrens Is Identified by Upland Bank Cashier He Changes His Denial and Admits He Help Put Over the Job There -- Local Sheriff Works Hard On Case -- Roll of Bills Led to Arrest of the Men
One of the gang flashed a roll of bills, and this caused suspicion, and led to his undoing, and two of the six bandits who held up the officers of the Upland state bank and took $2,500 on the afternoon of December 24, are now in the Grant county jail with confessions in the hands of Sheriff Bert Renbarger from both men that they not only took part in this robbery, but from one of the two that they robbed a hardware store at Lebanon, attempted to robe the bank at Noblesville, but were frightened when the bank president pushed his foot and sounded the burglar alarm, that five members of the gang, on claiming innocence, had robbed the South Marion State Bank of approximately $4,000 on the afternoon of November 27.
The arrests, beginning at Lebanon early Sunday morning, are considered among the most important ever made in the state, for it is believed they will put an end to a reign of banditry which has run wild in the state for some months.
The arrest of two of this band, with other arrests expected, and the arrest of the band at Peoria, Ill., said to have robbed the Converse bank, clears up the three bank robberies in this particular section of the state.
Sheriff Works Hard.
Sheriff Bert Renbarger and his deputies have been working hard on the case, and are being widely commended for their success.
The men under arrest are William Behrens, 20 years old, of Monticello, Ind., who was arrested yesterday by Sheriff Bert Renbarger, Deputy Sheriff Woody Smith and the chief of police of Monticello, and James Robbins, 22, of Lebanon, who was arrested late Saturday night by the police at Lebanon.
Robbins has confessed also to taking part in the attempted holdup of the Noblesville bank on December 17, and said that the other five members of his gang had robbed the South Marion State bank of approximately $4,000 on the afternoon of November 27, but said that he was not in this robbery. Behrens, when brought to Marion yesterday afternoon at first stoutly denied knowing anything about the Upland, Marion or Noblesville affairs, but when Earl Bragg, cashier of the Upland State Bank, and S.G. Stump of Upland, who was pulled inside of the bank by one of the bandits, came to the jail last night and identified both men as being among the five bandits, Behrens then changed his story and admitted to having taken part in the Upland job, but maintained that he was not with the bandits when the South Marion bank was robbed.
Identification Sure.
Both Bragg and Stump were positive in their identifications. Stump was the man who stepped into the bank when the robbery was taking place, and started to go out when one of the bandits grabbed him and pulled him back into the bank and demanded that he hold up his hands.
The news of Robbins' arrested was given out at Indianapolis yesterday morning.
A confession was secured from Robbins by Sheriff Renbarger, who has spent the last two days at Lebanon and Monticello in an effort to round up the entire gang.
The confession of Robbins, in part is as follows:
"On the night of December 22, 1924, we drove to Lebanon at about two o'clock in the morning and we broke into the hardware store of John B. Shelby and stole three shot guns, five rifles, 25 to 30 boxes of shells, electric drills, two radio sets and some other goods.
"Then we planned to go to Upland and rob the Upland State bank. We had a Moon sedan, which was stolen in Indianapolis the day before. At Upland, one remained outside of the bank in the car, while the rest went into the bank and held up the employees with revolvers and stole whatever money could be found. I received between $300 and $400 as my share. We, except myself, took part in and robbed the South Marion State bank on November 27 and also in the attempted robbery of the bank at Noblesville on December 17.
"After the Upland robbery the gang separated. The reason for the robbery of the bank at Noblesville not being successful was because the burglar alarm went off. The airplanes flying overhead at the time had nothing to do with us at the time of the attempted robbery" (Signed) James Robbins.
Have Served Time.
Both Robbins and Behrens have served time in prison. Behrens was sent up some time ago from Monticello on a charge of burglary and was later paroled, after serving about twenty-six months. Robbins has also served time in the state reformatory on a charge of grand larceny, having been sentenced from Lebanon. It is said that the other members of the gang have also served prison sentences.
Both men were interview at the county jail last night by a Leader-Tribune reporter.
Behrens had a number of watches on his person, and last night he said he had bought them, and had not robbed any store.
Behrens Was Seen.
Behrens was identified by Deputy Sheriff John Schell as one of the men who was in the Moon car when it stopped at a filling station on North Washington street and Highland avenue two hours before the Upland bank robbery. Behrens told Schell that his face "looked familiar," but could not tell just where he saw him.
Robbins admitted last night that he took part in the Upland bank robbery, and was also with the band at Noblesville, but denied being with the crowd when the South Marion bank was robbed. He said that all of the other members of the gang robbed this bank except himself.
Robbins' mother, father and sweetheart arrived in the city yesterday to visit him, but the parents did not go to the jail. Last night Robbins was told that his mother was very ill at Lebanon. HIS SWEETHEART APPEARED TO FIND OUT IF HE HAD GOT HER WRIST WATCH WHICH SHE SAID HE HAD PROMISED TO GET FOR HER.
Behrens, after he confessed to Sheriff Renbarger, in the presence of Cashier Bragg and Mr. Stump of Upland, also told the sheriff where he had hidden a part of the money which was stolen from the Upland bank, and the sheriff at Monticello was notified.
Flashes Big Roll.
The flashing of a roll of money led to the arrest of Robbins at Lebanon. Robbins, who has been in trouble before, was seen to show a roll of money of considerable size, and he was arrested as a suspect late Saturday night. When searched the police found $263.90 on his person. Robbins told them that he had spent $60.35 out of the money for clothing. When Robbins was arrested Sheriff Renbarger was notified, and early Sunday morning Renbarger and Deputy Sheriff Schell drove to Lebanon, where information was secured concerning Behrens, after Robbins had told the officers of the movements of the gang. With the prospects for arresting all members of the gang, it was agreed that nothing should be given out by any officer in any county until all of the bandits had been arrested and placed in jail.
Go to Monticello.
Yesterday morning Sheriff Renbarger and Deputy Woody Smith drove to Monticello, where Behrens was arrested. When searched he had a number of Ingersoll watches in his possession, which the officers said were being given away by him. He was brought back to Marion and lodge in jail late yesterday afternoon.
Every effort will be made by the authorities of several counties to round up and arrest the four remaining members of the gang.
The robbery of the South Marion bank took place about fifteen minutes before closing time on the afternoon of November 27. Five of the bandits entered the bank and commanded the two bank officials and two customers to hold up their hands. They then attempted to lock the bank officials in the vault, but failed to succeed. The bandits took all of the money in sight on the counter, and secured more from the vault, and ran out and disappeared in what was described as being a Nash car, leaving in a southerly direction.
Machine Was Stolen.
The same gang, apparently, stole the Moon sedan from George W. Killinger, 1922 North Pennsylvania street, Indianapolis, in front of his residence on Monday night, December 23, drove to Lebanon, where the hardware store was robbed, and then came to Marion, arriving here shortly before the noon hour. In their confessions they did not mention being around the city for some time and of getting a supply of gasoline at a filling station in North Marion.
When the Moon car was going north on Washington street, it was seen by Deputy Sheriffs Schell and Smith, as well as by Detectives Humble and Andrews of the police department. Believing the Moon car to be a car they had been looking for, which was thought to contain liquor, the deputy sheriffs followed the car to the filling station. Schell held a short conversation with one of the men, not either of the two under arrest. The men asked the direction to reach State Road No. 35, stating they wished to go to Hartford City. About an hour and a half later, news of the Upland bank robbery was received.
----
This article is a follow-up to the robbery of the Upland State bank by a group of robbers led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later came to fame as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. These stories about his early career as a bank robber in Indiana have proven most interesting.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Black Sheep Sunday: Auto Used By Bank Bandits Is Found
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, December 28, 1924, p. 1.
AUTO USED BY BANK BANDITS IS FOUND
Machine Was Found Mired At Kempton
It Had Been Occupied by Six Men Who Were Driven to Lebanon, Indiana
ALL WERE YOUNG MEN
Local Sheriff Gets Full List of Goods Taken From Lebanon Store
Kempton, Ind., Dec. 27. - An automobile which stood mired in a road near Kempton from Tuesday night until Friday night before it was removed by authorities is said to have been the Moon car stolen from George W. Killinger, 1922 North Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, Monday night and which is believed to have been used by bandits who held up and robbed the Upland State bank at Upland late Tuesday, of $2,500.
With the recovery of the car authorities have learned that six men were in the car when it became mired in the road about 7:30 o'clock Tuesday night. Some of the men walked to the home of Mrs. Bonnie Peters about one mile distant and telephoned the Hawkins garage at Kempton.
Clem Goodnight, of the garage, started to take the men to Frankfort at their request. They carried shotguns, rifles, revolvers and satchels, were well dressed an appeared to be from nineteen to twenty-five years old.
At the Michigan road, Goodnight said, the men changed their minds about going to Frankfort, and had him take them to Lebanon. At Lebanon two of the men got out at the edge of town, pretending that they lived there and the others were taken to an address which Goodnight said he could not remember, but which he said he could find again.
The men told Goodnight that they were from Louisville and wished to get back home for Christmas. They said they had been hunting and had been out three days, but did not say where they had been hunting.
Goodnight said he asked the men if he should pull the mired car from the road and was told by them they would send a man back the next day for the car. The man never appeared, however.
---
Turns Letter Over.
Indianapolis, Dec. 27. - George W. Killinger, Jr., 1922 North Pennsylvania street, owner of the Moon car, said Saturday he had been informed that his car was found by police at Kempton. He said he gave the letter to the company which had the car insured and it would get the car.
Evidence Is Received.
More evidence showing that the six bandits, who robbed the Upland State bank of $2,500 are the same men who robbed the Lebanon Hardware company of Lebanon, Indiana, of a large quantity of merchandise on the night of December 22, was received by Sheriff Bert Renbarger yesterday. Joe C. Cain, sheriff of Boone county, wrote a letter to Sheriff Renbarger, giving him a list of the articles stolen from the Lebanon store and stated that the robbers were driving a Moon sedan, license 443-554, which was stolen from Indianapolis on the night of the Lebanon robbery.
This is the same car and license number as was seen in Marion by the police and deputy sheriffs a few hours before the Upland bank was robbed. Since the Upland robbery not a trace of the robbers has been reported from any section of the state.
The articles taken from the Lebanon store included two rifles, two double barreled shot guns, one hammerless double barrel shot gun, two single shot rifles, one Marlin rifle, repeater, two Remington repeating rifles, eight pocket knives, one six inch barrel pistol, one 32 German automatic revolver, about fifty boxes of ammunition, four flashlights, several batteries and other articles.
The bandits are thought to have came to Marion, following the robbery at Lebanon, arriving in the city shortly after one o'clock Tuesday afternoon, when they were first seen by Captain Jake Campbell near Twenty-ninth and Washington street, driving north on Washington. A few minutes later they were seen at the corner of Third and Adams street by Detective Humble and Andrews.
----
This article is a follow-up to the robbery of the Upland State bank by a group of robbers led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later came to fame as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. I've enjoyed tracing his early career in Indiana through local newspapers.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
AUTO USED BY BANK BANDITS IS FOUND
Machine Was Found Mired At Kempton
It Had Been Occupied by Six Men Who Were Driven to Lebanon, Indiana
ALL WERE YOUNG MEN
Local Sheriff Gets Full List of Goods Taken From Lebanon Store
Kempton, Ind., Dec. 27. - An automobile which stood mired in a road near Kempton from Tuesday night until Friday night before it was removed by authorities is said to have been the Moon car stolen from George W. Killinger, 1922 North Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, Monday night and which is believed to have been used by bandits who held up and robbed the Upland State bank at Upland late Tuesday, of $2,500.
With the recovery of the car authorities have learned that six men were in the car when it became mired in the road about 7:30 o'clock Tuesday night. Some of the men walked to the home of Mrs. Bonnie Peters about one mile distant and telephoned the Hawkins garage at Kempton.
Clem Goodnight, of the garage, started to take the men to Frankfort at their request. They carried shotguns, rifles, revolvers and satchels, were well dressed an appeared to be from nineteen to twenty-five years old.
At the Michigan road, Goodnight said, the men changed their minds about going to Frankfort, and had him take them to Lebanon. At Lebanon two of the men got out at the edge of town, pretending that they lived there and the others were taken to an address which Goodnight said he could not remember, but which he said he could find again.
The men told Goodnight that they were from Louisville and wished to get back home for Christmas. They said they had been hunting and had been out three days, but did not say where they had been hunting.
Goodnight said he asked the men if he should pull the mired car from the road and was told by them they would send a man back the next day for the car. The man never appeared, however.
---
Turns Letter Over.
Indianapolis, Dec. 27. - George W. Killinger, Jr., 1922 North Pennsylvania street, owner of the Moon car, said Saturday he had been informed that his car was found by police at Kempton. He said he gave the letter to the company which had the car insured and it would get the car.
Evidence Is Received.
More evidence showing that the six bandits, who robbed the Upland State bank of $2,500 are the same men who robbed the Lebanon Hardware company of Lebanon, Indiana, of a large quantity of merchandise on the night of December 22, was received by Sheriff Bert Renbarger yesterday. Joe C. Cain, sheriff of Boone county, wrote a letter to Sheriff Renbarger, giving him a list of the articles stolen from the Lebanon store and stated that the robbers were driving a Moon sedan, license 443-554, which was stolen from Indianapolis on the night of the Lebanon robbery.
This is the same car and license number as was seen in Marion by the police and deputy sheriffs a few hours before the Upland bank was robbed. Since the Upland robbery not a trace of the robbers has been reported from any section of the state.
The articles taken from the Lebanon store included two rifles, two double barreled shot guns, one hammerless double barrel shot gun, two single shot rifles, one Marlin rifle, repeater, two Remington repeating rifles, eight pocket knives, one six inch barrel pistol, one 32 German automatic revolver, about fifty boxes of ammunition, four flashlights, several batteries and other articles.
The bandits are thought to have came to Marion, following the robbery at Lebanon, arriving in the city shortly after one o'clock Tuesday afternoon, when they were first seen by Captain Jake Campbell near Twenty-ninth and Washington street, driving north on Washington. A few minutes later they were seen at the corner of Third and Adams street by Detective Humble and Andrews.
----
This article is a follow-up to the robbery of the Upland State bank by a group of robbers led by my paternal cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). Harry later came to fame as a member of the "Terror Gang" with John Dillinger. I've enjoyed tracing his early career in Indiana through local newspapers.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Black Sheep Sunday: Upland State Bank Robbed of $2500
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, December 24, 1924, p. 1.
UPLAND STATE BANK ROBBED OF $2500
Bandits Spent Much Of Day In Marion
Officials Observe Men Acting Suspiciously and Watched Them for Hours -- Robbery Occupied but Little Time and Was Without Unusual Thrills -- Bandits Declared, "We Are Rough and If You Make a False Move We Will Shoot H---- Out Of You"
Six bandits, all of whom were armed, entered the Upland State Bank at 3:45 Tuesday afternoon, within fifteen minutes of the closing hour, held up Earl Bragg, cashier at the bank and Miss A. Atkinson, a clerk at the bank, and robbed the bank of approximately $2,500.
A good description of the men was secured by Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith, who conversed with six men at a filling station at Highland avenue and Washington streets about two-thirty yesterday afternoon. They asked the deputy sheriffs the road to Hartford City, stating that they desired to get on State Road No. 35.
Officials Present
When the five armed men entered the Upland bank, (one stayed outside) there were no customers in the bank and only the two bank officials were present.
One of the men approached the bank window, holding in his had a dollar bill.
As soon as Cashier Bragg came up to the window, he was covered with a gun, with a command to hold up his hands.
While this was taking place, Miss Atkinson was also covered with a gun, while a third bandit stationed himself near the front door.
Two other bandits then went inside of the bank and with the aid of another bandit attempted to lock Bragg and Miss Atkinson in the bank vault and after getting [t]hem inside found the safe would not work and they covered the two people and then started scooping all of the money in sight on the bank counters and then went into the safe where they secured all of the money in sight, which consisted of paper money and silver.
While they were at work, one of the bandits cautioned them against making any false moves under pain having "hell shot out of them."
"We Are Rough," They Said.
After getting all of the money in sight, they quickly left the bank and hopped into a waiting automobile, in which the sixth bandit sat, and departed, going north out of Upland, where it was reported they turned west.
Out Again, in Again
While the robbery was in progress, Dillman Stump, a resident of Upland started into the bank, but changed his mind about entering and started to go out, when the bandit near the door, grabbed him inside and told him to stick up his hands, which he did very promptly.
Cashier Bragg said that the men were not clean and were shabbily dressed and that one of the men was tall and heavy set, and that the four others appeared to be from 18 to 35 years old. He stated he was not aware of any bandits until the five came into the bank and was covered by a gun by one of the men.
Loss Fully Covered
The loss at the bank is fully covered by insurance, Mr. Bragg said. The exact amount of money taken will probably be known at some time today.
The robbery was reported at once to Sheriff Bert Renbarger and Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith went to Upland and made an investigation.
Both the police and sheriff believe that the men tried to pull off a robbery in this city, but that on account of being shadowed by officers, were unable to accomplish what they wanted.
The men were first noticed in the city about one-thirty yesterday afternoon by Detectives Humble and Andrews. The Moon car, which bore license number 443-554, passed them at Fourth and Adams streets.
Detective Humble noticed six men in the car and also noted the license number as being the number on a car which was in the city about a week ago, he said, when the car passed a stop sign at Fourth and Nebraksa streets and failed to stop when called on by a policeman.
The appearance of the men did not look good to the detectives, who later saw the car going the wrong way around the public square.
The officers were able to get a fairly good description of the two men in the front seat and a third man in the rear and a short time later one of the men, who had no collar and tie on, was seen to go in the Price Clothing Store, where he made a purchase of a collar and tie.
Close Watch Is Kept
The detectives followed him into the store and kept a close watch on him, the man doing the same to the officers. Later, another of the men seen in the car went into several downtown banks remaining in each bank only a minute.
The bandits also made a trip to South Marion State bank three or four times. Bank officials there seeing the car pass and repass, called the police and an officer was sent out to the bank. The bandits in passing the bank, traveled slow and were evidently sizing up the situation.
The suspicious actions of the six men in the car caused every policeman to be notified and all banks, jewelry stores and other business firms downtown were warned of the actions of the six men and that a robbery might be attempted and considerable money was hidden within the next few minutes.
Converse With Men
About two-thirty Deputy Sheriffs Schell and Smith came into the city from another call and seeing the detectives and policemen eyeing an automobile which was then going north from the square on Washington street followed the car, believing it to be a car which they had been looking for and which was said to contain a quantity of liquor. They followed the car to Highland avenue, where it stopped at a filling station, where a quantity of gasoline was purchased. The license number on the car was secured by the deputies, who then drove east on Highland avenue, ahead of the Moon car. They turned around, after seeing six men in the car who appeared to be suspicious characters. They stopped their car at the filling station and got out.
Deputy Schell walked up to the Moon car with the six men and the driver of the car asked Schell the road to Hartford City, stating that they wanted to get on State Road 35.
Schell told them that they were considerably off their road and directed them back to Third street, where they were told to go east. The man who was talking to Schell kept one hand in a coat pocket, which Schell believes to have contained a gun.
Gets Description
Schell was able to get a good description of several of the men. The man who was talking to Schell, appeared to be tall and had one peculiar eye, which Schell said had a light spot, giving it an odd appearance. Another bandit had on overalls, while the others appeared to be dirty and not well dressed. Another of the men who was in a rear seat, appeared to be sleepy while the others looked as if they had lost considerable sleep.
When the license number on the car was turned in to Sheriff Renbarger, he got in touch with the secretary of state's office at Indianapolis, where it was learned that the license number had been issued to George Millinger of Indianapolis. A call was then put into the office of the chief of detectives of Indianapolis, after news of the robbery had been received and it was learned that this car had been stolen about nine-thirty Monday night and that six men, with a Moon sedan had robbed a hardware store at Lebanon late Monday night, securing a quantity of shot guns, rifles and ammunition. It is believed that these six men in the city robbed the Lebanon store, came to Marion to pull off a robbery here and were frustrated on account of being watched too closely and that they then went to Upland, where they succeeded in their work.
Late last night no trace of the robbers had been found. Sheriff Renbarger notified many surrounding cities and Indianapolis, as it is thought that the gang has headquarters in that city.
That this gang was the same crowd who attempted to hold up a bank at Noblesville last week, was doubted by the police, who said that from the appearance of the six men here that they would be able to carry out any plans they made, while the attempt at Noblesville was evidently by boys who were scared out and left without robbing the bank.
---
This article is an account of the robbery of the Upland State Bank in Grant County, Indiana. The bank was held up by a gang led by my cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). In late 1924 and early 1925, Harry led a group of ex-cons in terrorizing a number of banks around Indiana. The Upland State Bank job, and others like it, laid the ground work for the later robberies of the Dillinger "Terror Gang." The robbery and subsequent capture of members of the gang, generated a lot of ink in the Marion newspapers.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
UPLAND STATE BANK ROBBED OF $2500
Bandits Spent Much Of Day In Marion
Officials Observe Men Acting Suspiciously and Watched Them for Hours -- Robbery Occupied but Little Time and Was Without Unusual Thrills -- Bandits Declared, "We Are Rough and If You Make a False Move We Will Shoot H---- Out Of You"
Six bandits, all of whom were armed, entered the Upland State Bank at 3:45 Tuesday afternoon, within fifteen minutes of the closing hour, held up Earl Bragg, cashier at the bank and Miss A. Atkinson, a clerk at the bank, and robbed the bank of approximately $2,500.
A good description of the men was secured by Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith, who conversed with six men at a filling station at Highland avenue and Washington streets about two-thirty yesterday afternoon. They asked the deputy sheriffs the road to Hartford City, stating that they desired to get on State Road No. 35.
Officials Present
When the five armed men entered the Upland bank, (one stayed outside) there were no customers in the bank and only the two bank officials were present.
One of the men approached the bank window, holding in his had a dollar bill.
As soon as Cashier Bragg came up to the window, he was covered with a gun, with a command to hold up his hands.
While this was taking place, Miss Atkinson was also covered with a gun, while a third bandit stationed himself near the front door.
Two other bandits then went inside of the bank and with the aid of another bandit attempted to lock Bragg and Miss Atkinson in the bank vault and after getting [t]hem inside found the safe would not work and they covered the two people and then started scooping all of the money in sight on the bank counters and then went into the safe where they secured all of the money in sight, which consisted of paper money and silver.
While they were at work, one of the bandits cautioned them against making any false moves under pain having "hell shot out of them."
"We Are Rough," They Said.
After getting all of the money in sight, they quickly left the bank and hopped into a waiting automobile, in which the sixth bandit sat, and departed, going north out of Upland, where it was reported they turned west.
Out Again, in Again
While the robbery was in progress, Dillman Stump, a resident of Upland started into the bank, but changed his mind about entering and started to go out, when the bandit near the door, grabbed him inside and told him to stick up his hands, which he did very promptly.
Cashier Bragg said that the men were not clean and were shabbily dressed and that one of the men was tall and heavy set, and that the four others appeared to be from 18 to 35 years old. He stated he was not aware of any bandits until the five came into the bank and was covered by a gun by one of the men.
Loss Fully Covered
The loss at the bank is fully covered by insurance, Mr. Bragg said. The exact amount of money taken will probably be known at some time today.
The robbery was reported at once to Sheriff Bert Renbarger and Deputy Sheriffs John Schell and Woody Smith went to Upland and made an investigation.
Both the police and sheriff believe that the men tried to pull off a robbery in this city, but that on account of being shadowed by officers, were unable to accomplish what they wanted.
The men were first noticed in the city about one-thirty yesterday afternoon by Detectives Humble and Andrews. The Moon car, which bore license number 443-554, passed them at Fourth and Adams streets.
Detective Humble noticed six men in the car and also noted the license number as being the number on a car which was in the city about a week ago, he said, when the car passed a stop sign at Fourth and Nebraksa streets and failed to stop when called on by a policeman.
The appearance of the men did not look good to the detectives, who later saw the car going the wrong way around the public square.
The officers were able to get a fairly good description of the two men in the front seat and a third man in the rear and a short time later one of the men, who had no collar and tie on, was seen to go in the Price Clothing Store, where he made a purchase of a collar and tie.
Close Watch Is Kept
The detectives followed him into the store and kept a close watch on him, the man doing the same to the officers. Later, another of the men seen in the car went into several downtown banks remaining in each bank only a minute.
The bandits also made a trip to South Marion State bank three or four times. Bank officials there seeing the car pass and repass, called the police and an officer was sent out to the bank. The bandits in passing the bank, traveled slow and were evidently sizing up the situation.
The suspicious actions of the six men in the car caused every policeman to be notified and all banks, jewelry stores and other business firms downtown were warned of the actions of the six men and that a robbery might be attempted and considerable money was hidden within the next few minutes.
Converse With Men
About two-thirty Deputy Sheriffs Schell and Smith came into the city from another call and seeing the detectives and policemen eyeing an automobile which was then going north from the square on Washington street followed the car, believing it to be a car which they had been looking for and which was said to contain a quantity of liquor. They followed the car to Highland avenue, where it stopped at a filling station, where a quantity of gasoline was purchased. The license number on the car was secured by the deputies, who then drove east on Highland avenue, ahead of the Moon car. They turned around, after seeing six men in the car who appeared to be suspicious characters. They stopped their car at the filling station and got out.
Deputy Schell walked up to the Moon car with the six men and the driver of the car asked Schell the road to Hartford City, stating that they wanted to get on State Road 35.
Schell told them that they were considerably off their road and directed them back to Third street, where they were told to go east. The man who was talking to Schell kept one hand in a coat pocket, which Schell believes to have contained a gun.
Gets Description
Schell was able to get a good description of several of the men. The man who was talking to Schell, appeared to be tall and had one peculiar eye, which Schell said had a light spot, giving it an odd appearance. Another bandit had on overalls, while the others appeared to be dirty and not well dressed. Another of the men who was in a rear seat, appeared to be sleepy while the others looked as if they had lost considerable sleep.
When the license number on the car was turned in to Sheriff Renbarger, he got in touch with the secretary of state's office at Indianapolis, where it was learned that the license number had been issued to George Millinger of Indianapolis. A call was then put into the office of the chief of detectives of Indianapolis, after news of the robbery had been received and it was learned that this car had been stolen about nine-thirty Monday night and that six men, with a Moon sedan had robbed a hardware store at Lebanon late Monday night, securing a quantity of shot guns, rifles and ammunition. It is believed that these six men in the city robbed the Lebanon store, came to Marion to pull off a robbery here and were frustrated on account of being watched too closely and that they then went to Upland, where they succeeded in their work.
Late last night no trace of the robbers had been found. Sheriff Renbarger notified many surrounding cities and Indianapolis, as it is thought that the gang has headquarters in that city.
That this gang was the same crowd who attempted to hold up a bank at Noblesville last week, was doubted by the police, who said that from the appearance of the six men here that they would be able to carry out any plans they made, while the attempt at Noblesville was evidently by boys who were scared out and left without robbing the bank.
---
This article is an account of the robbery of the Upland State Bank in Grant County, Indiana. The bank was held up by a gang led by my cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). In late 1924 and early 1925, Harry led a group of ex-cons in terrorizing a number of banks around Indiana. The Upland State Bank job, and others like it, laid the ground work for the later robberies of the Dillinger "Terror Gang." The robbery and subsequent capture of members of the gang, generated a lot of ink in the Marion newspapers.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Black Sheep Sunday: No New Clue Of Value On The Robbery
Source: Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, November 28, 1924, p. 1.
No New Clue Of Value On The Robbery
Authorities at This Time Are Devoting Much Time to the Bank Case.
IS LITTLE TO WORK ON
Fairmount Couple Believe They Saw Bandit Machine at Hackleman.
---
No new developments occurred yesterday in the hunt for the bank robbers who held up the bank officers and secured about $4,000 from the South Marion State Bank late Wednesday afternoon, but further information was secured which leads to the belief that the bandits, after leaving Marion passed through Hackleman west of Fairmount on west through Greentown.
Otis Wilburn, Fairmount business man who with his wife, were in the vicinity of Hackleman a few minutes after three o'clock Wednesday afternoon, is of the opinion that they saw the fleeing bandits.
Was Traveling Fast
The car, which answered the description of the one used by the robbers, approached from the north and the excessive speed of the machine attracted the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Wilburn. They watched the machine as long as it remained in view, thinking every second that it would overturn, so fast was it traveling. The car, which approached from the north went straight through Hackleman in the direction of Elwood. Mr. and Mrs. Wilburn knew nothing of the robber until they returned to Fairmount later in the evening.
No reports have come from Elwood that the car was seen there, but Greentown reported that a Nash car of the same description used by the bandits passed west through that town at a high rate of speed Wednesday evening.
Jail Receives Call
A call was sent to the county jail Wednesday night that a Nash car with wire wheels and a foreign license was headed west of Marion in the direction of Sweetser. Sheriff Renbarger, together with Deputies John Schnell and Woody Smith, responded to a hurry call and overtook the car near Sweetser and found the car tallied in every description to the robbers' car. They got out of the machine after stopping the Nash and surrounded the car, ordering the occupants to get out. The occupants were much frightened, but obeyed. They were found to be men well known in Marion en route from Toledo to Peru, and were at once released.
A representative from the Indiana Bankers' Association, of which the South Marion State bank is a member, arrived late Wednesday night and secured information concerning the robbery and returned to Indianapolis after getting all of the facts in the case.
Chief of Police Frank Brandon, Caption Jake Campbell and Detectives Humble and Andrews were working on a few clues yesterday, but nothing new developed. Chief Brandon and Captain Campbell returned from Muncie early Thursday morning, but reported nothing new.
Sheriff Has Clues
Sheriff Bert Renbarger said that he had a few clues on the case, but that nothing had yet developed. In the opinion of Sheriff Renbarger, the robbers are from South Bend, Terre Haute, Chicago or Logansport, and he believes they are the same gang who robbed the Converse bank last week. After they committed the robbery at that bank, they circled around and came back within a short distance of Converse and then headed west, while it appears that the men, after robbing the Marion Bank, also drove west after getting outside of the city for several miles.
A few hours after the Marion robbery took place the grocery store of Kenneth Johnson, in the suburbs of Anderson, was held up and robbed of $285. Two men, who were unmasked, appearing to be about thirty-five years old entered the store and pointed revolvers at Johnson and demanded the money.
Run Into Fresh Gravel
A report from Converse concerning the bank robbery at that place states that the robbers ran into some fresh gravel a short distance west of Converse after the robbery and that they asked the assistance of a crew of telephone lineman working in that vicinity to help them out which request was complied with. The linemen had not heard of the robbery, but were of the opinion that the men in the machine were bootleggers.
----
This article is a follow-up account of the robbery of the South Marion State Bank in Marion, Indiana. The bank was held up by the gang lead by my cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). In late 1924 and early 1925, Harry led a group of ex-cons in terrorizing a number of banks around Indiana. The South Marion State Bank job, and others like it, laid the ground work for the later robberies of the Dillinger "Terror Gang." The robbery and subsequent capture of members of the gang, generated a lot of ink in the Marion newspapers.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
No New Clue Of Value On The Robbery
Authorities at This Time Are Devoting Much Time to the Bank Case.
IS LITTLE TO WORK ON
Fairmount Couple Believe They Saw Bandit Machine at Hackleman.
---
No new developments occurred yesterday in the hunt for the bank robbers who held up the bank officers and secured about $4,000 from the South Marion State Bank late Wednesday afternoon, but further information was secured which leads to the belief that the bandits, after leaving Marion passed through Hackleman west of Fairmount on west through Greentown.
Otis Wilburn, Fairmount business man who with his wife, were in the vicinity of Hackleman a few minutes after three o'clock Wednesday afternoon, is of the opinion that they saw the fleeing bandits.
Was Traveling Fast
The car, which answered the description of the one used by the robbers, approached from the north and the excessive speed of the machine attracted the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Wilburn. They watched the machine as long as it remained in view, thinking every second that it would overturn, so fast was it traveling. The car, which approached from the north went straight through Hackleman in the direction of Elwood. Mr. and Mrs. Wilburn knew nothing of the robber until they returned to Fairmount later in the evening.
No reports have come from Elwood that the car was seen there, but Greentown reported that a Nash car of the same description used by the bandits passed west through that town at a high rate of speed Wednesday evening.
Jail Receives Call
A call was sent to the county jail Wednesday night that a Nash car with wire wheels and a foreign license was headed west of Marion in the direction of Sweetser. Sheriff Renbarger, together with Deputies John Schnell and Woody Smith, responded to a hurry call and overtook the car near Sweetser and found the car tallied in every description to the robbers' car. They got out of the machine after stopping the Nash and surrounded the car, ordering the occupants to get out. The occupants were much frightened, but obeyed. They were found to be men well known in Marion en route from Toledo to Peru, and were at once released.
A representative from the Indiana Bankers' Association, of which the South Marion State bank is a member, arrived late Wednesday night and secured information concerning the robbery and returned to Indianapolis after getting all of the facts in the case.
Chief of Police Frank Brandon, Caption Jake Campbell and Detectives Humble and Andrews were working on a few clues yesterday, but nothing new developed. Chief Brandon and Captain Campbell returned from Muncie early Thursday morning, but reported nothing new.
Sheriff Has Clues
Sheriff Bert Renbarger said that he had a few clues on the case, but that nothing had yet developed. In the opinion of Sheriff Renbarger, the robbers are from South Bend, Terre Haute, Chicago or Logansport, and he believes they are the same gang who robbed the Converse bank last week. After they committed the robbery at that bank, they circled around and came back within a short distance of Converse and then headed west, while it appears that the men, after robbing the Marion Bank, also drove west after getting outside of the city for several miles.
A few hours after the Marion robbery took place the grocery store of Kenneth Johnson, in the suburbs of Anderson, was held up and robbed of $285. Two men, who were unmasked, appearing to be about thirty-five years old entered the store and pointed revolvers at Johnson and demanded the money.
Run Into Fresh Gravel
A report from Converse concerning the bank robbery at that place states that the robbers ran into some fresh gravel a short distance west of Converse after the robbery and that they asked the assistance of a crew of telephone lineman working in that vicinity to help them out which request was complied with. The linemen had not heard of the robbery, but were of the opinion that the men in the machine were bootleggers.
----
This article is a follow-up account of the robbery of the South Marion State Bank in Marion, Indiana. The bank was held up by the gang lead by my cousin, Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934). In late 1924 and early 1925, Harry led a group of ex-cons in terrorizing a number of banks around Indiana. The South Marion State Bank job, and others like it, laid the ground work for the later robberies of the Dillinger "Terror Gang." The robbery and subsequent capture of members of the gang, generated a lot of ink in the Marion newspapers.
Black Sheep Sunday – create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)