The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1920-10-29
ATTEMPT TO ROB
LODI BANK FO|LED
BANDITS RUN WHEN
CASHIER DUCKS AWAY
Armed Posses From Medina and Other
Parts Of County Give Vain Chase
Robbers Believed to be Inexperienc-
ed Youthful Gang.

1t is rare occasion that a bank is
better off financially as result of a
visit from bandits, but the Lodi State
Bank enjoys that unusual distinction.
An attempt was made to loot the bank
last Friday noon, but the bandits
were frightened amay before they
could accomplish the work, leaving a
$40 bill in their fight.
A maroon sStutz touring car drove
up to and stopped near the Taylor
Inn. not far from the bank, about II
o'clock. Four men got out, strolled
about for a few minutes, and at about
u:30 one of the men entered the
hank, one sat at the wheel Of the
machine, while the other two remain
ed near the entrance to the bank.
The one who, entered the bank
stepped up to Cashier ]. H. Fishers
window and asked to have $40 bill
changed into quarters. He got the
change and stepped aside. As he did
70 another of the men entered and
presented $40 bill with the request
that it be changed into 81 bills. Fish
er picked up thy bill and started to
get the change, when he looked up to
see revolver levelled at the head of
Wilson Lehman, bookkeeper, by the
first bandit. A demand had been
made upon Lehman to open the door
leading to the vault room, and he
had started to comply as Fisher took
in the situation. @ ~:
Fisher suddenly darted across the
room to closet and shut himself in.
At this the two bandits ran out Of
the bank, Jumped into the car with
their companions and made of, leav-
ing their $40 bill. Il
Fisher emerged from the closet,
jumped into his automobile and start
ed in pursuit, many other citizens fol-
lowing in the chase. IN
The bandits left Lodi in the direc,
tOn Of Medina. Sheriff Bigelow and
= posse Of citizens promptly respond
ed to the cali from Lodi, and were On
the lookout from various points along
The way. y
From farmers it was learned that
the big maroon car had been observed
going at b terrific speed toward
.FriendsMlle, where it turned south
and was presumably headed for
Wooster. The search was continued
until night, being taken up at vary
ing routes.
There were no customers in the
bank at the time Of the attempted
robbery. Fisher and Lehman were
alone in the front part Of the bank.
President E. P. Collins and Nina B.
Norton, assistant cashier, were in a
rear room. ~
Friday night Sheriff Bigelow re-
ceived notice from the police depart
ment of Wooster that four men had
been arrested in Canton whom it was
believed were the ones who had at
tempted to rob the Lodi bank. Ac-
companied by Deputy Hange, Fisher
and Lehman of the Lodi State Bank,
and about a score Of Lodi citizens and
Sheriff Bigelow went to Canton. Fish
er and Lehman stated that the men
detained were not the ones who were
at the Lodi bank. The latter, ac-
cOrding to Fisher and Aehman,
ranged in age from 18 to 20 years,
with the exception of one, who was
believed to be about % or "a. ,s
Sheriff Ed. j. Hanratty Of Cuya-
hoga county, who was in Bedford at
the time Of the Lodi holdup, in quest
of the remaining gunmen Of the Los
teiner gang, hearing Of the Lodi
trouble, dashed across country to the
village, in the hopes Of making clean
roundup of his own quarry.
That the men who attacked the
Lodi bank were inexperienced is evi-
denced by the crudeness with which
they worked. The conditions at the
bank at the time were such that had
the men got the drop on Fisher at
the same time they did on Lehman,
the looting' of the bank would have
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