The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-09-29
Townsmen and Bank Rob-
ers Fight Pitched Battle
in Streets.
CAUGHT IN BANK
Miss Louise Breidenbach Finds
Switchboard dead" but
Uses Private Lines.
(By Associated Press Leased wire.)

Eagle, Wis.-The courage and cool
ness in emergency of one frail girl
alone in the second story exchange of
the telephone company here early this
morning thwarted five Chicago or Mil
waukee safe crackers in an attempt to
rifle the vaults and safety deposit
boxes Of the bank Of Eagle, the fnan-
cial institution of the wealthy farm
ers for miles around.
By reason of the girls quick ac-
ton $4,000 of the banks funds of
which between $4,000 and $4,000 was
in currency, were saved.
Seventy of the townsmen armed with
shot-guns, rifles, revolvers and pistols,
were routed out of bed, by the quick
thinking of the girl and laid siege to
the bank wherein the five robbers were
at work looting safety deposit boxes.
The robbers, returning the fire of
the townsmen's posse, shot their way
through the front door of the bank,
ran half mile to their secluded auto
mobile, heavy touring car, engaged
in battle with second possee, which
was coming up, and escaped
President of Bank Leads.
Henry NJ Loibl, president of the
ban. of Eagle, who, armed with shot
gun, engaged in the pitched battle
with the bandits, told the story over
long distance telephone, on one of the
two remaining wires operating out of
the town Of Eagle this morning.
"The bandits parked their car in the
Oak Ridge cemetery, a half mile from
the bank" he said. 'Then they walk
ed into town to the bank, arriving
about 100 a. m. With crowbar ane
other tools they pried open the front
door of the bank after cutting the
cables to the telephone exchange.
They failed, however, to sever two
private lines running out of the
exchange which they didn't know any.
thing about.
Finds Switch Board Dead.
"Miss Louise Breidenbach, the night
telephone operator, hearing the noise
of the opening of the front door of
the bank, started to call for help. She
found her switchboard dead Turn
ing then to the private lines she got
hold of Frank Jaken, the telephone
construction man here, and told him
of the attempt to rob the bank. Frank
went through the village rousing up
the fellows and telling them to get
their guns.
"About seventy men responded. Je-.
rome Mealey, the furniture man, was
the first one to attract the attention
of the robbers. He stuck his head
through the door and yelled: Hey!
what are you doing in there?'
Answer With VoIley of Shot.
"The safe crackers answered by a
volley of shots. Then our boys open
ed up and there was steady exchange
of shots. The men came right out
through the front door the way they
had gone in, shooting as they came.
don't see how in the world they got
out alive, for the door was full from
top to bottom with bullet marks where
our boys concentrated their fire.
Gone of the men in coming out lost
his hat 1t had piece of Milwaukee
newspaper of the date of September
10 rolled up under the band They
also left large wrench. Those were
the only clews.p
Sheriff Clarence Keebler said that
the piece of paper in the bandits hat
contained two columns of bond quo
tations. 1t and the wrench are being
held as clews.
Only twelve out of the eighty-seven
safety deposit boxes had been broken
into. The valuables from these were
taken. 1t is impossible to say what. the
total loot will be, until the checking
up process is completed.