The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-10-07
HOLDUP men FAIL
TO HIDE LOOT
OF $4,000
Rob Mil Cashier at Stonington
Conn.,. in Broad Daylight
BURY MONEY BAG UNDER WALL
ArtilIerymen Take Part in Pursuit
Recover Plumber and Capture
One Suspect

Stonlngton, CT, Oct. limited
States coast artillerymen, skirmish-
ing through the woods in the north
ern part last night captured man
who is believed to be one of two
masked highwaymen who earlier in
the day with drawn revolvers held
up Carl A. Koelb, paymaster OF the
American velvet company. and took
from him a satchel containing SIG,
600 in coin and bills. The booty was
quickly recovered from a hole under
a wall into which the bag had been
tossed. Then the pursuit of the two
bandits began, first by a posse OF
townsmen, who had taken the trail
of the men, and then by 200 soldiers,
who were In the neighborhood for
field exercises.
The artillerymen went at the task
in earnest, going out in extended or
der and finally rushing through ce-
metery in which 1t was thought the
bandits were at bay. The men had
escaped, however, and the skirmish
line swept onward until ii was deep
in Witches wood" In a wild section
of the town. Occasionally a soldier
would get a glimpse of the quarry
and the pursuers would sweep on
ward again. AS reinforcements, the
artillerymen were followed by groups
of civilians and farmers-most of the
latter armed with guns-while about
midafternoon 300 male employees of
the velvet company we're released
from work to join in the general
scamper across the fields and
throug the brush.
Darkness set in and the soldiers
were making their way back through
Charles Davis's woods when a party
of them ran into civilian wearing
a soldiers overcoat He was taken
in charge and escorted into town
and turned over to Patrolman O'Con-
nell. who put him in the lookup. The
man refused TO say word about him
self. He acted with surly indiffer-
ence. He had on a checked cap and
answered in hight and build the de
scription given by Mr.. Koelb OF one
OF his assailants. In a pocket of his
coat was a cold chisel. He had moth
ing else. The man is about rs years
old. The second bandit escaped II
is believed he is making his way
through the woods to the north.
The men apparently planned the
hold-up with considerable care. They
had not anticipated that soldiers
from Fort II. G. Wright at Fishers
island. who have been in Stoning-
ton for fornight's field work,
would be close at hand The place
OF the hold-up was on a bend in the
road and conditions on either side
were good for making the attack.
The hole into which the satchel was
thrown had been prepared. The bag
found its landing place, and dirt and
leaves were thrown over 1t. But
portion of the metal work at the
handle of the bag was not covered
and a searching party made the dis
covery. A few minutes before an.
other party walked over the spot. 1t
is supposed that, had the men made
their escape. they would later have
returned and secured the satchel,
trusting to the completeness of their
concealment. Mr.. Koelb collapsed
from nervous shock and was attend.
ed by physicians. After making the
capture the soldiers returned to their
camp.
The hold-up occurred on Bay View
avenue and was particularly bold be-
cause there are occupied houses
along the street. The money was in
a large valise, which the cashier held
on his knees as he was being driven
10 the mill in an express wagon At
me point where the hold-up occurred
there are vacant lots and a turn I'm
the highway. The robbers hid around
the bend until the wagon was al.
most upon them. Then they jumped
into the road and covering the cash
Ter and the driver. Charles Ryan.
with revolve-s commanded them to
stop.