Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-22
BANK BAND|TRY CUT
BY ARMED CITIZENS
Reduction of go Per Cent Is
! Effected by Organization
in Illinois.
snecial Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, August 22.-Bank ban
ditry in Illinois has been reduced by
60 per cent during the last 16 months
through an organization of 10000 men
who have been armed by the Illinois
Bankers Association and who are
spurred by the associations offer OF
81. 900 for a dead bank bandit.
The association has invested $25O.o0O
in protective measures, in arms, am
munition and rewards. Results have
included six dead bank bandits. many
wounded ones, more than 80 captured
and hundreds of thousands OF dollars
saved from the bandits hands.
Bank bandits have been curbed so
sharply in Illinois and in Iowa, which
has similar methods. that recently the
bankers in Wisconsin, Michigan and
Minnesota called a conference IN
Chicago and asked the Bankers AS.
ISOLATION of Illinois and Iowa to tell
them about their system.
Aiming of Thousands.
Records and costs as submitted 10
the visiting bankers made out a PLAIN
case in favor of the Iowa and Illinois
methods. The essence of the plan was
the organizing and arming OF thou
sands of honest citizens and the post
ing of rewards for them to work for.
With Illinois and Iowas results
staring them in the face as cold but
alluring facts, the northern bankers
decided to organize guards in every
county of their respective States.
Michigan has been active and mas
already buried several bank robbers.
In the five States today approximately
$4,000 men are guarding banks.
Smooth roads in all these prosperous
States and fast automobiles MADE
hanks relatively easy pickings for
gunner who were willing to risk their
skins for a fortune or two. In Illinois
during the two years previous to Or
SANITATION of the patrol there were
10 bank robberies. Bankers were ap-
palled at the size and regularity or
their losses Chicago's gunner struck
ruthlesslv all over the State. But dur
ing the last year not more than ~
robberies have been reported.
Towns Are Prepared.
Each little town has it's guards. and
the robbing profession knows 1T. Ihey
and many of their imprisoned fellows
have learned it by experience. Each
town has its electric alarm system. Its
automobiles ready for instant pursuit
and it's men with their arms close at
hand and with ample willingness to
shoot to kill. Everything is organized.
Each bank has a masked machine
gun that can sweep the entire moor:
Whether at home or in their places o!
business, the butchers, the bakers ana
candlestick makers who compose the
guard are within earshot OF their
alarm signals and within arm's-reacn
M H'renNonI
rehearsals and many real perform
ances have shown they can mobilize
in a few minutes. The sheriffs of the
respective counties are in charge.
''It is the only remedy" according
to Ray E. Garrison, who supervises
the guards. He is under direction OF
the illinois Bankers Association.
Iowa originated the system under
the direction of r. c. Saunders. for
mer chief of police in Des Moines. In
7Sl towns he organized 1000 guards.
Rewards were posted totaling $4,000.
The bankers purchased and distributed
3.700 rifles, pistols and sawed-off shot.
guns.
Yeggs Are Appreciated.
In six months bank banditry In
Iowa was making most Of its entries
on the red.ink side of the sheet.
Hank" Hankins, one Of the smooth
est and most capable yeggs, cashed in
his checks during an attempted hold
I'D and they buried him with his skin
plentifully pierced with bullet holes.
Harry Dean, ''Lop-eared" Bill Davis.
sKid" Martin and "Scarface" Hogan
are on the inside looking out. They
tried to rob Pleasantville bank. They
were about to get away with $4,000,
but the system rounded them up.
Others Of their ilk Jared as badly.
The year before organization the
Iowa bankers lost 100000. The loss
last year was $4,000.
Eighty-six banks in Chicago sub.
urbs have organized special patrol
Of $50 men sworn in as special police
in their own communities. They are
prepared at all times to drop their own
business and respond to bandit alarms.
These men protect not only the banks
but business houses in general. They
have been equipped with $1,000 worth
of arms purchased by bankers.