Evening star., 1922-11-07
IN POSSE
TRACK rQ0lyyN AND
TRAP MEN IN WOOD
Foxhounds Aid in Man Hunt
After Attempt to Rob
Clinton, Nd, Bank.
From q STAFF Correspondent.

From 4 Stan Correspondent
CLINTON Md. November =
Tracked down by a posse of several
hundred farmers and policemen, all
heavily armed. and aided by score
of fox dogs. four bandits. who made
an unsuccessful attempt to hold up
the Clinton Bank shortly before noon
today. were surrounded and captured
in a woods five miles from here this
afternoon.
The prisoners gave their names as
William &. Cokley of 223 18th street
southwest and Augustus c., Henry
C. and Frank NJ. Wood. brothers. of
BeltsvilIe. Md. The arrests of the
Wood brothers was made by Sheriff
E. E. Humphrey of Prince Georges
county. while Cokley was taken
into custody by Officer H. n. Darneille
of the Maryland state police, assisted
Forced to Flee to Woods.
Frustrated in their efforts to obtain
the $1,000 in the cash drawer at the
bank. the bandits drove swiftly out
of Clinton. after firing several volleys
of shots at pedestrians and residents.
They had scarcely gone one mile in
their automobile. however. when the
driving shaft snapped and forced them
to flee into the woods.
Summoned from nearby polling
booth. Sheriff Pumphrey quickly
gathered together a posse of forty
armed men and threw a Gordon
around the woods, completely block
ing the bandits escape until, he
comb the underbrush.
Seal Roads to District.
In the meantime Washington
motor cycle policemen. detectives
from the central office and members
of the Maryland state constabulary
had sealed every road into Washing
ton. following reports that the ban
dts had seized an automobile from
a passing motorist and were headed
back to the city.
1t developed. however. that they
had never succeeded in breaking
through the Gordon that surrounded
the woods into which they first ran.
With five men. Sheriff Pumphrey
started through one side of the wood.
tives Scrivener and Fowler. from
Washington. proceeded through from
the Opposite direction. Fully a hun
dred farmers. many of them accom-
panied by their foxhounds, came in
from the side.
Three Hide In Ravine.
Driven deeper and deeper into the
woods as the yelping dogs gave warm
ing of the authorities approach,
three of the bandits sought refuge in
a deep ravine. They were found there
by Sheriff Pumphreys and offered no
resistance. They Immediately turned
their weapons over to the police Of
fcials. Shortly afterward Scrivener
and his posse reached the spot and
brought the prisoners back to this
place in the detective bureaus auto
mobile.
In the meantime CokIey. hoping to
make getaway alone. went to the
farm of Charles H. Ouisler and teIe-
phoned to the authorities at Clinton
that he had seen the bandits and they
had stolen his automobile, fleeing in
1t towards Washington. Mr.. Ouisler
had the presence of mind to keep
arrived from Clinton on his motor
cycle, accompanied by P. B. Middle
ton, William j. McEvoy and Philip
A. Jenkins, who brought him back to
this place.
Forced to Make Trip, He Says.
Under cross-examination by Oar
nellie and W. A. Coombe, lawyer
from Washington, Cokley at first
stuck to his original story, but finally
broke down and asked that Detective
William Messer. who stood outside
the door. be brought in.
In the presence of Messer cokley
told Darneiile that he had been re-
quested by the Wood brothers to ac-
company them into Maryland ito
help them collect a debt"
Cokley said he was virtually forced
to make the trip. Arriving at Clinton,
he said two of the brothers alighted
while Frank and himself remained in
the car. Immediately after they en-
alarm started to ring and he begged
Frank Wood to drive away.
Hell. no. They went in there and
] am going to get them out" he said
the third bandit swore.
Struck Out Alone.
A moment later he confessed that
Augustus and Henry ran out the door
and leaped into the machine. all three
brothers firing Unfortunately as
the machine raced out of the village.
When the driving shaft broke, Cokley
said. he had his first opportunity to
desert the three bandits and strike
out alone. His first idea, he said. was
to give himself up, but, becoming
frightened at the last moment, he
had hoped to reach detective head
quarters In Washington before sur
rendering. He was unarmed when
found.
All four were taken to WASHINGTON
to be photographed and finger-print-
ed. Later tonight they will be remoy-
ed to Maryland and lodged in the jail
at Upper Marlboro, the county seat of
Prince Georges county.
Only the quick presence Of mind dis.
played by J. Frank Dent, cashier of
the bank. prevented the robbers from
obtaining between $1,000 and $40, 900
which was in the cash drawer when
they entered. Mr.. Dent was alone In
the bank with George Simmons. a
friend, when touring car stopped In
front of the door.
Two men alighted and one of them
walked up to the cashiers window
and asked change for f1ve-dollar bill.
He stipulated that the money be given
him in quarters, which would necessi-
tate Dent centering his attention
upon the cash drawer for ? longer
period. As Dent looked up he found
himself facing . revolver.
-"Stick EN- up!" the bandit directed.