The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-04-28
Ben Olney Attempts Daylight Hold Up Of Cila Valley Bank & Trust Company at Stafford

On Thursday morning of this weeS Stafford was thrown into state of wild excitment when Assistant Cash fer Harry McCarroll, of The Gila Valley Bank & Trust Co.,, of that place, rushed from the bank and gave the alarm that a burglar had gained entrance and had attempted to hold him up at the point of a gun.
 Deputy Sheriff Talley and Deputy Sheriff Alfred, with a posse, were quickly on the scene and surrounded the building. Deputy sheriff Talley and member of the posse entered the front door of the bank with rifles and Deputy Alfred and others gained entrance through the rear door of the bank. While the would be rob beri was covered with a rifle from the front entrance deputy Alfred dis armed the intruder, and upon the re- moval of the disguise. to the sul- prise of the officers and members ot the posse. the robber proved to be Ben w Olny, nephew of Hon. Geo. A Olney, age about 50, former deputy sheriff of Graham county and recently a watchman employed by the Phelps Dodge Corporation at Morenci.
 Olney was taken to the county JdlI dW dltlllS d Pl hSNA AAA
 Hon. George A. Olney. who resides in Phoenix, was notified and he is expected in Stafford today.
 Shortly aster eight o'clock on Thursday morning Assistant Cashier McCarroll opened the front doors Of the bank, pulled up the window shades. and started around back of the banking counter, when he noticed a liglat shining under the door of an ante room which opens at the rear of the bank building on the nortli east corner, Thinking that he had left the light burning fthe previous evening the assistant cashier stepped towards the door leading into the rear ante room. As he did so l, masked and disguised man 1teppe" out of the adjoining directors room with a 45 six shooter in his hand and ordered him to throw up his hands.
 McCarroll bolted into the rear ante room and made his escape through an opening in ftbe panel of the back door which the robber had sawed out when he gained entrance to the bank dur ing the night.
 The alarm was given instantly and before the robber could escape, if he had any such intention, fthe build ing was surrounded, and his capture
 
 effected.
 Otney was completely disguised and his identity was not known until the mask he wore was removed. The mask completely covered his face, which had also been blackened, as well as his neck. He wore a red bandaua handkerchief around his neck and had on an old slouch cow boy hat and old clothes. He carried a cJ5ton bag, some thin wire and plyers, and in addition to a six shool- CT had pitch fork as a weapon.
 The theory of the bank officials is that the robber intended to remain concealed in the directors room un- til the time lock safe was opene'. then step out and hold up the cashier and assistant. The light in the ante room, attracting the attention of the assistant cashier, evidently upset the plans.
 OIney is alleged to have said, when taken to jail: "Well, I guess I pulled a bone"
 Another theory advanced is that Olney has been weak, mentally, for some time and given to fits of me 1ancholy and breeding over financial affairs