The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-04
BOLD MAIL RAID
NETS RICH LOOT
Bandits Get 100000 to
81, 100000 in Daring
Daylight Hold-Up

MlNNEApOLiS, MINI. bee. a
Three masked bandits this morning
hclp up and robbed the mail car on
tho Chicago, Milwaukee and st. pau
train number six, Mobridge, =. u,
20 Minneapolis on the Hastings and
Dakota division and after binding
with wire and gagging the three
mail clerks. escaped with a pouch
OF registered mail and other pack
ages. estimated TO contain currency
and papers worth between 100000
and $1,000. 600.
The bandits climbed aboard the
tank OF the engine at Hopkins. MINI.
forced an entrance to the mail car
while The train was speeding iowa fds
Minneapolis and left the train with
in the city limits Of this city.
One of the mail clerks who had
worked partially free OF hls bonds
Jaw the thrc" men leave the train
TO Join a fourth confederate who vas
waiting In an autoftobilc.
Police and federal officers are
hafflcd by the case ana IT is believed
the bandits will not attempt TO leave
the Twin Cities but will remain in
hiding here.
"NN'" W uuu NiiIHpn.
In the express car. next TO the mail
car was a pouch containing $500, 900
N currency, The bandits evidently
lid not make any attempt to enter
he express car and the express mes
senger and guard did not know of
he robbery of the mail car until
he train had reached the Milwaukee
depot here
The only estimate Of the loot made
public came from "A mail clerk. +. c.
rousiey, Touslcy declared that the
amount taken was between $500. 600
and Sf000,O00, Postal authorities
refuscd to give an estimate, stating
hat 1t IL impossible at this time to
tell.
when Ray Ersch, mail clerk, went
TO fasten the chain on the front door
Of the mail car as the train was ,eav-
ing Hopkins he was confronted by
the three men. Each Of the men
carried two rcvolvers.
They forced him to step back to
the center of the mail car and
ordered the two other mail clerks.
+. c. Tousley, and A. l.. Ostman. TO
hold up their hands.
Later vestigation showed n de.
fcctive lock on the front door Of
the mail cars.
Clerks. Gagged. IlOOrCd.
The bandits ordered the three mail
clerks to turn their faces to the side
OF the ear and while one of the ban
dts stood guard, the other two clerks
were gagged and thrown to the floor
II the car.
After throwing the registered mail
pouch to the center OF the car, the
banits slit open five other pouches
OF mail, taking out various packages
which they evidently believed con-
tained valuables,
When the train slowed down for
a stop at railroad crossing the three
bandits jumped from the train.
Tousley, who had partially freed
himself, staggered to his feet and
succeeded in opening the heavy door
"a few inches. He said he saw the
three men running in the direction
Of n waiting automobile. Touslcy
worked himself free but by the time
he had released the two other clerks
the train had reached the Milwaukea
depot in downtown Minneapolis. The
alarm was sounded there and police
and federal officers Immediately be-
gan searching but no trace of the
bandits was found.
1t is estimated that the registered
mail pouch which contained more
than 100 packages, had In 1t cur
rency and valuables amounting 10
between 100000 and tl.000,000. ].
was pointed out that banks in the
Dakotas and Minnesota are sending
large sums OF money and valuable
papers and bonds To the larger
banks in the Twin Cities, particularly
the federal reserve bank at this time
as security for loans.
II will he impossible - determine
exactly how much was IN the mail
pouch for at least month, 1t II he
licved when a check # registered
mail receipts will he complied.