The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-07-15
BANDIT WAS JAILED
WouId-Be Bank Robber
Caught Near Morgan
CAPTURE IN CORNF|ELD
Farmers Interchangeable Made
Posse; Two Others Make =,
Their Escape
Especial 70 the Free PressI

Especial 70 the Free Press1
Morgan, Mimi. July 11.-Morgan
was stirred with excitement early
Saturday morning over the attempted
robbery Of the Farmers and Mer-
chants State Bank and the capture Of
one gangster by an armed posse in
Guiding Sheriff Kise within a half
hour after the alarm was sounded.
The burglars were thwarted in
their efforts to gain an entrance
into the vault by the sounding of
the electric burglar alarm system
which Is connected with the bank
vault.
This was about four o'clock. Pre-
vious to the bank attempt, the
Steinke- Seidl company hardware
store and Languells Confectionery
were entered.
The alarm aroused a number OF
people living downtown, and central
was Immediately informed and she
also called a number Of men. Within
two minutes after the alarm sounded
streets with guns and the posse was
quickly augmented with additional
recruits. From an upstairs window
some women noticed man crouch
ing around some box cars near the
depot evidently trying to make
getaway along the railroad tracks.
Pursuit was taken in this vicinity
sneaking along weeds and high grass
and fortunately he was seen as he
ducked into corn field south of
town. The field was first surrounded
and then a body of men followed the
tracks through the corn. Sheriff
Kise, who had been called when the
gong sounded, and his deputy. Harry
teen minutes and joined in the pur
suit. The hunted man was tracked
through the field and he was discov-
cred as he crawled into Breeds
grove.
The Robber Surrendered.
The robber sullenly surrendered
at the point Of q gun without putting
up an attempt at fight. A search Of
his person revealed no gun or loot
but closer search later rewarded the
man hunters for their diligent work:
At the point where the fellow crawled
into the grove he carefully hid In
ing the small sum Of money, about
$40 in change, which he stole at the
hardware and confectionery stores,
and bundle containing a jack knife,
razor and searchlight. Apparently
the knife had also been taken at the
hardware store. The money pouches
were red in color and each had an ad :
Client" printed on 1t.
There has been a recent robbery
at Client, which probably accounts
for these particular pouches. Along
the railroad track a short distance
east of town was found a small pinch
bar. a thirty-two calibre revolver as
we'll as a bottle of milk and some
pastry. The food stuff had been TAX
en- from. the confectionery store as
was later discovered.
The burglar or burglars had pried
open the back window at Languell' S
and robbed the till of about SIS in
change and a quantity of pennies,
about 81 worth and helped themselves
to what they expected to be their
breakfast.
Entrance at Stienke- Seidls was
also made by way of rear window.
An attempt had been made to knock
OF the combination lock but without
success. 70 attempt was made to
blow the safe. The cash register
was robbed of its contents of change,
not much over a collar. but otherwise
nothing was molested except that
the robber took a little equipment
Large quantities of cutlery and sill
verware were passed up by the night
visitors. The attempt on the safe
looked 49, like crude work. However,
with the bank robbery in mind 1t
Is probable that the burglars did
not try to blow the safe for fear OF
being heard.
Young Men Heard Noise.
Shortly after $3.50 o'clock three
young men returned from dance
and put their car in Mielke's Garage.
They stood around the garage few
minutes and smoked a cigarette and
then closed the doors and passed in
front Of the bank and took a drink
at the fountain near the entrance of
the building. While they were drink
ing they heard sound as though
someone was moving around In the
bank. and one Of the boys suggested
It might be robbers. After listening
for a few moments they concluded
the noise and they left for their
homes. Less than FIVE minutes later
the burglar alarm sounded.
The burglar that was captured was
lodged in the city lookup for couple
of hours and then taken to the county
jail by Sheriff Kfse and Deputy
Beatty: He is about Is years Of age
dark Completed. had gray eyes,
black hair square face, is about five
feet eight inches high and weighs
about 100 pounds. He wore a new
pair Of blue overalls and Jacket.
Thinking that other members OF the
gang were possibly in hiding in the
vicinity a hunt through corn fields
and sloughs was kept up for several
hours but no trace Of robbers were
found.
Two or three farmers report a car
on the south road going at high speed
about the break Of day but car
was not noticed leaving town at that
time.
There was a gang of three men
one carrying an old leather travelling
bag, who had stolen a ride on the
train, got off here Thursday afternoon
and were around town that night
The captured robber has been recog-