Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-13
BRAIDWOOD POST
OFFICE AND BANK.
VISITED BY BANDITS.
LEAVE BLOODY TRAIL THRU
BUILDINGS RAlDED IN DARING
RoesERIEs GARDNE oNl
"cALLlNG LIST" - LOOT Isl
SMALL.

Joliet Dee 13--Bandits last night
invaded Gardner and Braidwood, and
after robbing a bank post Office, and
two stores, departed, leaving bloody
trail of finger prints as the only clue
10 their identity.
The bandits, evidently two or three
men, invaded Gardner first, entering
billiard hall operated by Lew Martin
whore they secured approximately $40
from the cash register and gum
machines which were broken open.
Then the bandits attempted to gain
entrance to the Exchange bank by
forcing omen a rear window. Failing
he bandits jimmied the front door Of
The bank which led into small yest.
bule.
; Bolieyeing the inside door leading
10 the bank was equipped with a burg
lgr alarm the bandits smashed the
glass
When the bandits crawled thru
the opening IN the door one Of them
Is believed 20 have been severely cut
b. the Jagged glass.
a trail of blood showed that the |
men walked TO the large vault then |
10 the safe. However no attempt was |
made TO blow open the vault or safe |
doors.
According to Wade s. Allison.
cashier of the bank only 81 in reye.
nue. stamps we're secured These |
were found IN a tin box in a teller's
cage
From the bank the bloody trail led |
70 the general store operated by ] |
r. Treasure. Here entrance was
gained by forcing open the rear door |
The shoe department of the store
was ransaoked and il is believed |
several pairs of mems shoes were
taken.
After searching the shoe depart.
ment the bandits entered the grocery
section and took seventy pennies
from the cash register.
The trail ended in the road near
the store, leading investigators to he.
lieye that an automobile was used to
make the escape.
Despite the fact that the robberies
were not discovered until seven
O'Clock this morning all indications
n0int that the bandits's car entered
Gardner between midnight and three
O'Clock this morning.
Blow 10 Safe.
The same bandits who looted two
stores at Gardner and attempted to
rob the exchange bank are believed
10 have been guilty of blowing open
the safe at the Braidwood post Of
Zee and escaping with approximately
$500 in stamps and money between
one and two O'Clock this morning.
AT S o'clock this morning the Braid
wood night Waterman found the front
nor Of the post Office open He i'm.
modiately notified Postmaster
Michael Sullivan, who went to the
scene nc once.
The safe door had been blown from
is hinges by charge of nitro.
slycerine A man sleeping in the
hotel nearby heard the noise but fail /
cd to investigate
Besides taking nearly $500 in /
stamps and money, it is believed that
several valuable papers were also
stolen.
Attempts were not made to enter
Any other establishment in Braid
wood
Al Coot garage owner, told officials e
Today that he saw suspicious look
Inc man walking near the postoffice U
about o'clock this morning. II
Today officials learned that a high u
covered touring car was seen enter. On
ng BraidWood about 1880 o'clock this
morning, @-
Loss is $500. 80
Postmaster Sullivan stated that the il
oss would not exceed $500. Postal /
inspectors have been notified and are 4
expected to conduct an investigation
Dday
Despite thoro search no blood 4
racks were found in the postofflce i
'here is possibility that the Gard Il
Ter and I}raidwood robberies were 4
ommitted by separate gangs of /
andts i
County officials and police o. i
cities have been notified /
II