The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1921-03-17
PEABODY BANKER
RETURNS HOME
Had Thrilling Experience cl' With Thugs
In Wichita. Was Gagged Z
-sio and Robbed
ROAD IN BOX CAR TO TucuMcARI

Inc mystery OF Stanley Brown,
missing assistant cashier Of Amer
lean State bank at Peabody was sol
we'd last Friday morning when he ar
rived in Liberal and induced Harry
F. Malone Of the Wiley Drug store
to take enough interest to listen to
his story.
Brown disappeared from Peabody
about week ago and although
search has been conducted, no trace
of him could be found.
A Democrat reporter interviewed
Brown and he told of the reason of
his disappearance.
According to his statement he
went to Wichita for the purpose of
buying a present for his wife TAX
ing $85 in money with him. Arriv-
ing at the Union station he entered
taxi and drove south. Another
man got in the cab at the same time
but neither paid any attention to the
other. After they had driven south
short distance Brown was struck
over the head, and rendered uncon-
scious. He remembered nothing fur
ther until he came to in room and
found that he had been blindfolded
and tied to an iron bedstead. Par
tally removing the blindfold and
rope he succeeded in writing some
notes on a piece of an old issue Of
the Wichita Eagle. A window was
down from the top so he took one of
the brass knobs from ,thebed post
wrapped the notes around them and
threw them out of the window. Then
he again partially lost consciousness.
Later the man who had been with him
in the cab returned with another. His
recollection of them is vague, but as
they were going through his effects
he heard one of them say, Bert you
have the wrong man." -H
Gradually he became unconscious
land the next thing he remembers is
when he regained consciousness in q
box car in Tucumcari, N. M.
He had no money and because OF
his appearance could not induce tele-
graph operators or others to assist
him in getting message to his bank,
and he started beating his way home.
He succeeded in riding freights and
walking until he arrived here this
morning when Mr.. Malone who was
familiar with the story Of the disap-
pearance, assisted him in getting
medical aid and to communicate with
his bank.
| Brown shows a scar on his fore
head, and his clothes are bloody in
dicating that he has had a severe
blow from some sort Of dull instru-
ment. He had on a good suit. Of
clothes, and was otherwise we'll
dressed, except that his apparel
showed the effects of his travels.
! He was almost i'll, weak and nerv-
GUS and conversation with him shows
that his mind is not clear as yet. He
makes no effort to conceal anything
but has to stop and study before he
can recall events which happened
previous to the robbery.
His appearance indicates that he
has suffered much hardship and pain
The mystery of Browns disap-
pearance has caused much comment
over the state. His accounts at the
bank were in perfect condition and
he had nice balance to his credit.
| When asked as to the report that
ne registered at Hutchinson hotel,
he replied that if he did he had no
knowledge of it; that from the time
he last lost consciousness in the room
with the two men until he awoke
| in the box car in Tucumcari his mind
is an absolute blank.
The notes which he refers to, ap-
peared in the Wichita Eagle of Fri
! day One addressed to his wife says: {:
Three men holding me in old house.
Must have help. Can't live long in
this shape" Another addressed to
Cashier Brown of the Peabody bank
says: "Have ben slugged and robbed
somewhere in south Wichita. l have
been hit on the head. Can't live much
longer"
The notes he rad enclosed in en-
velopes and were marked finder
please mail and both were mailed.
But two were found, while Brown
says he might have written three.
A report gained circulation that
he had registered at a Hutchinson
hotel as "Bert H. Stanley" and lat
er bought ticket to Ell Paso over
the Rock Islend," but he says if this
is true he has no recollection of it,
and does not believe it is true.
1 Brown left on No. 2 Friday after
noon for his home. He was accom-
panied as far as Hutchinson by Ray
Kennedy of the Griffith & Bangh-
man offices. At that place he was
met by number of friends and ta-
ken to Peabody.
Ae Hutchinson he refused to be
interviewed by newspaper men say
ing that he had given out at Liberal
the only interview he cared to make.
The story Of the discovery of the.
missing banker is rather unusual.
Entering, the Wiley drug store he
asked if he might sit down. Receiving
an affirmative answer he took a seat
on one Of the stools. After a moment