Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1911-11-07
LONE HIGHWAYMAN HOLDS UP
THE PLACE IN BROAD
DAYLIGHT.
OFFICERS ON THE TRAIL
Report That Robber Had Been Arrest
ed at GarneiIl Proves Erroneous
Cashier Hands Over Cash When
Bullet Is Whizzed Close to His
Head-Loss Is One Thousand.

1t was reported that the man who
held up the Hedges bank was arrest
ed Saturday at Garneill, but according
to advices to the Democrat, this re.
port was erroneous, as no one has
been arrested at Garneill since the
hold-up occurred. The members of the
local sheriff's force are cooperating
with the officers of Meagher county
no definite clues have been secured,
1t is believed that they have an even
chance Of landing their man unless
he has made some main line point on
a railroad and skipped to some dis
tant part of the country.
Hedges, Mont, Nov. "A masked
man entered the State bank yester-
day afternoon at 4 o'clock, shot at the
book-keeper, and then demanded and
received $1,O75 in currency. The opel~
alton consumed but few minutes. AT
the time Of the robbery Cashier Peter
son, who is also IT, S. commissioner,
was taking testimony for final proof,
and John Dahl, book-keeper, was work
of the room. When Mr.. Peterson
heard the front door open he turned to
see who was entering and as he did SO
he was Immediately covered with a .3S
Colt. The robber stepped to the
cashiers window, swung the gun on
the three occupants of the room and
ordered all hands up. Mr.. Dahl, who.
up to this time, was not aware of the
seriousness of the situation, turned
away from his books, faced the robber
and smiled. AS his hands were not
up the robber passed bullet with
in three inches of his head and de-
manded the currency drawer placed
before him.
Because of the book-keeper's slow
ness in responding, the cashier, with
his hands still in the air, stepped for
ward to meet the demands Of the in
truder. However, Dahl worked rapid
ly after the bullet WhiZzed past his
ear and soon had the currency set
at the window. With one stroke of
his free hand the robber cleaned the
drawer, jammed the money into his
pocket and backed out Of the door,
still keeping the three persons cov-
cred with his steadily moving gun.
In the robbers flight he passed in
front of the bank to a small passage
between the bank and an adjoining
building without being detected, and
was soon on his blue-brown horse,
which was fastened in the rear of the
bank. rifle and scabbard were hung
on the saddle. AS he passed over a
hill half mile distant a fusillade OF
bullets was sent after him by those
who secured rifles, but apparently
none of the shots took effect.
posse was Immediately organized
under the direction of Deputy Sheriff
RAIDER and hot pursuit instigated, but
no trace of the robber has been found
The robber is man of nearly six
: feet in height, weighs about 100
pounds and at the time of the hold-up
l wore a dark cap, dark mackinaw
: and had his face, with the exception
J of his eyes, completely covered by the
visor of his cap and a mask made OF
r a large piece of dirty cloth. 1t was
: impossible to see any of his features.
, When the bank was robbed there
were over 5000 in gold near the
1 cashiers window, and large amount
. of currency secured from the heavy
} grain sales was stored in the open
vault; but the robber demanded Meth.
| er. Undoubtedly the thief is familiar
: with the adjacent country, and 1t Is
thought that he made for the Snowy
mountains, although he started on the
road to Nihill. An OppOrtune time
was selected, as few people were on
: the streets, and the mans actions did
not arouse any suspicious. The loss
: to the bank is fully covered by insur-
ance.
At the Princess.