Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-11-15
NO TRACE Of
COTTON
BANK R0BBER.
Lone Bandit Gets $3.50 in
Daring Daylight Holdup Of
cottonwood State; Escapes
Forces Belknap to Hand Cash
Over Counter, Ties and Gags
Him and Flees in Motor Car

NJ, trace has been found of the lone
-.hhor who. last Friday afternoon at
| 19.30, walked into the Cottonwood
| STATE bank, at Cottonwood, held up
NJ NJ Belknap vice president OF the
hart without displaying gun, forced
p paiI TO give him $3.50 in currency
and silver. bound and gagged the
',ioa president, who was the sole oc-
ornant of the bank, and escaped.
Armed posses secured the country
Friday afternoon in search OF the
robber. Sheriff Eller and his depu-
ties have been busy for almost week
in an effort to pick up the trall OF
the lone bandit, man about 70 years
old who vas last seen leaving Cot
tonwood in a Ford touring car, and
word was sent to officers throughout
tho northwest to be on the lookout
for the man, but absolutely no clue
EXISTS as to his possible whereabouts.
Not Man Wanted
Several suspects were rounded up
nv Sheriff Eller, on information fur
nisbed him from various sources, but
when Mr.. Belknap was given the OPP
portunity of identifying them, he de-
clared none of the suspects was the
man who had robbed the bank.
The bandit had been in Cottonwood
for two days prior to the robbery,
and had frequently been seen on the
street. He was alone, and spent much
of his time in the vicinity of the
bank building. Selling his 0ppOrtun-
ty at the noon hour, when Mr.. Bel
KNAPP was alone, and the street was
practically deserted, the bandit enter
ed the bank.
Il was sitting in a chair back OF
the desk, when a man entered the
bank and came up to the window"
said Mr.. Belknap, in telling OF the
cool robbery by the youthful bandit.
81 saw it was young fellow who had
been standing on the walk in front
of the bank in the forenoon. He had
white rag wrapped around his right
hand, and a piece of paper In the
left. thought, Here's a fellow with
a hard-luck story, looking for mon
ey'"
Looking i'm Gun Muzzle
The man handed Mr.. Belknap the
paper, on which several lines were
written.
''The paper said, You are looking
into the muzzle of gun. Don't move
- but didn't have time to read
the rest of it," Mr.. Belknap related,
when he handed me another paper
on which he had written a list of
denominations of money he wanted,
50 many $500 bills, so many hundreds
SO many fifties, twenties and tens"
Inc bandit carried the wrapped hand
as though he held a gun. Mr.. Bel
KNAPP with composure, yet realizing
lnat he no doubt was in imminent
danger if he did not in way comply
with the bandits demands, told the
man he didn't have any $500 bills.
What's the biggest you've gotT de-
handed the bandit.
Twenties are the biggest we have"
the banker answered.
How many have you got?" the
bandit asked.
-FOUR" said Mr.. Belknap, reaching
ior Tour twenty dollar bills that were
On the counter.
how many tens?" the bandit asked.
a Mr. Belknap gave him $110 in tens
HOW many ives?"
Mi. Belknap handed him two bun
dies of fives.
pive me So in silver" was the
ROBBERS next demand.
Inc banker gave him a stack of
zen silver dollars.
rs that all you have in hereY,
We have more in the safe, the
tbo replied, "but the safe is locked,
c ae eashier has gone to dinner, and
bau open it." Mr.. Belknap could
d;s opened the safe, but the bandit
uld not insist.
49, Change for the Boys
Tho D1 h give me So more in silver.
NJ 'oys might want some change"
in SID neiknap handed him $40 more
Thn e, In all, the robber got $3.50.
kpan ne bandit then ordered Mr.. Bel.
torap INTO telephone booth. and on
arm 'ne booth with the banker.
said " gong to blindfold YOU" he
bansoasn ana tied cloth around the
hands Eyes. He then tied Belknap's
"o an behind him.
s,Does that hurt?, asked tbe band;t
Tho' replied the banker.
togeth roDDer tied the bankers feet
had fon BY this time the blindfold
son nalien from Mr.. Belknap's head
open your mouth" was The man,s
'Continued on las. mayo,