The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-01
BANDIT GETS
S1,7OOLOOT in
SHOE Store
Binds Four Men With Wire
and Calmly Goes About
His Robbery.
MANAGER OPENS SAFE
Robber Waits 10 Minutes
for Firm Head to Arrive
With Combination

Making four men prisoners and
taking complete control of the place
for nearly half an hour a lone
bandit this morning robbed the
Hanover Shoe Company store at IA
East Washington street, in the heart
Of the business district. of $I,700.
Leaving his victims bound with
/ picture wire in a rear room of the
store. the bandit sauntered out as
coolly as he had entered and was lost
in the crowds of men and women
| hurrying to their offices and stores
about a. m.
George Newlin, 81, of 5531 Uni
Versity avenue, assistant manager
was running a vacuum cleaner over
a long rug and Clyde Jones, 38
Negro, Ala West Vermont street,
janitor, was sweeping out at about
7:40 q. m, when the bandit entered
Pleasant Bandit
With a disarmingly pleas man
ner, the bandit inquired:
Did you see a package Of three
pairs OF Women'S hose left around
here?"
Newlin, thinking the man might
have left the package Saturday
night, looked around. He turned
back to report mo" to the bandit
and looked into shiny revolver.
Jones was included in the warning
wave Of the gun.
The bandit, with q smile, re-
marked:
you're not the manager" pok-
ing toward Newliu,
After Big Money
you fellows need not worry. I'm,
not going to hurt you I'm after
the big money: Go on into the
back room"
The employees were ordered to sit
on two of the small seats shoe
statesmen use when fitting shoes.
The bandit bound their wrists and
ankles with picture wire, and then
walked to the front of the store
and sat down on bench.
About ten minutes later, or 7:50
a M, Carl Parr, 80, the manager,
1903 Dewey avenue, came in.
Intruder Is Pleasant
The bandit arose, still pleasantly
smiling and greeted him:
You are the manager, aren't
you?"
Yes
Pulling out his gun and toying
with it, the bandit treasured him:
We'll, now, don't be afraid. I'm
after the money Of the big corpora
ton. It's insured You need not
worry. Just go on back there and
open the safe for me-"
Parr took off his coat and went
to work.
Il was little nervous and had q.
lot of trouble getting the safe open.
said Parr THE bandit vas very
smooth and soothing, though. In.
stead Of getting angry with me he5
just said Now take your time.
Don't hurry. There's no rush. I've.
got a couple Of men out in 'front.'
waiting for me and there will be not
one come in. I'm not after yours
money, you know.
Customer Walks in
The combination on the fe was
/ changed recently and P decided
he didn't remember it. 4he bandit
remarked as ne permitted Parr toF
go to his coat to get the paper ON
which the combination was written:
They are damned hard to work
| sometimes, aren't they?" The bandit
mentioned the trade name Of the
safe. Parr himself. did not know
the name Of the safe.
While Parr was still struggling
with the safe Che had trouble with
the inside compartment too, Bob
Smith, Negro, 45, of $40 Minerva
street. customer, walked in.
Leaving Parr unguarded the
bandit walked to the front and
asked Smith what he desired.
Il want pair Of shoe strings"
said Smith.
Come on back here" the bandit
pleasantly directed.
Smith thought the bandit was 60
ing to wait on him and went along,
not realizing until IL got back BY
the safe that a holdup was going on.
When Parr finally got the safe
opened the bandit cooliy ordered
him and Smith into the back room.
He must be an expert, said Parr,
because he tied that picture wire
around our wrists and ankles with
one hand. gently waving the gun
with the other"
Then the bandit went back to the
safe, sorted $1,700 cash, and put
aside 500 in checks, put the cash
in the pocket Of his light tan gaber-
dine coat and walked out.
Parr worked his hands loose In
about two minutes and telephoped
police.
Police believe the bandit m
have come from Cincinnati whe
two similar hold-ups have be-
worked in the last few days.
The bandit was about 35 years {
age. wore dark suit. weighed aDos
100 pounds. was short, and had l
complexion. the victims said.