The Mankato free press., 1922-12-01
SMALL AMOUNTS
TAKEN BY YEGGS
Early Morning Scene Was
Enacted In Hamlet
COULD NOT OPEN SAFE
Number of Liberty Bonds Were
Seized; Amateurs Believed
To Be In Trick

1dHoIIS attdCkco tne vault IN
the Farmers State bank at
Pemberton, Blue Earth county,
early this morning. They used
erowbsrs in the assault on the
vault but failed to open the safe.
Telephone, telegraph and radio
wires were cut so as to prevent
the outside world from being
notified at once Of the robbery.
The crowbars we're left in the
bank. But fittle money was OBJ
tanned. Liberty bonds of an in
definite value were stolen. There
rs no clue to the yeSss. Bullets
were exchanged between the
bandits and citizens of Pember-
ton. who were awakened by the
noise created by the robbers
when gaining entrance to the
vault
The usual quiet OF the small hours
before the dawn in the village of
Pemberton was rudely broken by
tullisade of pistol shots in gun
battle between citizens of that ham
let and bank robbers who had bro
ken into the PemDerton state Bank
One man who was daring enough
10 light lamp and peer out of a
window had very narrow escape
rom being killed by two bullets
shot through a pane OF glass near
his head, One glass was shattered
and peices thereof fell about him
like fakes of snow.
As near as can be determined the
robbers did not get into the safe of
the bank but did not get into the
rafnfr dAnncif rsa4l
every boz in 1t. II is believed that
the bandits got away with a large
amount Of Liberty bonds and other
valuable papers which were, depo
sited there.
Was Fit For Movie
After very exciting gun battle
with Walter Pagenkopf Newell Mel
SON and Herman Durken who were
attracted by the noice in the bank,
the robbers took their time in walk
ing to. car which they had left
parked about forty rods north of
the village and made their getaway.
According to the statement of
Henry Pickle of Pemberton who
lives across the street from the
Pemberton State Bank, he was
awakened by the firing of several
pistol shots He went to the window
and looked across the street toward
the bank and could see that bar
ricade of tile and shingles had been
placed there as breastworks to pro-
tect the robbers He could not see
the men, but at once came to the
conclusion that the bank was being
robbed He says that this was just
at two o'clock this morning
Mr.. Pickle stated that Ora Cox,
the depot agent at Pemberton. hear
ing the fullisade of shots lighted
lamp and started to peer out into
the darkness. He soon jumped away
from the window. however, for the
'bandits seeing the light placed two
well aimed shots in the pane of
the glass but an inch or two from
his head
Mr.. Pickle Says that after the
robbers had made their getaway it
was discovered that they had cut
all telephone and telegraph wires,
thus cutting Pemberton off from
the outside world. Even the anten-
nea of a wireless was cut by the
bandits for fear that wireless mes
lice officers of the robbery.
II Fas also discovered then that
entrance to the bank had been gain
ed by forcing the outside doors and
the doors Of the vault of the bank
with crowbars, which we're left be-
hind in the bank by the bandits.
After gaining entrance TO the vault
the wire wicker work guarding the
safety deposit boxes was cut and
every box In the department was
broken open and rifed. The con-
tents not cared for by the robbers
was found strewn about this morn
ing on the floor Of the vault. The
safe was still locked this morning
showing that the cash in that was
intact
May Be Work Of Amateurs
The work is thought to be that
way OF gaining entrance. No suspi-
cious characters were seen lettering
about the village, it was stated by
Mr.. Pickle. ~. -- ...
The officers of the Pemberton
State Bank are as follows: ]. Lam
pert, st. Paul, president, Fl. e. Cra
gun, cashier. Elias Nelson vice
president. The directors are: VIII
liam Anderson, Fl. G. Hotaling, and
Mrs. Anna Severson. .
The blacksmith shop, behind
which Mr.. Pagenkopf, Mr.. Nelson
and Mr.. Durken sought refuge when
the 0dttie Opene0, IOOay SHOWS lno
signs of the carriage OF bullets. The
front of the building is wen loaded
up with shot The robbers had the
% advantage of shooting from behind
breastworks formed with shingles,
tile and other material.
Pagenkopf Was Aroused
II. r. Arnold, one of the expert
line men of the Citizens Telephone
company, returned from Pemberton
at two o'clock this afternoon after
repairing the Tri State and Citizens
wires which were cut by the bandits
who robbed the Pemberton bank.
Mr.. Arnold stated that Walter
Pa.Gnkopf during the early evening
had been taking care of sick milch
COW. Hearing a noise in the night
he thought that it might be the cow
houndering around. He went to the
barn and found that the cow was all
right. In returning to the house he
noticed light flashing on and on in
the bank. He called Newell Nelson
and Herman Durken and they went
with him TO billboard just across
the street, where Pagenkapf fred
two shots into the bank thinking to
frightan the robbers away. The ban
Gits returned the fire and rf6dled the
front of q blacksmith shop near the
hilIboard Only armed with an old