The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-03
CAUGHT in BANK
HE WAS NOT THERE, HOWEVER, TO
PLY HIS TRADE.
George Had stolen n Fifty
Dollar Bill and Called at the
Bank to Get Change.

The police department took into custody
yesterday a man that is considered one Of
the smoOthest and most daring criminals
arrested recently. He was captured In the
Indiana National Bank after he had robbed
the safe Of Mast & Class. furnace builders.
Of 643 Massachusetts avenue. The man
gave his name as George Johnson. He is
twenty-fOur years old and said he resided
in this city, but declined 10 state where.
During the noon hour yesterday Johnson,
with another man. went into the Office OF
Mast & Glass. and while none of the clerks
was present went TO the safe and ex-
tracted a ffty-dollar gold certificate ard
some small change. He and his pal then
ran out.
When the loss was discovered the police
station was at once notified and Bicycle
Policemen Lowe and Trimpe were sent up
to the place. No description of the men
could be given them. but Trimpe told the
proprietors of the place to at once call up
all the banks in the city and tell them
that if a man tried to get a ffty-dollar
gold certificate changed to hold him. This
was done. About 2 o'clock a man walked
into the Indiana National Bank and. step
ping up to the paying telIer's window,
dSktu lOI CudilS6 % a. Hlly-uOlIdT VII.
Patrolman Teeben. the banks special off,
GER. was sitting on a settee on the west
side of the room. He had been previously
appraised of the robbery and was on the
watch for any suspicious characters.
When Johnson walked UP to the window
the paying teller winked and Teeben
walked over from his seat. Johnson had
in the meantime presented the bill for
change. He heard the footsteps of Teeben
approaching and, looking round. saw the
no1iponan Without waiting for hic rbonUn
Johnson ran from the window to the rear
Of the bank into the safe-depOsit vault.
The vault is surrounded by a high iyou
fence and Johnson, seeing the open door of
the vault. thought he could get out of the
bank by running through IL. Teeben at
once drew his revolver and pursued john
SON One of the officers ran to the front
door and called TO Corner Policeman Paul
sci, who also ran into the bank. Adolph
Asch; who was passing in a buggy. ran into
son cOrralled in the vault. Word
was sent TO the police station and
Chief of Detectives Sam Gerber went over
to the bank. He searched Johnson after
the other men failed to find anything and
found a thirty-eight-caliber revolver stick
ing in the watch pocket of his trousers.
He also found some money and a skeleton
key. The man had a frightened stare. His
large blue eyes seemed to fairly bulge from
their sockets. His face was pale. His
long bony fingers trembled with excite.
ment and his whole appearance gave the
impression of madness.
He was taken to the police station. As ne
was being taken into the office of the de-
t~ectives he made a desperate attempt to
escape. He was between Detectives Gerber
and Asch. AS the trio were about to enter
the room Johnson tried to twist his arm
from the grip of the detectives. Asch's
arm was almost being dislOcated. Gerber
threw his foot in front of the man to trip
him. The grip of the detectives was firm,
however, and Johnson mace no further
effort to escape. He was taken upstairs
and slated on the charges of carrying con-
cealed weapons and grand larceny.
Johnson is a man about six feet tall and
dresses well. He had an air of refinement
about him. He wore a new hat which bore
the store mark of Hutson & Co, Toledo. O..
When taken into the detectives room
Johnson refused TO talk about himself,
saying his attorney would later do the
talking. He remained quiet TO all ques-
lions asked by the detectives and police
men. When placed in a cell he only re-
marked: Il don't like this kind of a place"
No efforts were made to better his condi-
ton.