The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-26
MODENA BANK ROBBED.
Yegmen Terrorize Missouri Town
Blown Bank Safe, and Make
Their Escape.

five miles southeast of Pleasanton,
on Tuesday night Of last week, and
made their escape after securing
about $4,000 from the safe. The fol-
lowing account of the bank robbery
is taken from the Princeton Tele-
graph.
The big safe of the Bank of Mo-
dena was dynamited by profession
al craftsman early yesterday morn
ing and the bank official admit
their cash loss is in excess of $4,000.
While the safe was being blown
open and looted four armed compan-
ions of the cracksman shot up the
town and terrorized the inhabitants,
leaving the dynamiter free to work
leisurely at his job. Four explo-
sions were found necessary to make
the big steel vault give forth it's
treasure, the last charge-by far the
heaviest one-blowing the door OF
the money department through the
front of the bank and across sixty
foot stl eet where it was found after
daylight.
In holiness and audacity the Mo-
dena robbery rivals the work OF the
outlaws led by Jesse and Frank
James a third of century ago.
The citizens had absolutely no in
timation of the bandits presence un-
til they had taken possession of the
town. The first knowledge of the
visitors was had by Amos McNeeley,
the towns blacksmith and marshal,
who heard them break the lock from
his shop where they procured
sledge, chisels and other tools. Nc
Neeley started an investigation but
was preemptorially ordered back
into the house on pain OF being in
stantly killed. Next the bandits Wis
tied the telephone Office where they
cut all the wires leading into the
central office. This left them in
comparative safety from any outside
interference.
Then they marched on the bank,
the leader in tones employed by an
auctioneer, warning all the lnhaDl-
tants to stay in doors or be killed.
His admonitions along this line
were punctuated with several re-
volver shots just to show that they
meant business. At a number or
houses the robbers knocked on the
door and when an answer told the
occupants were awake, they were
quietly warned that to step outside
meant death.
So far as can be learned but one
man ventured outside. This was
Marshal McNeeley who unloaded> his
shotgun at one of the bandits. A
shower of bullets were turned his
way and the marshal sought safety
in his home.
Opening up at , q. N. the robbers
kept up fusilade for more than an
1rhi tho nrOfpS-
sional safe blower was busy in the
bank.
Five minutes after the last explo-
sion which laid bare the banks mon
: gey-th town grew quiet and the citi-
zens knew the robbers had looted
the safe and were leaving. They
came rushing from their homes and
number saw the five men hurry
ing away in an easterly direction.
The shots and explosions at Mo-
dena had in the meantime excited
the curiosity of farmers residing
( near the town and number of these
started an investigation, In some
manner despite the fact that the
wires were cut from the central OF
flee these farmers got the news and
began telephOning to princeton,
e Mill Grove and other towns A num-
Der grabbed up their guns and start
et. for Modena Among these were
Ghas. Curtis and Jas. Overton, these
men met the robbers about A mile
east of the town. Even in the dark
ness Mr.. OvertOn could tell from
their actions they were on no good
mission and raising his gun sent a
shot in their direction. The men
n made no effort at retaliation but
scrambled under the road fence and
hurried on through field.
Fred G.. Miller was one OF those
most active in the use OF the tele-
phone ana had succeeded in warn
ing other towns even while the rob-
bers were at work in the bank. In
some. manner one of his messages
got into Chillicothe and one OF the
sheriff's deputies loaded the county
two bloodhounds into an automobile
and started for the scene OF the
4 robbery. The big dogs reached Mo-
dena about daylight and We're at
once placed on the bandits scent.
They followed the trail for over a
mile but lost it at point where
there were number OF vehicle
tracks indicating the robbers had
made their escape by team.
Late yesterday afternoon a Tele-
graph representative talked with E:
G. Inman. cashier of the looted
bank. Mr.. Inman stated all trace of
the bandits had apparently been lost
and it was regarded extremely doubt
full if they were ever apprehended.
He said it was know there were live
men in the party but number of
citizens cOntended there were six or
more engaged in the robbery and
the shooting UP of the town.
We are authoritiyely informed
the banks funds were insured in a
responsible company which guar
antees the replacing of the stolen
I money. The stockholders will, how
4 ever, lose their valuable safe which
IS completely wrecked. The banks
furniture and building were also
badly damaged by the explosions OF
dynamite.
More than dozen Princetonites
visited Modena by automobile yes
terday morning. These say the