The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-05
CLEW TO ROBBERS
Detectives Think They Have the
Leader of WymOre Gang.
Blame for North Kansas Work
Laid to Five Men.
SURETY MAN TALKS.
Declares Methods Used Indicate
Work of Experts.
Says They Can Rob Bank in
Thirty Minutes.

Kansas City, Jan. 5.-"Five men in
the Wymore, Neb., gang have been
robbing so many of the banks in
northern Kansas, and we have their
leader under arrest" R. A. Algire,
manager of the insurance department
of the Kansas State Bankers assocla-
ton and general manager of the Ma
tional Surety company in Kansas, said
last night. He had just returned from
Waterville, Kan. where the State Bank
of that place, whose insurance was
held by his company, was robbed or
$4,000 about a week ago. Mr.. Ag1re
has been making an investigation OF
the robberies and detectives are work
ing on the cases under his direction.
The CIews They Left.
1.-THE methods have been the same in
each of the robberies, a motor car was
used in all of them and all of those
that I have investigated have been
within 20 or 80 miles of Wymore," he
continued. Every indication points to
the gang in that place. After the Wa
terville job, the bottle in which the
burglars had their nitroglycerin was
found The cork Of It was shiny and
black and indicated that it had been
used many times. In each instance
four or five men were employed in the
work. They would drive up to the
town in a motor car. hide 1t in a corn
field and all except one of them would
be stationed somewhere around the
town as lookouts. The other man would
blow the safe and carry off the money.
They undoubtedly are experts and can
rob a bank in 80 minutes"
The Banks That Were Robbed.
These banks within 80 miles of Wy
more. have been robbed within the last
six weeks: The Beattie, Kan, bank,
of $500; the Hanover, Kan, bank, OF
81. 600: two banks of Waterville. Kan,
of IS, 900; the Gushing, Neb., bank, OF
So 200; the Bellaire, Kan, bank, and the
I1ovIxS Mt Nora and RarnStOn. N6D.
The man who has been arrested IN
connection with these robberieS Is
charged with the robbery of the Beattie
bank Mr.. Algire believes he was the
leader of the gang and is confident that
the man will be convicted when tried
in Beattie, Marshall county, next
month. A motor car, believed to have
been used by the robbers, has been
found and several men are being
watched by detectives employed by the
surety company
Mr. Algire is preparing a bill to be
introduced in the Kansas legislature
which will provide for the life impris-
onment for anyone who uses explosives
in robbing a bank or any other place.
Wymore in a Denial.
Wymore, Neb., Jan. 5.-Wymore Of
ficials term the statement of Bank Ex-
aminer Dolley of Kansas, that gang
of bank ROBBERS is harbored here and
that aid in catching them has been re-
fused, as utterly untrue, UNJUST anu
without foundation.
Since last July not day has passed
but from one to three and as high as
fifteen Pinkerton and other agency de-
tectives, government secret service
men, and officials of various towns and
counties have been in Wymore- Every
new fact has been unearthed and every
arrest made by the Wymore authori-
ties or by their suggestions Every
aid has been offered Kansas officials
and other men here looking for GRIM
inals
City authorities begged the Cloud
county, Kan, sheriff to arrest Hoerr,
now awaiting trial in Marshall county.
Kan. on charge of implication in the
Beattie bank robbery. but he refused.
Hoerr was arrested three weeks ago.
The other suspect got away The ''fo-
tel Mr.. Dollev speaks of is a three
room cottage in the towns suburbs
and was kept by Hoerr.
He Robbed His Clients.
Hollidaysburg, Pa, Jan. 5.-Cham-
horC Formulation Of Do