Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-08
AUTO BANDITS
LOOT GEORGIA
BANK;SH00T2
Five Robbers Cut Wires at Sum-
merviIIe, 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 af.eI
they had crossed Chattooga river
Members of the posse believe that
the burglars struck Taylor's Ridge.
going north. and 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, -
considered in a critical condition.
Deputy Sheriff Will Alexander was
resting comfortably at 5 o'clock.
Five bandits shortly after mid
night blew the vault of the Bank Il
Commerce and escaped with $4,000 in
cash 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 20 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 q 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..
\. Fletcher who thought it was an
earthquake.
Tie 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 PLACID in the street
leading to the bank, while others OF
the gang forced an entrance into the
bank building.
Before the robbers had finished
drlling the heavy steel vault door for
nitroglycerine, with which they blew
it open. they were discovered by Jo-
seph Beavers. who was in drug
store near by. lie turned a flash
light on them from his window. i'm
mediately there was voley of shots
fred at him. and he cXtinguiahed mis-
light.
Beavers summoned VIII Alexander,
deputy sheriff and jailer. and Ab
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 juguI9r 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 consiL-
cred serious
IN the meantime, Plcss had begun
a bombardment on the bank building
from his upper window. He fired g
shots with a .$S-caliber pisto. Sheriff
Wimpee and chief OF Police Mall.cott
had now reached tle scene and join d
I'm the battle.
:. Garrett living some distance
away, was awakened by the shooting
and started to the scene. believing
that a fire had broken out. it being
customary for the night police AMI
watchmen to give alarms Of fire By
shooting their pistols.
As Garrett turned the bank building
corner he was greeted with a vol!ey
Of bullets and an order to run and
smut up yer yeIlin'." He lost no time
in obeying. Garrett was shot in one
haHd and a knee
Build Barrioade in Street.
The robbers got several rolls OF
heavy wire from the store of CIeg-
horne Brothers. located in the ban;
building, and with this built a barr.
cade. Using this as a breastworks
part of the gang fought off the Al
lacking party. while the others com
pieted the robbery before enough cit3-
zens had arrived to seriously fnte~-
rupt them.
When the bandits had blown the