The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-03-25
WOMAN'S COURAGE
FOILS BANDITS
GrappIes With Armed Robbers
Who Attempt to Hold Up
Her Bank.
UNARMED, WINS LONG FIGHT
One Bandit Killed and Other
Wounded When Men Come to
Rescue-Story Told at Ma
ti0naI Meeting of Bankers.

edented proportions was under dis
cussion at the recent meeting of the
American Bankers Association at Chi
cago. and defense measures were 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 It
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 coup
ter with handkerchiefs over their
faces The larger made a 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 your | said I
will not lay down and you will not
shoot me- This conversation was re
peated several times. | told them to
cut out their foolishness
"A man who was in the corridor
when the bandits came laid down Oh
the floor, face down I tried to argue
with the robbers and they began t.
get rough. but something within me
seemed TO realize that they were gel
ting confused / kept thinking thai
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 ierked me to my
knees and hit me over the head This
1olted my glasses and lifted my hand
waving It in front Of his face and
telling him to wait a minute tool |
my glasses off 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
he 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 alongr
Struggles With Robber
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 1t straight at me
told him. I win 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 fred he
ore could get his hand am posi-
i've that this man was never Rugged
10 tightly. nor ever will be as | hug
red him, realizing that | must fight
or my life. The man tried his level
'est to kill me What the other man
vas doing do not know Nv man
vas trying to pull me out the back
oor to their car which was still run
ing. was determined he shor'd nof
"R G Lapsley the mayor. or Ed
iosby shot the man In the arm There {
'as a jerk and out the door we went. I
Kings were coming my way now.
ulled the robber into the weeds half
Il his back and half on his left side
The robber finally said. I viii Give {
p ! said Give me your gun He :
I win not. know Won viii :
boot me So the struggle kept on I
re got back on our feet 7 meant to {
ave his Gun and would fight him until {
got Il We fought through the back Z
'om behind the counter He begged &
g not TO take him and asked him s
'ain for his gun and he said No. I q
low Won will shoot me- We strug 8
cd throngh the front door and then 8
Unstable Mosbv said Drop your gun 8
| viii shoot vou The bandit rave Il
and the men took charge of him q
One Bandit Killed b
~ wondered 81 bout the other oannit 81
d started 10 ook for him and fond 8.
y in the closet in the back of the 81
nix DIVING c rapS'ov toId ne 81
erwards that whru he bandit ana q
urched thrnrrh the back doo- n II
ger man with his gun 10 his right 81
1u7 anu tne suck OF money N 0ls "a
t. sterped mp TO the door Thev 81
h fred AZ once The rohhr' iror ~
! his gun and The money hui thav 81
I'D not see wha' hecaine II him ~
II all towns had as h,eea nan Is
have here bank rohhins would s
hing of the past Won ran 81
nd the remarkable me 81 ansh
I was displayed wheu | ton YOU
t>'n our STRUGGLE at fhe back OF 4
bank the men took several shots Y
the robher but were very careful
to hit me The rohher got a shot -
his rirht arm and a glancing shot
MS left MI
All durins the shoorns and flghi Il
! felt confident | would get the BE
I OF my man I felt that the man II
I'D not shoot me and like all West ESl
women did not lose nv nerve
* robbers as a rule are towards >
II one shows that he IS not afraid
hem they viii lose their nsrve."