Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-02-23

AAC1C uc oeCuleu d rue " beuSOH
from mail carrier who shared his
seat with him. It was on the road be-
tween Benson and DeGraff that Wheel
er was apprehended. In the mean
time the alarm had been sounded
Cashier Guam had observed the
bandit enter the bank at one time pre-
vious to his attack and inquired alb
out a wire. AS the bank was busy
with several patrons Wheeler did not
dare stage the hold-up. The second
time he came in the last patron at
the time was leaving. Wheeler fol-
lowed him to the front entrance and
locked the door after him. Then he
entered where the employees were
busy and at the point of % calibre
pistol forced his victims into the
vault. First he locked Guam within
and after securing his haul he order
ed the young lady also to enter after
which he locked the combination.
When the bandit had left Guam
sought to excavate a hole thru the
brick wall. This was laborious and
ungrateful task and 50 it was aban-
doned. With the aid of a Screw driv-
er which fortunately was found in
the vault, he worked the
combination and released it. They
had been imprisoned for an hour and
half. The small room was dense
with dust which almost smothered
the inmates.
Sheriff Bonde was notified at once.
He in turn notified the local police
and authorities in surrounding coun-
I ties to be on the alert. Chief of Po-
lice Westgard scrutinized train pas
sengers during the afternoon but it
was discovered later that he had used
the automobile to get away McDer-
mott was found and related his story.
Sheriff Bonde Immediately wired
Sheriff Gilbertson at Benson and
| stated his beliefs as to the route tax
en- by the bandit. Pete then set off
hot on the trail for Benson. : A party
at DeGraff notified Bonde that a mail
carrier had taken Wheeler to Benson
whereupon the sheriff at high speed
set off in pursuit to head the bandit
off at that place.
! At four o'clock the mail carrier and
Wheeler were driving on the road to
| Benson when Sheriff >Gilbertson met
them. The sheriff glanced thru the
window of the car and instantly rec
ognized the features Of the bandit,
which description had been furnished
him by Bonde. Gilbertson, unobser-
we'd, turned his car about and followed
| the mail carrier into Benson where he
arrested Wheeler. He was disarmed
In the Office of the Sheriff he secretly
| tossed the bills behind a radiator in
! the room. 1t was not discovered until
he confessed the act to Sheriff Bonde
while on the way here from Benson
Bonde took Wheeler down to Handy
where he was identified by the bank
employees.
The lost parcel of bills was found
as the bandit had said and contained
$S02 in bills. There were 16 20-dol-
lar bills, Is 10-dollar bills, Sc 5-dollar
bills, 2-dollar bills, and sc 1-dollar
bills. The remaining currency was
of silver denominations. The bank
was protected by the National Surety
Company of New York City, repre-
sentative of which, Harry Lauer, in
terviewed the bank the following
day. 1t was found that the bandit
had expended $34 during his wild trip.
The sum of 1884 will be claimed by
the bank and has been granted by
the Surety Company. Charles D.
} Brown of the Minnesota Bankers
Protection Association also visited
the bank professionally.
Wheeler was arraigned before Nun
icipal Judge Muller Saturday at II
g. M He was bound over to the
Grand Jury which convenes in March
He is an inmate of the county Jail al
present.
Wheeler is considered a doubtful
character. He has deserted his wife
who resides at 1898 First Avenue So.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has as
sociated with another woman, it il
charged. His many pressing bill:
forced him to resort to crime, Wheel
t er stated. Since he left his wife il
, April he has. visited her only occa
sionally. In letter received from
her Monday morning, she states tha
t the divorce which he has asked fol
l will now be granted. His wife is EN-
= ployed at the Ideal Laundry in Mime
epolis. Wheeler occupied rooms a
1923 Fourth Avenue So. He had toll
: his wife that he was going to Willis
e ton, N. D., to secure loan from hi
l. father residing there. Mrs. Wheele
stated that her husband is higl
school and normal graduate of Aus
: tin in this state. He was born a
( Owatonna 26 years ago. He worker
: as machinist and automobile sales
S man until short time ago said hi