The roundup record., 1911-11-10
HEDGES
BANK IS
ROBBED
FIRST COMPLETE AND ACCURATE
ACCOUNT OF THE OES.
PERADO'S DEED
HIS HORSE HAS BEEN FOUND
Daring Robber Was Still at Large at
Last ACCOMPLISHMENTS Report
That He Had Been Captured-Got
,080-Officers Working.

$7,U6U-OfficerS working.
The sensational bank robbery a
Hedgesville a week ago caused quite
sensation all over the county, an,
there was much satisfaction when /
was later reported that the rObber hat
been caught. This report arose through
the fact that the robbers horse wa.
found and when the animal was beinf
brought in the conclusion was jumped
at that the man had been found too
This was, unfortunately, mistake
The Hedges Herald gives the follow
ing account of the robbery, the first
one that has appeared:
"A lone masked bandit entered the
cages State Bank Friday afternoon a,
o'clock, stepped to the cashiers win
dow, swung his "A Colts on the three
occupants of the room, shot at the
boOkkeeper, and then demanded and
received the currency drawer, which
contained $1,OS0. Grasping and jam
ming the money into his pocket with
his free hand, the robber backed out
of the door, still keeping the occu-
pants covered with his steadily NOV
ing gun. After walking leisurely past
the front of the bank with his mask
still on, he went to the rear of the
building through narrow passage,
mounted blue-roan horse that he had
left there united, and cantered off
distance of several hundred yards be-
fore breaking into dash for his lib
erty.
At the time of the robbery W. j.
Peterson, cashier, who is also a U. S.
commissioner, was taking William
Murdock's testimony for final proof
and John Dahl, bookkeeper, was stand
ing at rear desk, working on the
books. When the front door opened
Mr.. Peterson turned to see who was
entering and when he did so he was
facing the robber and looking into a
gun.
Fires a Warning
An order was given for all hands up
but Mr.. Dahl, who was still working on
the books and did not realize the Sc
riousness of the situation, turned away
from his work, faced the bandit and
smiled. AS his hands were not up the
robber passed bullet within three
inches of his head and then demanded
the currency drawer placed before
him. Mr.. Peterson told the robber
that they would give him the money,
which he expected Dahl would do in
stantly. but he seemed daZed for a
few seconds SO the cashier with Als
hands still in the air, stepped forward
to fulfill the intruders demand. How
ever, when the bOOkkeper collected
his Thoughts he alacriOusly responded
and soon had the currency set at the
window.
AS soon as the robber shut the front
door, the cashier started for the same
exit to see in which direction the cur
rency-lltting indivldua. would attempt
to effec an escape and also TO give
the alarm. The only weapon in the
bank was small calibre revolver and
it was not touched.
Got Good Start
Because OF disagreeable chilly
wind, not person was on the streets
and it took some time to inform the
citizens of what had happened. A. J.
Jarvis was the first one TO secure a
rifle and he took several shots at the
fleeing robber as the bandit passed
over a hill half mile northwest of
town, but apparently none of the bull
lets touched the rapidly moving oh.
ject. The thief had rifle and scab-
bard hung on the saddle.
Several posses We're Immediately or
ganiZed under the supervision OF Dep
uty Sheriff RAIDER and a brisk pursuit
was started. One of the first rigs to
leave, containing c. G. Jewell, J. F.
Walsh and e. V. Grew, followed the
galloping horse and its daring rider
until darkness overlook them, but the
robber steadily gained on the pur-
suers. All the neighboring towns
We're notified and numerous other pos
ses We're organized.
Deputy Sheriff RAIDER followed the
robber until & O'Clock, but because the
sheriff's horse could not stand the
pace he returned home for the night
and left for the Snowies early next
morning in an auto, accompanied by d.
Il. Bumford, Ted Dahl and Percy Sam
uels. a thorough search was made of
all the trails leading into Careless,
Swimming Woman and Timber creek
canyons. but no signs could be found /
nor infOramtion secured to help UNI
ravel the mystery OF his whereabouts.
Aaron Ray, deputy sheriff Of Judith
Gap, arrived in the city Sunday even !
ing from a two days careful search
of the western end of the Snowies,
but he also could find no trace Of
the bandit.