Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1932-01-21
CASHIER f. l.. THOMAS SHOT
IN ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY

A button on his underSh1rt prob
ably saved the life of Frank L
Thomas, 46, cashier of the First
National bank, Amesville, when he
was shot at Wednesday morning by
a bandit who was attempting to rob
the bank Shortly after 10 O'Clock
two men entered the bank, and one
of them asked the cashier for "some
nickels.' When the parties entered
the bank Mr.. Thomas became sus-
picious and as he pretended to
reach for the change, he put the
other hand on a gun, which was
kept under the cashiers window
looking around he saw one of the
bandits had his gun on him, and
demanded Mr.. Thomas to throw up
his hands, instead the banker at
tempted to fire at the robber, but
his gun merely snapped and did not
go off, A second attempt the gun
discharged, but the ball went over
the head of the bandit. The rob
Der then fired at the cashier His
shot went through the frame of a
picture hanging on the glass part
of the cashiers cage, on through
the glass and struck Mr. Thomas,
went through his necktie, his shirt
and struck a button on his under
shirt, which caused the ball to
glance off. The cashier was stun
ned and fell to the floor, and at that
time the other bandit shot through
the wooden part of the cashiers s
cage, the ball passing over Mr..
Thomas body, and lodged in the
wall. In the meantime Miss jessie
Owen, the assistant cashier rushed
in a back room and set off the bur
glar alarm and the bandits without
getting any money $4,000 was on
the counter) ran to the automobile,
the engine of which was running.
and drove off towards Sharpsburg
as fast as the machine would travel.
1t was learned that Mr. Thomas was
stunned by the shot, and was not
much injured
The alarm was quickly spread to
officers here and other surrounding
vicinities. In the bandits party it
seems that there were three, two
in one car and one man in another
machine. The auto at the bank was
a Chevrolet sedan with wire wheels.
light colored and carried Tennessee
license plates, No. 16,102. When
the bandits reached Sharpsburg one
car turned toward Marietta, and
soon after the other machine took
the straight road to Chesterhill,
and on to Todds. Where it went
from there is not known. How
ever word came here in the after
noon to the effect that it was seen
near Joetown on the New Lexing-
ton pike going toward New Lex
ington. 1t is stated that the ban
dts were not large men, and look
ed to be about 80 years of age.
Tuesday evening about o'clock
a stranger entered the jewelry store
here of George Wood, and sold Mr.
Wood a watch, in which he entered
into written agreement whereby
he was to return in four days, re-
turn Mr.. Wood the money, and take
up the watch. He stated he was
from Nashville, Tenn. His machine
bore the Tennessee license plates.
He gave very reasonable excuse
as to why it was necessary for him
to sell the watch in order to get
the money. Wednesday evening
Mr.. Wood, Sheriff Adrean and the
latter's son Clarence Adrean went
to Amesville to learn if the party
here at the Wood jewelry store was
the same one at Amesyille, and it
was very evident that he was one
of the same gang. At Pennsville
he attempted to sell wrist watch,
at Jesse Hooper's, and at Chester
hill sold a watch to Mr.. Bode and
tried to sell a watch, and rifle, to
Glenn Parsons.
Mr.. Thomas was formerly from
Chesterhill, and he deserves much
praise for his brave effort in pro-
tecting the bank.