Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-02-10
BANDITS ROB
| BANK OF $4,000.
Nine Men Hold Up Trust Co.
/ atWyOmissing, Near Reading,
POLICE IN CLOSE PURSUIT
Thieves Knock Down Deposition.
i Cpver Clerks With Pistols and Es-
i cape After Overlooking $4,000.


cape After Overlooking $4,000.
Heading, Pa.--Nine bandits in ~
autG,nobile swoOped down on the Peo-
pies Trust company at Wyomissing. a
mile and a half from this city and es-
capped with $4,000.
They were trailed for twenty-seven
miles by state police and members of
the Reading force, doubled on their
pursUers and returned to Reading.
There the bandits car blew out a
tire. They Immediately abandoned the
machine, stole one standing In the
street and fled off over the Lincoln
Highway toward Allentown.
In coolly and Systematically going
Through the bank, the bandits over
looked $4,000 in cash lying on a
table near the teller's desk. This was
ready for delivery TO pay off hands.
The bandits, unmasked, worked crisp
fy, hut without apparent excitement.
Persons in the bank wcre covered"
wiaf pistols. One of the clerks, Agnes
-Bfesbenner, they bound and gagged
and left OF the floor.
Three men stayed outside and at
tended to persons on the street Those
attempting to enter the bank were fell
ed with a blow and then covered with
. pistols. Others along the street were
warned against approaching by waving
weapons.
The bank stands alone on the Penn
boulevard from Reading near the
bridge across the Schnvllxill, connect
ing Reading with Wyomissing.
1t was just before neon when the
robbers drew up to the bank in a Hud-
son car painted green, and believed to
have been stolen. One man remained
at the Wheel with the motor running,
while two others stood guard at the
door to prevent anybody from enter
ing
The six other robbers entered the
bank with their pistols drawn
Two Of the men, who went directly
to the window near the paying teller's
desk, q revolver in each hand With
ont any hesitation they broke the
window and started to coop up all
the cash in sight. It Is believed they
knew the bank had prepared payrolls
amounting to over $4,000, but they
missed the money because it was wrap
ped in three packages with brown
paper.
Three employees were II the bank and
three depositors. Each was Jumped
upon by the robbers and knocked to
the floor
Among them were The cashier. Wal
ter G. Wade, and Miss Bredbenne-.
The young woman, who is athletic and
formerly was an instructor at a recre-
atior center, was bound. hands and
feet, when she attempted to push an
electric signal to summon the police.
All the telephone wires were cut.
Or. John Livingood, physician, tried
to enter the bank just as the robbers
arrived and was beaten to the side
walk
In less than five minutes the robbers
had scooped up all the money they
could find and fed As soon as they
whisked away in their machine word
was flashed to the Reading police, who,
in turn notified the state constabulary.
Within ten minutes after the rob
berry, Chief of Police Strobe, picked up
the trail Of the bandits and was 1ol-
lowing them in his big red motor
car, recently purchased 20 chase ban
bits A short time later word came
from the state police that they had
traced the fugitives as far as Bern
Vile, twenty-seven niles away from
the scene of the robbery.
At this point the bandits doubled on
their tracks, taking road known as
a Short cut back to Reading. 1t is
believed that they hoped that the po-
lice WOULD follow along the William
Penn Highway.
Entering Reading at high speed, the
robbers had elbow OUT at Church
and Buttcnwood streets, as they at
tempted to turn the corner. As ey
had no time to change tires they had
to abandon the machine, which car
ried New York license Tag, No. 1885,
500.
In the car they left two bags which
had contained money stolen from the
bank. One Of them was empty and the
kother had two Liberty bonds left in it.
The bandits also left Ia the abandon
ed machine two caps. One of these CON
tanned the name of Chicago dealer
and the other was purchased in Detroit.
- H-swl. 81