The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-02-08
CHIEF CRACKSMAN
is PHILOSOPHER
DAVIS, HEAD OF MONTANA BANK
ROBBERS, SAYS GAME NOT
WORTH THE CANDLE
Man Who it is Supposed Was Master
Mind of Gang Which Robbed Score
of Montana Banks, Says He Will
Be Good When He Gets Out.

1.-THE game doesn't pay - work
for living. "-Philosoph of A. j.
Davis, otherwise "Chicago Fred
die," master cracksman of the most
daring band of robbers to operate
In Montana since the days of Henry
P1ummer and his highwaymen.
This is the substance of Davis con-
versation with the newspaperman
who interviewed him on his way
to Deer Lodge penitentiary, where
he goes to serve a sentence OF from
is to 80 years. The crime, one of
many, for which he is to do time
was the robbing of the First Ma
tionaI bank at Waller last April.
He was in the custody of Sheriff
f.. A. Shocker of Pondera county.
Davis is the first of IL suspects
connected with a score or more bank
robberies in Montana during the past
two years, to come to trial. His ar
rest was made in Stockton, Califor-
mia, December IS, after it had NOM
entarily been expected in Butte for
several weeks. The clue that led to
his arrest, and the arrest of the men
and women who are supposed to have
been associated with him in his OPP
erations, was the key of an automo-
bile. And thereto hangs tale.
The prisoner, highly intelligent,
commented on his case while await
ing the train which would take him
to Deer Lodge. 81 just got off wrong
and it only takes time until one is
caught" he remarked.
He was III good spirits and ap-
peared more like friend of Sheriff
Shocker's than prisoner. well, all
can say is that I'm through and will
work hard to get parole within the
usual time limit Then hope to get
in the plumbing business and come
back"
Keys Dropped in Bank
Around the key to Nash automo- |
bile purchased by Davis in Butte runs
the story of the wholesale arrest of
suspects to the bank burglaries. |
Three keys on a ring were dropped by
Davis in the Waller bank on the night
of the robbery, officers stated. Two
of them were for the transmission
and ignition of the car and the other
was to the door of a workshop in a
6dIdSG Ill ouILc. OWu Sulp VI LA0
car was traced through the keys, and /
Davis residence in Butte was locat-
ed. He was gone from the city then
and failed to return to his apartment
from then on. Several times the
Burns men and officers were on his
trail, but he beat them by day or
two. In the meantime half dozen
arrests were made at Havre, then a
quartet of men were taken in Salt
Lake. A week later Davis was pick
ed up ia Stockton, Cal, and on the
same night Johnny Reed and two
other men were arrested near Seattle
as suspects in some of the robberies.
The last arrests made the roundup
of suspects about complete.
According to the story of the Val
fer robbery, given out by Burns
agent, Davis looked over the ground
with three others assembled in Shell
by early in April They robbed the
Continental Supply company there of
various tools, the officer stated, and
then on the 18th made ready to go
to Waller.
Exchange Autos
A Shelby contractor found his Ca
1illac automobile out of order on that
10y dQu OdflO OllCICQ AAl1 LID 4NdcA
n which to drive to Havre, on the
condition that he (Davis) could use
he Cadillac in case he wanted to
lrive around Shelby. The contractor
arranged for Davis to use Buick car
should he need one.
Davis and the other men, all of
Thom are now under arrest, theni
lrove in the Buick to a point near
1alier and cached the car. One of
he men proceeded into town and hid
'ehfnd rock pile until early in the
morning when lights in the telephone
perators' room in the rear of the
ank building had been extinguished.
The others arrived in the meantime
nd the first move of the men was to
lash light into the window of the
perators' room to see if the girls
we're asleep. Wires to the telephone
xchange were then cut and while one
TODD guard the other robbers pried
pen the front door of the bank with
crowbar They entered and while
hey were locking a door to the te1e-
hone room the girls. began to
cream. One of the burglars went
round to the window and warned
hem to be quiet and they wouldn't
e harmed.
In the meantime, according to the
electives story, Davis set to work
n the vault with set of drills and
edge hammer. The steel was drill
and few minutes later the door
as blown off with nitroglycerine.
he silver was scooped from the safe
nd safety deposit boxes we're then
acked open with an axe.
Loot of Thousands
Leaving the place the robbers car
ed their loot to coulee about
lie north of Shelby and examined
/, to find about $4,000 worth of
onds, $1,000 in war savings and
ostage stamps and large amount
cash. All of the loot except the
liver was cached at the spot and a
lumber of papers, which were of no
alue to the robbers, were showed
badger hole. These were later
'und by a camper.
Some of the loot was sold to
e1I-kuOwn "fenpao in Hayre and