West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-08-20
BANK ROBBED
AT NOON HOUR
Bandits Take About $4,000
at Homestead, Pa.
SHOOT PURSUERS AND ESCAPE
Wild Western Methods Successfully
Instituted In Peaceful Western Penn
sylvanla Community - Minister'S
Automobile usod TO Carry Despera.
does From Scene OF hoidup - Gun
Fight on Country Road.

Homestead. Pa. Aug. 1S.-Two
youthful bandits entered the Home.
stead National bank about noon. and,
covering the cashier and assistant
WIN revolvers, took about $4,000 In
bills and left Outside they Jumped
into n waiting automobile and dashed
away.
The robbers got away with $9,944,
according TO Cashier oLeary.
They were overtaken by posse
and a revolver duel followed in which
two OF the posse were wounded. The
bandits are still at large.
The injured are: John Dickson OF
Homestead. and Percy Smith, consta.
BILE, of Mifiln township.
John O'Leary, who rendered his
resignation as cashier recently, was
In the bank instructing ]. VI. Thoer-
ner, his successor. They saw a man
ieaping the counter In front OF the
cashiers window. with drawn re-
voiver he ordered them 90 throw up
their hands.
The robber then climbed over the
partition and landed beside tho two
men. With two revolvers pointed at
them, the two bankers wero forced
into q vault at the rear OF tho bank.
The bandits then calmly went TO the
cashiers desk and gathered up thu
money lying there, climbed over the
partition and Joined bis companion.
Just as they were climbing into their
automobile Cashier Thoerner, who had
: secured revolver from his desk,
opened fire, three shots being sent
through q large plate glass window a,
the robbers. Mono OF tho shots took
effect. but the Windshield OF the ma
chine was struck.
Tho robbers fed up Eighth street.
In few minutes several other cars
were In pursuit, but tho automobile
containing Constable Smith and posse
was the only ono to catch UP with the
fleeing car.
The pursuers caught up with the
robbers at the Hess farm, four miles
from Homestead, as the robbers were
getting out Of their car for a larger
one. When within about twenty-five
foet from the robbers Constable Smith
opened fire with O shotgun.
The fugitives opened fire with auto
mauo revolvers. Dickson and Consta-
BILE Smith were hit, the latter receiving
a bullet wound through both his legs
and Dickson one through the left
shoulder. The robbers by this time
had managed TO reach their large car
and while cranking It the smaller man
Of the two, who had done the ransack-
ing In the bank, dropped two pack
ages OF the stolen money, amounting
to $1,000, from his shirt bosom. The
money was left lying In the road and
was recovered.
The robbers were first noticed a half
hour before their appearance at the
bank when they stole q small automo-
bile belonging to Rev. J. Il. Gordon,
pastor OF tho First Christian church
in Homestead. from in front OF his
residence. The minister heard some
one cranking HIS machine and saw tho
robbers Jumping into IL. He shouted
for them 10 stop. but they paid no at
tention TO him.
Dir. Gordon then went TO the home
OF Paul Hamilton, a neighbor, and
getting into the latter's automobile
started toward Homestead to look for
the stolen machine. To their surprise
they noticed the car standing in front
OF the bank with the motor running.
Mr.. Gordon took in the situation IN
the bank and going TO HIS car with
drew the switch key. At that moment
tho robbers backed out OF the bank.
one Of them took from his pocket an.
other switch key and both leaped into
tho car