The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-16

Fargo, N. d., July l6-Apologizing
because it was necessary" to lock
the cashier in the vault, a police
bandit held up the Mapleton. N. -,
State bank Thursday afternoon, took
$500 in cash and escaped in an auto
mobile.
The lone bandit, unmaskcd, held
up Earl Monsoon, acting cashier, at 5
p. m.
Mr.. Monsoon, who was substituting
for Arnold A. Preckel, cashier OF the
Mapleton bank, was locked in the
vault by the bandit and it was an
hour before he was released. He is
employed as teller ut the Mer..
chants National bank Of Fargo. and
was relieving Mr.. Preckel, who had
gone away for the day.
The daring, daylight holdup was
the second staged at the MaPleton
bank in eight months. The bank was
held up Oct. 8, last year.
Alone in the bank, MIR. Monsoon
looked up rs stranger entered at
1858 D. m. The man, tall and heavy,
with beard of about two days
growth, advanced to the cashiers
window and presented check to be
cashed.
lis this check good?" asked the
bandit.
"I'll see," said Mr.. Monson.
Draws Gun
Mr.. Monsoon reached for the check
and the bandit draw a gun, pointed
il ut him and ordeder him to put
them up, please" -,
The bandit, covering Monsoon with
hn y
hack of the counter, poked the CUR
into Monson's ribs and said, I'm
sorry. but I'll have to lock you in the
vault" He pushed Monsoon into the
vault and then began search FOL
loot.
Mr.. Monson had just put the silver
and currency into ~ smaller vau!
contained in the large one. Thu
bandit went to it and took out tn,
money. He locked the vault door o'
MonsUn and made his escape.
Ten minutes later, Martin kuk
lock, Argusville, entered the bank
Mr.. Monsoon heard him enter and be
gan shouting. kuklock immediatel.
gave the alarm.
Az the bandit left the bank, h.
failed to lock the front door. Ha'
he locked the door, Kuklock would no
have been able to gain entrance an
Mr.. Monsoon would have been i'm
prisOncd in the vault until late in tn
night or until this morning, whe
Mr.. Preckel was scheduled to return
In Vault An Hour
While he was in the vault for NOR
than AN hour, Mr.. Monsoon suffere
no i'll effects.
John C.. Ross, Cass county sheriff
was notified by telephone and he. i
turn notified towns in all direction
within q radius Of so miles Of Farg,
In the meantime, attempts To Ope
the vault in which Mr.. -Monson wa
secured. proved unavailing. No on
knew the combination. Finally, A.
Johnson Of the Emery ohnson com
pany, Fargo, was called, drilled int
the vault door, and instructed Nj
Monson how to work the combinatio
from within. In this way, the cashie
was released.
Robbed Last October
The same bank was robbed o
Oct. 3, 1925, by Marion d. Wilson
Heaton, N. D., youth, who day late
was sentenced to 20 years in tn
North Dakota state penitentiary afte
pleading guilty to the crime. Wilso
obtained nearly $500.
On that occasion the wife of tt
cashier, Mrs. Arnold A. Preckel, WI
was alone in the building. save
about 5000 Of the banks funds b
arguing with Wilson in face of
gun. Wilson locked Mrs. Preck
and q large st. Bernard dog whic
had attacked him, in cellar ar
made his escape. He was apprehen'
ed near Hunter, N. D., while fleeir
on = motorcycle he had purchase
1 with part of the stolen money.