The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-09-01
RANl!1S:LOOT. THE
BANK AT ST. Martin
CITIZENS OF SMALL STEARNS
+. COUNTY TOWN TERRORIZ-
ED TUESDAY MORNING
$4,000 IN Cash, AND-NOTES
PHONE COMMUNICATION WITH
OUTSIDE WORLD WAS CUT
OFF

(Iuesday Evenings st. Cloud Times)
lntimidating the entire village bv
salvos of gun shots directed at the
windows, gang of safe-blowers this
morning between two and three
O'Clock wrecked the interior of the
State Bank of St. Martin, 25 miles
west of st. Cloud, midway between
Albany and Richmond, and escaped
with about $4,000 in currency and all
Of the securities in the institution.
Much of the loot consisted of personal
notes and non-negotiable papers that
adds to the current belief that the
robbery was the work of amateurs.
The men, who numbered at least five,
according to citizens who saw them
depart, left in Buick roadster and
a Ford sedan at shortly after three
o'clock, headed the roadster east, and
the other car southwest.
The first knowledge of the presence
of the safe-crackers was given the in
habitants of the village at almost ex-
actly two o'clock, when heavy de-
tonation awakened the sleeping in
habitants. One man Immediately
arose and lighted a lamp, and was
awarded at once by several shots
fired through his window by the yegg-
men. Other attempts at seeking in
formation were likewise treated,
while the bandits worked for an hour
to obtain access to the bank safe.
Eight additional charges of nitro
glycerine were required before the
vault door was blown from it's hinges.
The excessive explosions not only de-
stroyed all furnishings of the bank
but assisted in terrorizing the villag-
ers. After once obtaining entrance
to the interior of the vault the safe
blowers worked speedily, grabbing
everything in sight and hastily de-
parting, apparently waiting for
more suspicious time to sort the loot.
Prior to attacking the vault with
explosive the bandits had taken the
precaution to cut all wires leading
from the village, and at II a. m. to-
day, communication had not as yet
been established with the outside
world. TIL first word of the robbery
reached St. Cloud at a. M, at
which hour citizens of st. Martin
had made their way to Richmond,
from which village word was sent
broadcast and Sheriff Schooner Of this
city was notified, as well as J. H.
Speaker of Melrose, one of the own
ers of the looted bank.
Mr.. Speaker stated to the Times
this morning that the value Of the
securities stolen could not be ascer-'
tanned until a thorough check had
been made.
Cowed into remaining indoors by
the ready guns of the robbers, the
citizens of the village were unable
this morning to give even a partial
description of the robbers, though
five men were counted in all, and
others may have been included in the
band. 1t is supposed that three
men watched with drawn weapons
while at least two worked with the
nitro-glycerine. "
Robert Kuhl is cashier of the in
stitution, of which Dr. P. A. Hilbert
of Melrose is president.
No trace of the bandits in or near
st. Cloud is reported.
Telephone connections with ST.
Martin were re-established shortly
before noon. and Mr.. Kuhl. the cash.
Ter, was able to give the Times fur
ther details concerning the robbery.
He states that the bandits in addi-
ton to DESTROYING telephone connec-
tions, had taken the precaution OF
lowering the street lamp in front of
the bank and unscrewing the globe,
leaving that section Of the VILLAGE in
darkness. Kuhl was awakened by
what he believed to have been the
first explosion of the series of eight
or nine required. but the sound of the
,detonations leading him to believe
THAT the explosions were out of doors,
and he had no suspicion that an at
tack was being made on the bank.
Included in the loot were $500 IN
Liberty bonds. The cashier believes
the booty was taken eastward in the
Buick. The robbers left in the
wrecked bank, small hammer and
la bottle containing small amount
of nitro-glycerine.