The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1925-01-01
GrappIes With Armed Robbers
Who Attempt to Hold Up
Her Bank.
UHARMED, WINS LONG FIGHT
One Bandit Killed and Other
Wounded When Men Come to
Rescue-Story Told at Ma
tionaI Meeting Of Bankers.

When the wave OF crime against
banks. which has reached UMPIRE :
edented proportions. was under dis
cussion at the recent meeting OF the
American Bankers Association at Chi
cago and defense measures we're up
for consideration. the bankers were
told how one resolute woman defend
ed herself against two armed despera-
does in her little Western bank. The
woman was Mrs. Mary Clearinghouse.
cashier OF the State Bank OF Vera,
Oklahoma, which she conducts single
handed. Her own story, as she told 1t
In report TO the protective authori-
ties Of the Association, follows:
while ! was posting my ledger.
With my back to the door, heard
commotion. When turned around
there were two men back Of the coun
ter, with handkerchiefs over their
faces. The larger made jump for
my gun. before realized what was
happening. The robbers each had
gun pointed at me, and one said Lay
down or will shoot you' | said. I
will not lay down and you will not
shoot me- This conversation was re-
peated several fines. | told them to
cut out their foolishness.
"A man who was In the corridor
when the bandits came laid down on
the floor, face down. | tried to argue
with the robbers and they began to
get rough, but something within me
seemed to realize that they were get
ting confused kept thinking that
some one would come In or see us.
THE larger man got busy with the
money. while the smaller one took
care OF me. He jerked me TO my
knees and hit me over the head. This
jolted my glasses and lifted my hand.
waving 1t In front OF bis face and
telling him to walt q minute. | took
my glasses on and put them on the
table. Lifting my hand caused this
man to look up and he saw we were
observed from across the street Then
be saw Constable Mosby. with his
gun. and said to the man who was
gathering the money, Don. we are
seen. we must make our getawayl'
He then grabbed me rather roughly
and said: Come on herel You are
coming along!
Struggles With Robher
Here is where our struggle began.
All the time we fought over his gun,
did not try to take 1t away from
him. but kept moving It from one side
to the other, and of course he was
determined to point II straight at me.
told him. I will not go and am not
afraid of you. You will not shoot mel
I'VE fought to the back door of the
bank When we got there. he raised
his arm to fire at Mosby. grabbed
him around the neck. and he fired be-
fore could get his hand. | am posi-
tive that this man was never Rugged
30 tightly. nor ever will be. as hug
ged him. realizing that must tight
for my life. The man tried his level
best 10 kill me. What the other man
was doing do not know. My man
was trying to pull me out the back
door to their car. which was stiIl run
ming, was determined he should not
"R. G. Lapsley, the mayor. or Ed.
Mosby shot the man in the arm. There
was Jerk and out the door we went
Things were coming my way now. I
pulled the robber into the weeds. half
on HIS back and half on his left side.
THE robber finally said. I will give
up said. Give me your gun He
answered. I VIII not: know you will
shoot me- so the struggle kept on.
We got back on our feet. meant TO
have his gun and would fight him until
got It. We fought through the back
room behind the counter. He begged
me not to take him. and asked him
again for his gun and he said. No.
know you viii shoot me- We strug
gied through the front door and then
Constable Mosby said. Drop your gun
or I win shoot you The bandit gave
up and the men took charge of him.
One Bandit Killed
Il wondered about the other bandit
and started to look for him and found
| him In the closet In the back OF the
bank dying. r. c. Lapsley told me
afterwards that when the bandit and
lurched through the back door the
larger man. with his gun In his right
hand and the sack of money IN his
left. stepped up to the door They
both nred at once. The robber drop
ped his gun and the money. but they
could not see what became OF him.
~1f all towns had as brave men NJ
we have here, bank robbfng would b.
a thing of the past. You can under
stand the remarkable Workmanship
that was displayed. when tell 20,
that in our struggle at the back o
the bank the men took several shot
at the robber. but we're very careful
not to hit me. The robber got a sho
in his right arm and a glancIng sho
in his left
"All during the shooting and fight
ing. felt confident I would get IN,
best OF my man. felt that the maj
would not shoot me. and Ike all West
ern women did not lose my nerve
Bank robbers. as rule. are cowardl
! and II one shows that he IS not afrait
Of them they will lose their nerve"