New-York tribune., 1920-10-22
Bandit Killed.
z Shot When
TO Rob Bank
Cleveland Suburb Fights
Pitched Battle With Rob-
bers; $4,000 Loot Is
Recovered by Clerk
Thieves Chauffeur Slain
Two Others of Gang Are
Captured, While Posses
Seek Five Fugitives
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


CLEVELAND, Oct 21.-One automo-
bile bandit was killed and two others
and q bank clerk were wounded late
this afternoon in a pitched gun battle
after the daylight robbery of the
Cleveland Trust Company's branch of
fee at Bedford. Ten bandits took part
in the robbery and the battle that re-
suited.
First reports had it that SIS, 900 was
taken by the robbers, but officials at
the main office here declared there was
bat $4,000 in the Bedford branch. All of
the money was recovered during the
fight.
The entire village took part in the
battle and subsequent chase. Seven of
the bandits escaped, and Immediately
after word of the robbery was flashed
to Cleveland every flying squadron in
the Cleveland Police Department was
rushed to the scene.
Surround Two in Barn
Police Of both places aided by posse
of citizens surrounded two of the flee
ing men in q barn near Bedford Glens.
half an hour after the battle Two
others were seen fleeing through the
railroad yards. A crowd of citizens
were in pursuit, while Gordon of off,
GERS was thrown about the barn in the
hope of cutting off escape for the other
two.
The robbery occurred shortly after 8
p. M. just as the bank was closing
Nine bandits entered with drawn revol-
Vers, while the tenth remained at the
wheel of the machine at the curb.
Employees of the bank were ordered
20 throw up their hands and walk to
the rear Of the room into the vault
One bandit, apparently the leader
stood guard near the front door and
directed the operations by the Others
One bandit was sent behind the count
ers to collect the money. On the way
to the vault George c. Flickinger
branch manager, stepped on the burg
lar alarm that sounded in every down
town business house in Bedford.
L. ". Porter, q tire dealer across the
street from the bank, raised his rifle
when the alarm sounded and dashed
into the street. He hurried toward the
bandit car and it's lone occupant. At
sight of the weapon the driver of the
machine drew a revolver, but before he
could fire Porter shot him dead
Find Driver Dead
The sound of the shot aroused the
suspicious Of the nine robbers in the
bank, and after hurriedly seizlng TWO
bags containing the money they dashed
into the street. They found theil
driver dead on the sidewalk and the
streets of Bedford crowded with hur.
rylng citizens armed with rifles, shot
guns and revolvers.
The bandits barricaded themselves in
their machine and, while one tried in
vain to start the motor, the others
hred into the vanguard Of the posse.
The shots failed to halt the small army
of townsmcn. They came on in the
face of the fusillade of bullets.
H. W. Osborne, proprietor of the
Bedford Grocery Company, sought
refuge behind machine on the op-
posite side of the street and from
there wounded the two band IS, who
were later captured. One was shot
through the arm and the other through
the breast.
William Petri, of 9616 Manor Avenue
clerk In the bank, who pursued the
bandits into the street, was shot
through the right side in recovering
the money bags which the bandits haC
thrown into the tonneau of the car
recovered loot and collapsed on the
floor inside the door.
Both Fetri and the seriously wounded
bandit were brought to St Alexis
Hospital The other robber was taken
to the Bedford Jail. At the hospital
1t was said Petri would die.
Three more of the bandits we're cap
tured by Patrolman Huberty. Two of
them were wounded and they were
taken to st. Lukc's Hospital That
made a total of one bandit killed, two
wounded and two captured
"Jlggs" Losteincr. notorious in nolice
circles, Was reported to have been one
OF the bandits. Late reports said he
had been shot and was dying. He was
IN Bedford. Another wounded bandit
was held there He was said to be
Harry Stone. Losteiner and Stone were
pals of John Grogan, notorious ycre-
man, now serving life sentence FOR
Killing patrolman.