Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-18
Class of Men Known as "Yegg-
men, to be Subject to At
tack of the Bankers
PlNkERToN SOUNDS, WARNING
Declares the Yessmen are on the In
crease and That Organization for
Their Suppression is Necessary =
How Their Work is Carried On =
The Small Town Their Victim.

Des Moines, June lS.-Because OF
the repeated appearance of the "yegg-
men, or tramp bank robbers, who
conduct their operations in the smaller
towns of the state, Iowa bankers have
been unusually interested in the pro-
lection Of their interests from the
plottings of this interesting and dan
gerous adjunct to the criminal class
and will make earnest efforts for the
suppression of the species "yegg."
Last year northern Iowa and South
Dakota was infested with large band
of the "yeggmen." who operated with
great success in the isolated villages
and country towns, to the resulting
desperation of the citizens and bank
ers of those sections. The horde II
criminals was finally driven out, how
ever, and have operated with less sue
cess since that time. The warm
weather has brought oat the desperate
character again, this time to ply his
work in Iowa and the states west of
the Ohio river. In Iowa steps will be
taken for the suppression Of his work.
ings.
William Pinkerton, head of the de-
tective agency bearing his name, has
repeatedly called attention to the in
crease OF the 'yeggmen' and was asked
that organizations take up the work II
DISCRIMINATING the tramp murderer and
criminal In general.
The ''yeggmen" are tramps pure and
simple. They have not fit associations
and shun the better classes even tf
criminals Seldom seen in the larger
cities, they prefer TO infest> small
towns and seclude themselves In the
country. Their method of operating IS
simple but effective.
A tramp in the guisa of a peddler or
organ grinder is sent on a tour of in
vestigation. He directs his attention
to the smaller hamiets where the police
protection, II any, is very inef1cient
He finds the manner Of living and the
habits of the persons connected With
the bank upon which robbery is pro-
posed. and in fact confines his atten-
tons to every detail necessary to the
robbery of the bank and the safe es-
cape OF the robbers. Every freight
train and water tank, hand car and coal
schultz is located and minute descrip-
ton sent 10 the leader of the "yegg
band
The robber himself does not appear
In the town in daylight He fears tina,
he may be the more easily connected
with the crime. Neither does he APP
pear on the scene on a moonlight night
for the same reason.
Every preliminary arranged, the band
makes its way to the town and pre-
pares for the robbery The outside men,
or watchers" are detailed to stand
guard while the inside men are at work.
Their instructions are only safety lies
in shooting to kill, and thus they are
murderers In every instance where
their crime is being detected.
The inside men once in the building
apply dynamite 10 the vault door ana
with a fuse blow it from its hinges.
The explosion makes loud report and
often disturbs the citizens. Sometimes
it is the practice to nave the watchers
shoot a volley from their rifles to make
a display OF strength and TO intimidate
any attempts to Illustrate their de-
mands.
The booty once secured the "yegg-
men" make their escape on trains
hand ears or thru the fields on foot.
Pursuit is always Instituted, but after
a few miles have heen traversed the
pursuers give up and return without
having caught sight of the much-want-
ed "yeggs."
Robberies in the larger towns where
police protection is ample are never
attempted, because nitro glycerine or
dynamite Is always employed to-
crack" a safe. The explosive being
very noisy, there Is always more dam
ger Of arrest. The smaller towns of
northern Iowa have been attacked sew
eral times in the past few years and
predictions OF renewed robberies OF the
smaller railway stations are made with
a frequency which has caused the
bankers to prepare for invasion.