The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-20
YEGGMEN COMING
ON WAY FROM west
BANKERS ARE WARNED TO BE
ON THEIR GUARD AGAINST SAFE
8LoWERs-cRAcksMEN DESERT
PACIFIC COAST FOR GREENER
FIELDS.

Bank burglars, safe blowers and high
waymen who had sufficient money and
were not otherwise engaged, who struck
out in numbers for the Pacific coast
when the Alaske- Yukon exposition
opened at Seattle are now stopping
off in Minnesota, and that is reason
for the many bank robberies in Min
nesota and adjoining states this fall.
This is the opinion OF c. ID. Brown,
special agent in the employ OF the Tri-
state Protective association, organized
by the bankers of Minnesota and North
and South Dakota. and later enlarged
to admit Iowa and Wisconsin bankers
also.
Mr. Brown says the fall has wit
messed the return travel Of many yegg-
men drawn west early in the summer.
In a letter to w. G. Macfadden, sec
rotary Of the North Dakota. Bankers
association, Mr.. Brown says:
Where They Come From.
AS the season for yeggmen to oper-
ate is at hand, it may be well for me
to offer few suggestions and give an
outline of conditions In Minnesota.
Der OF yeggmen have gone to the Pa
ciftc coast, being attracted there by the
Seattle exposition. Many Of them are
from the south and southwest and have
not operated in this section for years.
but from all reports they intend to
do considerable work on their way
back and the most OF 1t will probably
be in the Dakotas and the northern
part of Minnesota.
~ Many "Locators" About.
There has been an unusual number
OF locators in evidence this fan and
Minnesota has been pretty well gone
over. While we have a fair idea OF
their route, secured from inside sources
would advise that all bankers notify
their local officials to be alert from now
on. This is especially necessary in the
northern part of the state, as the com
ing hunting season makes it very easy
for yeggmen to move around unnoticed
In some OF the extreme northern ter
ritory this is particularly so. but at
the same time their getaway can be
rendered very hard If action is taken
Immediately after a robbery. can
not lay too much stress upon the nee
essity of rapid and concentrated action
at that time in notifying every town
and person in addition to the secretary
OF the association. All suspicious char
acters should be picked up and held
for identification by the association de-
tectives.
Yeggnen do not always head for a
railroad in making their getaway. =
but often go out in the country ard
lay around for while until the ex-
citement dies down. This is the tine
to keep the telephone lines busy and
II this is done they are apt to be To-
Gated by some farmer upon whom thew
call for something to eat or drink.
Work of Prevention.
The protective department has upor
its records the resent whereabouts q
the majority Of yeggmen in the state
but much assistance can be given by
preventing them getting out of the i'm.
mediate vicinity pending the arrival d
our detectives. We feel this year tina.
we are better equipped than ever be
fore in the way Of securing infornaa
ton prior to a robbery, and are work.
ing upon the ounce OF prevention theor,
in which we can be materially aided b,
watchfulness upon the part OF all bank,
and local officers.