The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-12-03
2 E
ROBBED MAIL POUCHES
Two Armed Men Did This
Stunt In Mill City
BANDITS MADE ESCAPE
Loot Is Believed To Total Many
Thousands of Dollars, Police
Admit s.a
rAs.oc,ated Press pispatch.l

HuiHie ~-xA
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Associated Press Dispatch.l
Minneapolis, Mimi, December 81
One hundred packages of registered
mail were stolen by two armed and
masked bandits. who held up the Mo-
bridge Minneapolis passenger train
on the Hastings and Dakota division
Paul railroad, between Minneapolis
and Hopkins, shortly after seven O.
m, today and escaped.
When Train Pulled IN.
No report Of the robbery was re-
ceived by the police until the train
pulled in at the Milwaukee station in
Minneapolis. Three clerks who were
in charge Of the car were bound hand
and foot with wire by the robbers.
The clerks declared that the bandits
evidently were familiar with the
methods of handling mail aboard the
train for they wasted no time In Sc
lecting the pouch, which contained the
register packages. Other mail was
is reported TO have held approximate
ly one hundred packages.
Robbery Well Planned.
AS the train neared enc city limits
of Minneapolis, the bandits opened
the side door Of the mail car and pre-
pared to leap OF. Because of the fact
that they waited several minutes po-
lice and federal agents, who are in
vestigating the robbery, are convine-
ed that the get away was well plan
ned and timed to the minute
Practically all Of the registered mail
Is reported to have been addressed
to Minneapolis and st. Paul.
Hunt Gerry Thorough.
Minneapolis. Mimi. December a.
Registered mail of an estimated value
of from $25, 1000 to $4,000 was stolen
today by three bandits, who held up
the Mobridge Minneapolis train OF
the Chicago. Milwaukee and st. Paul
railroad between Hopkins and Mime
apolis at a. m. today and escarsd
The robbers left the train at the
Humboldt avenue crossing In Mime
apolis, ran through the West High
School grounds and disappeared. POI
lice. railroad agents and federal men
are cooperating In what is probably
the most thorough bandit hunt every
conducted In Minneapolis. but have
failed 20 ind trace of the trio.
When tho bandits leaped from the
train they left three mall clerks r..
y Nnsch. inne3
the MIlWaukoo station here, n6o6<
thirty minutes later. that the men
succeeded In releasing themselves and
berry.
Trace Plot Outline.
Minneapolis, Mimi. December 3.--
Inv .u4f <xo% 4~~, H. IL u
federal agents to believe. the bandits
boarded the train either at Chanhaes-
en- or Hopkins, stops having been
made at both towns. The train was
due in Minneapolis at 7:45 a. m. It
carried registered mail from points
along the Milwaukee road between
Minneapolis and Mobridge. s. d.
Much of the mail is reported to
have been from country banks, the
packages containing bonds and cur
rency.
The holdup men climbed aboard the
small platform on the front end of the
mail coach, which was directly behind
the tender Of the engine. No one has
been found, who saw them get on the
tram, and 1t was not until It was
Ruling out Of Hopkins that they be-
gan the robbery.
Mr.. Enche. who was the chief mail
clerk. said that as the train was leaY-
ing Hopkins, he saw . chain holding
the door shut from the inside had
worked out Of place. The door went
swinging slightly open. AS he stepped.
over to close 1t, q foot was placed be-
tween the door and the jam, the next 4
moment the door was forced wide
oren and Enche faced q pistol In the
hands Of the gunman.
"stiek Up Your Militia"
Stick up your mitts and face the
who marched into the coach. follow
by two others. All three carried pts-
tolls and wore white masks. The mall
clerks complied
One of the bandits then was re-
lieved Of his gun by the leader, who
directed him to bind the clerks hand
and foot.
The bandit, who did this work, pro-
duced roll of haywire, with which he
tied the three victims. while the two
other gunner stood guard.
With three victims lying helpless
uron the floor. the bandits turned
their attention to the man sacks.
Enche said that It was evident from
the manner In which they went about
the job that they were familiar with
the manner Of handling mail on trains.
The sack Of registered mail, which
CoHtklneQ ABOUT one nuuoreQ pack
ages, was first selected and placed
near one Of the doors. Five other
sacks were then slashed open with
knives. The bandits looked over some
of the mail, selected few packages,
witch they placed In their pockets and
Prepared to make their escape.
Humboldt avenue 10 q regular stop
for the train and about thirty passen
gers left 1t ct that place this morn
ing. The mail clerks say the bandits
waited until the train started again
before they opened the side door sof
the mail car. They used the door o.
posite the side on which the rAsssn-
gers had left. As the train got under
way. the trio leaped out,
Reward 10 OfFered.
Minneapolis, MINI, Dscmber S.--
Postal authorities. cooperating with
the police of Minneapolis an1 81
Paul. in search for the bandiis, an
nornced that q federal reward Of
81 ,0c0 had been offered for the arrest
CT each Of the men. The rostal Of
fcials would not make an estfmate of
Re value Of the one kmdrs4 pieces
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