Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-04
VILLAGERS LOOK ON AS
YEGGS WORK BUT DO
NOT OFFER FIGHT
ESCAPE IN AUTO.
FIVE MEN IN GANG WHICH SWEPT
DOWN UPON TOWN TO MAKE
RICH HAll-FlND ABANDONED
MACHINE NEAR SOMONAUk-
TOOK ONLY CASH

While four or five residents OF the
village looked on without offering
any resistance to their operations. five
yeggmen last night exploded a half
dozen charges OF nitro glycerine in the
Serena State Bank and made a get
away with Sl,gl690
Awakened by the first blast the vii
layers ran from their home. from
where they could observe the robber.
at work. but fears 70 thei own safety.
together with lack OF proper arms TO
defend themselves, caused them to
look Oh at the spectacle without max
ing any attempt to capture the yeegs.
Leisurely proceeding about theiT
task the yeggmen discharged shot
after shot into the vitals OF the safe
until the seventh explosion wrecked
the safety deposit vault After grab
bing up their loot they dashed from
The bank. which is situated in the
waiting automobile and then sped out
Of town, following the Starved Rock
trail toward Chicago
After the bandits fled from thc
scene Of their crime, Sheriff +. NJ
Davis was notified Of the robbery and
he dispatched Deputies William
Mischke and Arthur Barrett TO give
chase The robbery perpetrated at
about LEO o'clock this morning, was
not reported TO the county authorities
until after the yeg2s had had good
start. At o'clock the deputies were
on their way to take up the trail,
which they followed out Of Serena.
An abandoned Chandler automobile,
1918 make. was found in the roadway
between Somonauk and Sandwich at
what is known as the Fruland corner.
The engine was termed as burned
out. The car bore a 1915 license,
No. 393J6 Efforts are being made to
trace the owner OF the car in hope
of cleaning some clew which will re-
suit in the apprehension OF the
bandits.
Rob Blacksmith Shop.
p Before starring upon their task the
five men went into the Duffy black
smith shop, whore they secured crow
bars, drills, chsels. hammers and
other tools necessary for carrying cl
their operations. II is apparent that
they carried their own nito-glycerine
or soup as it is called in detective
vernacular There was none in the
village from fhere they could have
obtained their supply
After securing all the tools they
needed they went over TO the Mar
shall Reese g. Malase store. forcint
an entrance thru the back door Al
soon as they were in the building the!
began work. The first shot awakened
half the village. The remaining OK
plosons. given by residents as six 0
seven stirred the rest Of the Serena
ties out OF their beds. Nne in th
crowd who observed the robbery from
behind vantage points of safety mad
any attempt to resist the robbers, In
II them work on until the men mad
their getaway with the valuablCs
Then the village became active in u
effort to capture the thieves, but /
no avail.
Safe Blown to Bits.
The safe, = large con,raption use
10 protect the hank',s.injAlipeE.. was Ii
orally blown to pieces MI door
and sides were attacked b,. .nobyegg
and the interior. lncudjns Inc inn'
set of doors on the i,ner INC \wel
blown from their hinos 'oN e
the blasts were so sharla "om yr0i
of the building was pra. me 4, olow
away. Money found scis"y bio DO
on the floor was bent and" at "a ,ti
charges. showing the fof ny ,,n,tl
charges useo 10 rent 'ne S"n' Pet
A large cault. standing pes s,,htl
safe was tampered with. but n
opened. This vault Is said 4
contained thousands of dollar E
Of Liberty loans. all of whiG
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