The Bismarck tribune., 1931-10-20
bank WORKER AND
BANDIT KILLED IN
WISCONSIN H0LDUP
Another Person Is Wounded as
Raiders Get $4,000 At
Menominee
TWO FOUND ON HIGHWAY
Police Believe Kidnapped Youth
Slain in Reprisal For
Companion

Menomonie, Wis, Oct. 20.-tRH
An assistant cashier and q bandit
were killed Tuesday as four machine
gun raiders looted the Kraft State
bank Of about $4,000.
James Kraft, 10, son of w. F.
Kraft, president Of the bank, was
kidnapped and slain by the bandits,
while w. r. Kraft, az, another son,
was wounded, perhaps seriously, be-
cause he could not point out where
more money was.
The robber was killed by shots
fired at the car in which the quartet
sped out Of town after spraying the
street near the bank with machine
gun bullets.
Bank officials said q hurried check
indicated the robbers took about
$4,000 after overpowering l6 persons
In the bank, including six customers
All were forced to lie on the floor.
The bodies Of James Kraft and the
bandit were found on the highway
six miles from here BY possemen. who
followed the raiders out of town.
The younger Kraft had been shot
Officers believed he was slain in re-
prisal after pursuers' bullets killed
their companion.
Not Missed At First
James Kraft, at work with hit
brother, was not missed until after
the bandits fled. The latter were
forced to- hurry because Vernon
| Tuwnsend, bsnk guard, set off q
burglar alarm and began firing al
the waiting car. where one man sal
with a machine gun.
Officers believe Kraft was kid
naped with the hope pursuers would
not fire. The robbers. after dump
ing the two bodies from their car
kept going.
w. r. Kraft was shot in the Side
as he lay on the floor. The leader
Of the raiders refused to accept his
word they had all the cash, cursed
and threatened him with death ano
then fired point blank. Physicians
believed Kraft's lung may have beer
punctured.
AS the car sped away one occupant
was heard to cry he was shot. Ed
ward Trinko, who had fired six shots
said he broke a window in the real
of the machine. Officers said the
manner In which the bandit was
wounded indicated he was the one
shot as the car fled, while Kraft wa:
slain later.
Prepared Against Holdup
The father of the young men hac
made preparations to avert bloodshec
should the bank be held up. Town.
send. who commanded q view Of tht
bank interior from q bullet-proo1
cage on a balcony, was told he shoulc
press an alarm button and then 81
to the roof and fire at the bandit car
As the bandits rushed from tht
bank one seized Mrs. Alice Schafer,
stenographer, and said You're goine
out With U.S." Another took hold o.
James Kraft.
Using the two as shields they en-
tered their car. Mrs. Schafer was re-
leased but Kraft was ordered into tht
front seat vacated by the mar
handling the machine gun. kra1'
was forced to drive away as one BAN
dit held a gun to his head. Pur'
suefs who fired later said they were
| not aware Kraft was In the car.
The dead robber wore steel vest
which had been penetrated by bull
| let. He was shot in the head also
He weighed between ITS and 18(
pounds, was five feet IL inches II
height, dark, and had small mus
tache. :.
Possemen returning at noon saie
they exchanged shots with the flee'
Ing car but were outdistanced.