The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-09

is greater in the mind Of the bank
bandit than fear of the present laws.
declared Eben II. Wolcott. State
bank commissioner. Wolcott fore
saw in organization of the vigiiantes
long step toward driving bank
bandits out Of the State.
Not From Here
Police Chief Herman f. Rikhoff.
Detective Inspector Jerry Kinney
and other police officials say it is
their belief the bank robbers who
are working in the State are from
several different headquarters, and
doubt If any are using this city.
Some of the robberies in the south
west section of the State are COM
mitted by bands from Illinois, Mis-
souri, and Terre Haute and other
mining towns. the officials say.
The Spencer Qnd0 hold-up of
year ago was by a group Of western
Indiana men, they point out. The
only robbery by Indianapolis men
was at the South Kokomo and South
Marion Bank robberies, when some
FIT. Wayne and former local known
criminals banded together.
Sees Arrests Near
Webster said he believed the ar
rest of the bandits in the recent
hold-ups are near. Webster armed
with photographs Of known crimi-
nails and their associates has visited
raided institutions and believes that
two different gangs are at work.
Neither are using Indianapolis as
headquarters. while some, 1t is
learned, come in here at intervals.
Manys Of the photographs have been
positively identified by the bank en-
ployes and their arrests are certain
in time. Webster said.
Webster stated he believes that
many of the present day bandits
are men who have served time for
minor offenses and become asso-
ciated with high type bandits in
prison. "A liquor law violator of
the hiijacker type is a future bank
bandit possibility" he ayers.
Prepared Here
Police in Indianapolis are very
we'll equipped to cope with bank
robbers" said Ernest l.. Kingston,
chairman of the board Of safety.
He sal dthat the department has two
speedy autos, two emergency squads.
and an abundance Of shot guns.
Bank bandits aare men trained
for their profession" declared Kings
49, .Np .v4fes 4
not do much good. The most effec-
tive way of coping with bank bandits
is by using stool pigons.'" He said
he did not think vigilance commit!
tees would be used in Indianapolis.
Better Police Urged
More efficiency in the police de-
partment and less politics were adj
vocated by Walter Myers, Democrat
ic candidate for mayor.
Our police force should be
schooled in suppressing crime and
not so much atteption paid to skill
in playing the game of politics." he
said.
An efficient State police force and
a system of electric alarms was ad-
vocated. by Judge James A. Collins
as a means of curbing activities Of
bandits. William II. Remy. prose
cutor Marion County, Endorsed the
State police but also insisted that
strict and rigid law enforcement is
the most effective force.
Estate police would be all right
if taken out of politics." he said.
Banks also are easy, officers say.
because burglar alarms and tel
ephone system Abrams have exposed
wires that are easy to cut and dis
able.
Indianapolis alone has more than
800 paroled convicts, and the State
total runs up in thousands. These
men have been associated in prison
with criminals, bank bandits and
murderers. They have learned from
them the art of banditry, while serv-
ing a larceny sentence.
Lack of an organized State con-
stabulary, with an alarm system
that will travel faster than bandit
autos is also cited.
Switch Autos
The bandits who escaped with
$4,000 after holding up the Bank of
Carbon of Carbon, Ind, Monday,
managed TO shake off their pur-
suers by changing cars. They first
used a small touring car, finally
showing 1t over a cliff into creek.
They were then picked up by large.
green automobile. This car was
traced to Rocky Ford, where dark
ness ended the search. Bandits who
robbed the First State Bank at
Galveston last week of $4,000 also
escaped by switching autos.
Total loot Of bank bandits since