Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-09
BANDITS
LOOT GEORGIA
BANK;SH0OT2
Five Robbers Cut Wires at Sum-
meviIIe, Take $4,000 and
Escape After Gun Fight.


early this morning returned here al ;
o'clock this afternoon. The hounds
received from Rome and Chattanooga
were not able to carry the trail after
they had crossed Chattooga river
Members of the posse believe that
the burglars struck Taylors Ridge,
going north, and a close watch is be
ing maintained.
Steve Garrett. one of the victims Of
the battle with the burglars, who was
removed to a hospital in Rome, il
considered in a critical condition.
Deputy Sheriff viii Alexander was
resting comfortably at o'clock.
Five bandits shortly after mid
night blew the vault Of the Bank II
Commerce and escaped with $4,000 in
ca sh and about $1,000 in stamps, the
latter belonging to the Summerville
PostofIice, after cutting all telephone
lines and shooting down two men.
a posse of % men, with blood
hounds, from Chattanooga and Rome
trailed them for several hours.
Summerville and vicinity are wildly
excited, and if the bandits are caught
violence is feared.
The bandits fought desperate bat
| tie in the streets with officers and citi-
zens before they succeeded in blowing
the bank vault
The explosion that wrecked the
vault aroused practically every one in
Summerville. The shock was felt dis
tinctly a mile away, according to O..
A. Fletcher who thought it was an
earthquake.
The work of the bandits bore evil
dence of having been carefully plan
ned and executed by professionals.
Cut Wires on Outskirts of Town.
The bandits rode here in an auto
mobile, stopping on the outskirts,
about midnight. They made a detour
of the town on foot, cutting the wires,
after which they slipped into the main
street on which the bank is located.
Pickets were placed in the street
leading TO the bank, while others of
the gang forced an entrance into the
bank building.
Before the robbers had finished
drilling the heavy steel vault door for
nitroglycerine, with which they blew
it open. they were discovered by Jo-
Seph Beavers, who was in a drug
store near by. He turned a flash
] grN. Ia
mediately there was a volley of shots
fired at him, and he eXtinguished his
light
Beavers summoned Will Alexander,
deputy sheriff and jailer. and Alb
Pless who occupied an upstairs room
directly opposite the bank
Shoot Deputy Three Times.
Alexander started TO the bank and
had gone within fifteen yards of the
pickets when he was fired upon. being
wounded three times-in the neck,
near the jugulsr vein. in an arm.
which was broken, and in the side.
Alexander staggered away in the
darkness, with blood streaming from
his wounds. His condition is consii-
cred serious.
In the meantime, Pless had begun
bombardment on the bank building
from his upper window. He fred %
shots with a 49, caIiber pistol Sheriff
Wimpee and Chief of Police Mallicoat
had now reached the scene and joined
in the battle.
s. Garrett, living some distance
away, was awakened by the shooting
and started to the scene. believing.
that a fire had broken out. fl being
customary for the night police and
watchmen to give alarms of fire by
shooting their pistols
As Garrett turned the banl, building
corner he was greeted with vol!ey
of bullets and an order 10 run and
shut up yer yellin'." He lost no time
in obeying. Garrett was shot in one
hand and knee.
Build 5arrieade in Street.
The robbers got several rolls Of
heavy wire from the store of CIeg-
horne Brothers. located in the bank
building, and with this built a BARR
cade. Using this as A breastwor!ls.
part of the gang fought of the At
lacking party. while the others com
pleted the robbery before enough CHS
zens had arrived TO seriously inte--
rupt them.
When the bandits had blown the
vault they retreated to their auto
mobile. The booty consisted Of about
$500 in silver and currency and the
81, 900 in stamps. all in ones and twos
put on the trail. The Rome dogs came
later.
The tools with which the burglars
worked were stolen from a tool house
of the Central of Georgia Railroad.
Every building in the vicinity OF
! the bank to-day bears marks of the
! battle. Numerous windows We're shot
| out while others were wrecked by the
! explosion.
As soon as telephone lines could be
repaired messages were sent 10 all
nearby towns and cities. Bloodhounds
[ we're ordered from Chattanooga and
/ Rome. These from Chattanooga ar
rived here about o'clock and were
put on the trail.