The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-18
Lone Robber in Daylight Sensa-
tion at HeringtOn.
Lines Up Four Officers and
Flees With $4,000.
CAUGHT IN CITY CEMETERY
Posse, Heavily Armed, Captures
Bandit in an Hour.
Says He Once Played Ball With
Western League.

Herington, Kan, Feb. 1S.-A lone
robber, armed with a revolver. short
ly after noon today. lined up against
an interior wall the president vice
president cashier and teller of the
First National bank here. grabbed
1000 in currency from the teller's
drawer and disappeared down the
main street of the town. He was
caught by an armed posse less than
an hour after the incident.
The robbery occurred at 1895
o'clock. The man, about 80 years
old, smooth shaven and well dressed.
walked into the bank and stood near
desk until customer had departed.
Then walking up to the presidents
desk he said:
'I want $4,000"
The president, Charles Edlin. stood
up. smiled at the man and answered:
What security have you for loan
of this size?''
security" the bandit explained as he
pulled his hand from his overcoat
pocket and pressed a revolver against
Edlin's waist. II want $4,000 and
want it quick
Everybody throw up your hands.
the robber yelled
He flourished his gun and up went
the hands of the president, the vice
president the cashier and the teller.
''Now back up against the wall
there he commanded.
The bank officers obeyed.
He Grabbed $1,000.
The robber then walked around be-
hind the tellers window, reached in
the money drawer, grabbed two hands
full of. bills, backed to the rear of the
bank and shouted, Goodbye" as he
lodged out of the back door.
f~1r III
| into the side street. He had revolver
| in his hand but was afraid to shoot
| for fear he would hit someone on the
street
| The robber turned the corner
| around the bank and ran down
Broadway, Herington's main business
street, with the bank president after
I him.
| The streets were fairly well crowded
| but at that time box kite exhibition
| was being put on and no one paid
any attention to the fleeing robber and
| his pursuer.
Edlin yelled but could gain no ones
attention.
| As the robber crossed Walnut street
he almost knocked over DR.. Lewis d.
| Blachly, a local dentist.
"I just got out of his way in time, !"
| Doctor Blachly said. Il had no idea
why he was in such hurry"
! The bandit turned into a side street,
! thence down an alley and was lost
| sight of about eight blocks from the
| bank.
| A posse of citizens armed with
| rifles, revolvers and shotguns was or
ganized at once. The Rock Island and
Missouri Pacific stations were watched
| Nearby towns were warned to watch
| out for suspicious motorists.
Caught i'm Cemetery.
The posse, aided by Rock Island
n
the city quickly. The man was seen
running thru the fields west of the
city. A gang took chase and he was
caught, exhausted. in the city ceme-
terry.
When captured he gave up the
money. stated that he had no accom-
plices but refused to give his name.
He was recognized by several mem
bers of the posse as having been loaf
ing around pool halls here for the
last week.
You are a former ball player
aren't you?" he was asked.
The robber nodded his head and
said:
yeah. Played with the Western
| league
set. 1t was stated by several railroad
men here who have followed Westerr
league baseball that he once played
with Topeka in the Western league.
He was brought back to the city ant
placed in Jail.
AS far as is known all the none!
was recovered.
| 1t is believed here that he was t.
meet a motor car in the outskirts o
the city but was unsuccessful in max
ing connections and tried to escape OF
foot.
The robber picked an ideal day TO
his holdup. Rock Island pay da.
brings thousands of dollars into tn
bank and the money is usually in th
| telIers and cashiers drawers ready fo
quick exchange.
President Edlin says the bandi
: took about s2,000-approximatel tn
amount he had requested.
:
MAKING GOOD SEA TIME