Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-26
SHERIFFS OF IOWA TO AID IN
CAPTURE OF BANK
ROBBERS.
LOOTlhIG OF VAULTS
THRIVING BUSINESS
Movement to Form Shotgun Bri.
sades in Every County Has Strong
Backing-Three Organized Gangs
at Present Operating in Iowa.
Autos Make Capture Difficult.

Dubuque, July 26.-Bank yeggs who
have committed robberies in the vi
cinity Of Dubuque and thru the state
have led state authorities to organize
Iowa sheriffs and citizens into shot
gun briGades for the purpose Of
Graduating the pests in the only way
possible.
The announcement of the organi-
cation was made by Sheriff Frank
Kennedy Saturday. Kennedy was
appraised of the organization thru r.
c. Saunders. who is in charge Of the
combine for the humiliation of bank
yeggs. He also received letter from
Governor Harding stating that he
was back Of the proposition to the
limit.
A central meeting Of the sheriffs
of Iowa will be held in the near fu-
ture for the purpose of effecting or
sanization. The purpose will De -
formulate a hair trigger organization
to cope with the lawless element that
has placed the country banks in fear
of their funds.
Three gangs Of the burglars are
said to be operating in Iowa accoru-
ing to notification sent out by the
Iowa Bankers Association thru Sec
rotary Warner. Cine is operating in
the northwestern part, one in the
southern and one in the northeastern
part.
Aided by Autos.
Roads are good all over the state
says Secretary Warner. These crini-
nails are using high powered motor
cars They visit the bank under some
pretext or other the day or several
days before the robbery: everything
Is well planned and goes off like
clockwork. 1t is believed that banks
can expect that there will be a run Of
bank robberies as long as the roads
are good. Not only bank robberies
will occur, but daylight holdups may
be attempted. These bank robbers are
we'll organized.
They travel from fifty to. one hun.
dred miles or more after the job has
been completed. before daylight.
The Iowa Bankers Association has
armed, be employed for an indefinite
period, in every hank in order to
safeguard patrons, for it Is never
known where these vrltures will
strike. 1t also recommends that bank
ers keep all bonds out of the safe and
the safety deposit boxes, carry plen-
lty of insurance en- money and fix
lures, watch all suspicious characters
entering the bank and to report any
| Irregularities to the association.
Shotgun brigades of the good olo
fashioned variety that have replaced
moonlight necktie parties are to play
an important role in performing the
duties required by the long arm of JUS
tice. The shotgun constituents work
under and in cooperation with the
sheriff in each county.
Whenever bank robbery epidemic
starts in q county. the sheriff will
send word to his shotgun wielders,
and to sheriffs in surrounding coun-
ties. They will notify their respective
shotgun handlers. Within a few min
utter after the burglar alarm has been
sounded, Il dragnet will be thrown
around the county infested, by the
incoming posses. Local authorities
will spread out thru the county and
establish communication with those
maintaining the outer ring.
The Eurhrates river has great an