The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-26
LindsbOrg Citizens Form Anti
RObber Organization.
Business Men Ready to Use
Guns in Hurry.
SEVENTY men READY TO SERVE
Average of Three Meetings
Held Each Week.
system of Signals and Other
Plans Are Used.

Stirred to action by the prevalence
- bank rcbberies in Kansas, Linds-
Borg citizens have formed an anti
robber organization.
Seventy men, systematically dis
tributed over the city, trained and
heavily armed, are ready upon signal
to block the escape OF robbers. Like
the Minute Men of Colonial days, they
are ready to spring to action in a
moments notice. The business men
form an auxiliary. Guns are in prac-
tically every business place with men
pledged 10 use them.
But let Phil z. Zimmerman, field
secretary for the Associated Indus
tries of Kansas. tell the story:
AT II o'clock on the morning of
a recent November day. three Linds-
borg men were discussing the ever
increasing number of bank robberies
and the case with which these pests
make their getaway after negotiating
a job. One of the men said; What
do you say, boys. let's make Lindsborg
unsafe for bank or store robbers!
las the result of this remark, by 3
o'clock that same afternoon, Mayor
Ludwig Nelson had called a mass
meeting (by Telephony for 8 Pm.
and on the hour. the city hall was
comfortably filled with men who
listened eagerly to the plan presented
LOT the plOLECliOH VI lne city All
organization was perfected and ward
committees appointed with instruc
lions to meet at the earliest possible
date and perfect the ward organiza-
tons. The committeeman met the
next morning at 10 o'clock, and after
an hours session. the Lindsborg anti
robber organization was a going con-
cern. The whole thing was accom-
plished in less than twenty-four hours
from the time it was conceived.
Meet Three Times a Week.
An average of three meetings n
week have been held since in which
the force has been disciplined, tactics
and strategy worked out and defined,
and plans formulated for coping with
any emergency.
ASIDE from the executives, the
force consists of a captain, two lieu
tenants and fifteen men in each ward
or an approximate total of seventy
men, all carefully selected and armed
TO the teeth. Three minutes after the
alarm is sounded, the town will be
Theoretically sealed every exit being
bIockaded and barricaded. Every
man knows his place and duty. A
careful survey of the city was made
and every strategic point will be oc-
cupied by day or night. The three
banks border on or near the princi-
pal street intersection, and right in
that limited zone Chief Frederickson
intends to annihiIate the robbers. In
fact. nothing but a miracle will ever
enable the robbers to get to the eX-
treme outpQsts.
"Of course the signals, plans, etc,
necessarily cannot be discussed; keep
ing them secret is nine-tenths of the
battle.
Separate and distinct from the reg
ular force is the business mems aux
Hilary. A careful~Survey was made of
the business district, an inventory be-
ing taken of the weapons available
for daylight robbery. AS a result
there will be from one to four guns in
practically every place of business Gin
Guiding those in the second stories)
with men pledged to use them. A SIM
liar survey was made of the residence
section. The city will furnish the am
munition. All weapons and ammuni-
ton will be inspected each month.
Arrangements are being made to
organize the farmers in the Lindsborg
territory to support an attack on the
town. and plan is likewise being
formulated for cooperation with
neighboring towns"