The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-05-01
ASAUK CENTREL LAD
PLAYS HEROIC ROLE
c. FRED MENKE BLOCKS AN AT.
TEMPTED HOLD-UP OF LOS
ANGELES BANK
LOOKS INTO REVOLVER
YOUNG MAN PRESENTED WITH
BEAUTIFUL WATCH BY BANK
OFFICIALS

c.. Fred Me Ike, son - W C..
Menke, residing just south of the city,
was one of the prominent actors of a
thrilling drama which took place at
the Hellman Commercial Trust and
Savings Bank, Los Angeles, Satur-
day evening, April 10Th, when the
bank in which young Menke is one
of the paying tellers, was held up by
bandits.
From information received by rela-
tives and through Los Angeles pa
pers, and other sources, it is quite
apparent that the quick thinking and
courageous action of the Sank Cen
tire boy saved the bank from a SUBJ
stantial loss.
The Hellman bank is one of the
largest institutions on the Pacific
coast, having thirty-five branches. At
about 1880 on the evening of
April 10th, when the bank was full
of customers doing their weeks bank
ing, fellow quickly stepped up to
young Menke's window and pushed a
goou sized note under the grating.
When this occurred, young Menke
stated in letter, that he thought it
was some kind of a check and after
giving it glance he looked to the
man to present a pass book but in
stead he faced a bright shining re-
volver, and his supposed customer di-
rected Menke to turn over the
money. The young man screamed
and ducked under the counter after
which he thought of the burglar and
detective alarms nearby and he
touched both and kept on yelling until
some CT the fellows came and asked
what was the matter. The floor man
received the signal and locked the
doors, after which thy took Menke
tut irto the lobby where he identified
the man, and he was later turne
over tc the police.
After it was all over it was dis.
covered that the piece of paper thrust
under the grating at the paying tel
,er's window to young Menke, read
"1and over $4,000 or all the m onay
you have. Don't make a noise until
l have gone or / will shoot. Others
are with me-
The attempted hold-up took place
o-l the corner of Sixths and Main
street, in the heart of the business
district of Los Angeles. The new s.
PC pSIo VI LOS <AHSclcS pdlu Ctlc Ncuh
Ccrtre young man a glowing tribute
for his bravery and quick thinking
following the attempted hold-up
one of the Sixth street windows of
the hank had Young Menke's picture
framed by the side Of which was a
big revolver, mask and copy Of
the note the bandit gave Menk. ard
settlement from the bank which
read: "We choose our employees &C
cording to their loyalty, courage and
courtesy"
Thursday of last week yo ing
Menke was called before Mr.. He'll
man, the head of the bank, and pre-
sented with an expensive watch as {.
token OF the organizations apprecia-
ton of his trust and worthiness. On
the back of the watch was the follow.
ing engraved: "Given to C.. Fred
Menke for courage and loyalty dur
ing the holdup of the Hellman Com
mercial Trust and Savings Bank,
April 10, 1924.
Since the young man went west a
few years ago, his life has been filed
with thrills Of unusual nature. 1t
will be recalled that he was a passeng-
er On G. coast wise vessel which f1oIn-
dered and sunk and he was rescued af-
ter having been in the water for some
time. Quite naturally his father and
sister IL Sank Centre are proud of
the manner in which their son and
brother acquitted himself in his lat
est thrilling experience.