The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-27
AirpIaneS Aid in Hunt for
Bank Raiders, Killers
of President.
TWO BELIEVED WOUNDED
GangSterS Thought to Have
Escaped From Woods
During Night.


SMITHS GROVE, KY, Dec. 27.-
A posse of 1000 grim and infuriated
Kentuckians spread over hills and
valleys and beat through dense
woods today seeking three Indian
apolis bandits, afoot, two of them
wounded, bearing ST. 900 in bank loot.
Meanwhile, alrplanes from Louis
vile circled about searching for
traces of the bandit trio, also wanted
for the murder of j. Robert Kirby,
45, president of the Farmers bank
of Smiths Grove, who, with VOL
unteer posse, contested their es-
cape, after they had robbed the
Oakland (Ky) bank.
Fleeing on foot, after the stolen
car they used in the holdup crashed
into barricade at Hays, the bandit
trio is believed to have escaped dur
ing the night through a Gordon of
possemen drawn around a woods
near Hays.
Travelling on Foot
They are believed to be travelling
On foot across the country; since the
posse pentrated the grove at dawn
today, but found no trace of them.
Search of the tangled underground
was continued on the possibility the
three had taken refuge in some
thicket while others of the posse of
1000 began a search across country.
Under military organization, with
11.-1Ir Ill Do,n,a,41g
of the Kentucky national guard, in
charge, the giant posse had under
taken a systematic patrol of the L.
& N. railway lines and Of all posi-
BILE means Of exit from the section.
The country is honeycombed with
caves and all the entrances were be-
ing searched on the theory the trio
had taken refuge in some of Them.
Armed posSemen entered one cave
at dawn today but found no trace of
the bandits.
Tear gas bombs and national
guard rifles have been issued to the
posse members and an entire COM
pany of national guardsmen is as
sisting while two other companies
were being modified this morning
to go to the scene.
Three bandits entered the Oak
land bank Thursday morning and
escaped with $1,000. Word was
flashed to surrounding towns, and
at Smiths Grove escape Of the
bandit car was contested by a VOL
unteer posse, Of which President
Kirby Of the Farmers bank was a
member.
The posse fired on the bandit car
and the shots were returned, Kirby
being fatally wounded and Charles
Beard, %, being wounded in the
foot.
Car Is Disabled
The bandit car was disabled by
the shots Of the posse and later was
found abandoned. A machine gun
also was left behind. Previously the
bandits had been prevented, by close
pursuit, from escaping to another
car bearing an Indiana license, is
sued to Elmer Grayson of 722 Madi-
son avenue, Indianapolis, which had
been parked for a getaway after a
switch of cars. The automobile
used in the holdup was stolen at
Nashville, Tenn.
Grayson's car had not been re-
ported stolen to Indianapolis police,
it was learned on checkup.
Investigation at Bowling Green
identified the three men as residents
Of Indianapolis. They had been at
Bowling Green since last Monday,
evidently spying out the surround-
ing territory in anticipation Of the
robbery.
Clothing belonging to the three
was found in the abandoned car
with the Indiana license.
Brush Fires Built
Two of the bandits are known to
have been wounded in the exchange
of shots at Smiths Grove. Afoot
and wounded, it is believed the
three might part company to facili-
tate escape.
. Posse members had orders from
Brigadier- General Denhardt to
shoot to kill at the first sign of re-
Sistance.
Sheriff T. L. Ferguson Of Bowling
Green, commanding one division OF
the posse, had charge Of the build
ing Of brush fires about the wooded
section during the night to prevent
escaped of the bandit.