Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-04-27
ROBBERS LOOT
MARYLAND BANK
Shoot Down Director And
Escape With
$4,000
ASSAULT OFFICIALS
Bandits Flee in Automobile and Trail
Believed to Lead Toward PENN
sylvania.

Sandy Spring, Md, April pa
bard of robbers entered the First Ma
tiOnsl Bank here at 3.l5 O'Clock yeStel
day afternoon, shot and killed Fran
els M. Hallowell, SO years old, one OF
the directors, and locking the aged
president and four employees of the IN
statution in vault, made their escape
with $4,000 in currency.
In addition to killing Mr.. Hallowell,
I Asa M. Srabler, 80 years old, presi-
dent of the bank, was beaten over the
head with the butt of a revolver by
one of the bandits. A deep cash eX-
tending from the crown of his head
toward the neck was inflicted.
Alvin G. Thomas, n years old, the
treasurer; Fred C. Thomas, cashier
and secretary, and Francis Miller, the
assistant cashier, were likewise beat
en- over the head.
The money stolen comprised the
cash on hand of two institutions which
occupied the same quarters, the First
National Bank and Savings 1nst:su-
ton, of Sandy Spring. About $4,000
was taken from the National bank and
about $4,000 from the savings bank.
Liberty bonds in the vaults of the in
stituticns were untouched.
Reports Of the robbery quickly
spread throughout the county districts
and caused great excitement. The
crime is the latest of a series Of rob-
berries of which county banking in
stitutions have been victims. County
residents in large numbers have de-
posited their Liberty bonds with the
banks for safe keeping and the thefts
ara giving them much concern.
Employees of the First National
were bent over their books, closing up
the days business, land did not. OBJ,
serve the men enter.
They first became aware OF the
robbers presence when, at. sharp
command, of @haNds up" they found
themselves locking into four, revol-
vers held by two of the bandits, be-
hind whom stcad ,three"others. I.
Mr. Halloweu, who. had come to:the
bank to confer with the president, at
tempted to rise. He was shot and kill
ed Instantly.
With their hands up and covered by
the four pistols, Mr.. Stabler,, Mr., A.
G.Thomas, F. L. Thomas, Mr. Miller,
assistant, cashier, and Miss Sallie P.
Brooks, a clerk, were marched to a
rear room and tied hand and foot by
the, ether three robbers;
The bandits then rifled the vaults,
following which they, unbound the Of
&cials and employees. pushed them into
the larger vault, locked the door and
hurried away. -
The five prisoners were confined in
the vault for half an hour. ,
By chance, another director, Charles
T. Kirk, happened to enter the bank
and finding no one there, began an
investigation. Near the big vault he
heard the faint cries of those locked
inside. ; ..
In their haste the bandits had ne.
elected to close the inner door of the
vault. and those inside managed t.
make themselves. heard outside dis
tinctly enough to CALI the combina
ton to Mr.. Kirk. The latter summoned
help, and working the con,bin4ticn
succeeded in releasing the 'captives.
The police of Washington and Bal
timorc and in every county Of th'
State were notified at once.
The keeper. of a garage at High
land, Howard county, reported that
touring car corresponding. to the de
script:on given had been driven up t
his garage by, several men who pur
chased gasoline. Half an hour late
came report, from Dayton, Howar
comfy. that occupants of what is be
@y2d TO have been the same car asF
~ o be directed to the Frederic1
r.ta.
The Washington police reporte
that early in, the afternoon big Hud
scN car. had been seen on one. Of tn
DISTRICT roads by traffic policeman
A. he car was exceeding the spec
li7,4sr, re officer gave chase on hi