The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-03-03
BANK ROBBER
IS APPREHENDED
NAMES JUDGE Lands AS GIVING
HIM THE IDEA.
OF TAKING BANKS FUNDS.
All the Bonds, Except One for $500.
Found in Small Leather
Bag.

Bloomington, Ill, Feb. 26.-Wil-
liam Dalton, siXteen-year-Old bank
clerk, who stole s772,000 worth of
liberty bonds in Chicago Tuesday, an
amount which, the police say, is the
largest bond theft on record, was
caught in a pool room at Heyworth,
Ill, near here, today. All the bonds,
except one for $500, that he used for
expenses, were recovered in small
leather bag that he had tossed into
corner while he played, as nonchal-
antly as if it contained old clothes.
The boy said that taking the record
amount of bonds was simple matter,
but that escape was not so easy. He
was taken for ride by an autoist,
James Dennis, while trudging along
the road to Heyworth, heading in the
general direction of s'the South, but
with no definite plans for escape.
Dalton was held tonight awaiting
arrival of bank officials from the
Northern Trust Company, of Chicago,
which he robbed. These officials init
mated before they left Chicago that
on account of the boys extreme youth
they would be inclined to forgive him
and to give him another chance.
Identified by Pictures.
The lad tonight told how he tried to
evade the officers of the law by travel
ing in automobiles, on foot, electric
and steam trains and on "buses, but
was captured largely through wide
publication of the picture in Chicago
newspapers which reached this dis
trict.
He was recognized by the son of
Constable Jack Draper, who made the
arrest, and who probably will receive
the $4,000 reward offered for the
boys arrest and recovery of the
bonds. Dalton was first suspected Of
being the bond thief by Dennis, with
whom he rode into Heyworth. Dennis
reported his suspicion to Paul Drap-
er. son of the constable.
Dalton carried the bonds in little
satchel, wherein he had secreted them
when he walked out of the bank on
Thursday for lunch, throughout his
fight until he reached Heyworth.
Fondness for shooting pool and bill
lizards caused him to seek game with
a stranger, and while the two were
knocking the balls around, the satch-
el, with it's fortune, was left in corn
er, where anyone might have picked
it up and walked away had he known
of it's contents.
When Constable Draper appeared
and called the youth by name he ad-
mitted his identity.
The lad took the bonds on the spur
of the moment, and was "sore at the
bank" because they had not promoted
him as rapidly as he desired. Il read
how Judge Lands had said the bank
ers we're partly to blame in the case
of the Ottawa, ILL.,, boy named Carey,
who stole nearly s200,000," said Dali
ton. ssThe Judge said they should have
paid Carey more, and his case seemed
to fit me. I saw the chance to take
the bonds and decided on the spur of
the moment to try to get away with
them. 1t doesn't pay, however, and
I'm sorry. I'm sorry especially for
my mother and sisters. I don't know
what I can do now" Dalton broke
down and cried when speaking of his
mother, who is a widow.
"I don't know what I wanted to do
with the money! he said. II just TOOK
notion to go off and had an easy
chance to get some money, and took
it. did not have any particular no
ton of where was going, but wanted
to go to the south, either to Louls1-
ana or Georgia, where thought there
would be less chance of my being
found"