The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-06-22
BLAGKSH01
DOWN AT TER
WILD CHASE
Bandit Rushed by Mob
When Single Handed
Robbery Fails.

Foiled in his attempt to hold up
the Peoples Trust and Savings
bank of Moline at noon today, Ted-
dy Belmont, colored paroled con-
vict, after a zigzag chase through
the business streets, was shot down
in a pitched gun battle with police
on the lawn of the Moline public
library. Before he was captured
the negro in ambush from the
shrubbery emptied his revolver Inc
to the Gordon of citizens which
made impossible his escape. Shots
from the revolver Of P. A. Biggs,
teller of the bank, felled the con-
vict when two bullets plowed into
his left hip. Five shots fired by
Belmont failed their mark.
Belmont entered the bank about
Has and stepped to the first wins
dow. William M. Engstrom, the
teller, was at lunch, but his assist
ant, Miss Clara Wander Vennett.
asked the negro to step to the next
window. She did not suspect his
plan until he demanded that she
turn over all the money she had
Nothing in the negro's demeanor
at that time indicated that he was
desperate and Miss VanderVennet
thought it was an attempt at .
Joke. Sparring for time she kid
ded back" walked to the window
and as she looked up. faced the
negros revolver. The girl made q
heroic attempt to keep calm. She
gathered up the money as II pre-
pairing to obey his demand and ae
the same time stepped upon the
burglar alarm. The negro sensing
what she had done, retreated to-
ward the door. still covering the
girl with his gun.
No Danger Suspected.
There were only three other en-
ployes, all girls, in the savings de-
partment at the time. P. A. Biggss
a teller, from his cage at the east
end of the bank, had clear view
of what happened, but did not ap-
preciate the danger until he saw the
negro draw revolver. The alarm
sounded almost Immediately and
Biggs drew a revolver from the
cash drawer at his right. 1t was
then the negro retreated into the
, lobby but bank attaches, fearing
that he had pals waiting for him
and that the first shot would be e
signal for a general shooting, walt
ed until Belmont left the buildingi
before they started in pursuit.
A score of people standing on the
street gave way as the negro RAM
out of the building, tore around thei
corner and dashed up the avenue.
Belmont fled north. on SIXTEENTH
street and continued in that direc-
tion to the alley across from the
central fire station where he turn
ed east. Biggs and four or fivei
others followed him down the alley
while the rest of the pursuers ran
| to Fourth avenue and turned east.
Belmont cut through to FOURTH
avenue about the middle OF thej
block and ran to Seventeenth street,
where he turned north. When hol
reached the library Patrolman Neg-i
F, ley was coming up from Fourthl
avenue on his motorcycle.
When he reached the library, Bell
mont gave up hope of escape andi
commenced firing from behind thei
bushes at the corner. Biggs, Gall,
lagher and Doom, the two latteri
patrolmen, returned his fire. Altar
Belmont had fired three or four;
shots a bullet from Patrolman Gai-i
lgher's revolver cut a furrow!
across his gun hand. Two shots
fired by Biggs entered the left hip
of the negro, who fell. No further,
resistance was offered when the POI
lice rushed forward in a body TO
capture the gunman.
| Shot ut Auto. ~
While waiting for the doctor.
Belmont was asked II he had been.
near his home at about 10 last
evening, the time at which an un-
identified negro fired five times 1t
an automobile belonging to Harry
Ransom. He said that he had been
at work last night.
1 When questioned about his place
Of work he said he was employees
at the Root & vanDerv00rt ple4e
in East Moline Chief Of POLES
DeJaeger called the East Moli94'
plant and learned that BelMoAe|
went to work At : yesterday Aftese|
-l.noon and quit work about , -
'l9:15. The description given ~ -
loccupants Of the Ransom eut1
bile fits Belmont tn that - ~
about s fest I inches in height ae4l
] appears to b between q anu vi
years q aeo. This morning 1sss
mont wore green plaid CAP an -
ldark blue serge suit. while ~
| negro connected with last nights
incident was said to haye worn =
leray SUIT and gray cap.
/ DR.. J. M. Wood arrived aftef
tabOut ten minutes and the search
ifor the bullets began. Belmont
was not bleeding 10 profusely -
the bad been before. but the seat.
Of his trousers was saturated with
blood
i When the bullets were not foanA'
lfafter 10 minutes Of probing. Bos-
lmnnt was lifted into the ambulAuC6
and taken = ths hospital. q
81 - !. ~ rs4i