The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-31
Still at Large at 3-P. M. After
Stutsman County's First
Bank Robbery
ONE WORE NEGRO MASK
C. A. Bertel, Cashier, and Fred
Cooper Put on Floor
and Bound

Two armed U9001t8 0olo up the
Farmers state Bank at Windsor, IS
miles west Of Jamestown, ct noon to-
day and escaped with between $3.50
and 1900 In stutsman county's first
bank robbery on record.
They were still ct large ct 8 p. m.
The two men entered the bank
twice, coming In the first time ct II
o'clock according to G. A. Bertel.
cashier. who was alone In the build
Ing ct the time.
They told Bertel that they were
selling alfalfa seed and that they
hadn't had much luck and wanted to
know II they could leave some sam
pies In the lobby Of the bank. Bertel
told them that It would Be Ill right.
They went out to their car and Ber-
tel resumed his work.
When Bertel looked up the next
time the two men had returned. One
was leveling q rifle at him. and the
other was carrying . Is calibre army
colt revolver. The man carrying the
rifle was described as short. He wore
q negro mask which covered his face
completely. The mask had red lips
and white eyes. The other man was
described by Bertel % about six feet
one inch In height, Of dark complex
Ion, and slight build. He wore = dark
overcoat With q fur collar, high boots
and rubbers.
Said Stick 'Em Up
The tall man said "stick 'em up"
Bertel, seeing the Halloween mask
thought It was q Joke, and laughed.
"You're nuts" he said. After the or.
der was repeated the second time he
told them they were crazy.
Then he put up his hands laid on the
floor at their orders, and was bound.
The men took the keys from Bertel's
pocket but failed to ,ack the door.
They evidently thought they had
locked the door, Bertel SAID
When they had flnished 6inding
Bertel. Fred Cooper, owner Of . pool
hall next to the bank, came In the
front door. Some Of the cord was
taken from Bertels body and Cooper
was bound.
The men then scooped up all the
money they could find. silver and
currency, and rushed out to. their
Pontiac coupe In front Of Cooper's
pool hall and left In the direction Of
jamestown. The motor had been
left running.
Within three minutes, Bertel said,
the two men had succeeded In getting
loose. They rushed to the street in
time to see the direction In which
the bandits were travelling.
Blizzard Drifted Roads
A strong wind Ill morning had
drifted roads with snow 80 that they
were almost impossible. The tenn
perature was IS degrees below zero.
Sheriff II. B. spauton, etutsman
county, was notified immediately. All
towns and cities In the district were
Immediately notified and reports Of
the robbery have been broadcast from
stations WDAY, Fargo, and KFYR,
Bismarck. All crossroads in Stuts-
man county are being watched.
Bertel said ct 2 p. m. that he
thought the two bandits were still
within l6 miles Of Windsor because Of
the poor condition Of the roads.
Bertel believes that the short man
may have been known In Windsor be-
cause he kept behind the tail man @
much as possible. as II to keep from
being recognised. The little man
also wore Z dark coat with . fur
collar.
r. r. Wolfer, cashier Of the Farm
ers and Merchants bank Of James,
town, is president Of the Windsor
bank.