Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-13
Silver Spring
Boys Insist All
Was q Stunt
By JOSEPH B. BYRNES
Star STAFF Correspondent

HAGERSTOWN, Md, April IS.
Three Silver Spring boys, con-
trite over what they testified was
a stupid, immature practical
joke" were bound over today to
a grand jury in a fake" bank
stickup here.
Each was released under $1,000
bond.
The Washington County grand
jury does not sit until May Z.
All three apologized from the
witness stand today at their pre-
liminary hearing.
Trial Magistrate William P.
Kreykenbohm, seemingly aroused
by the repeated apologies, inter-
rupted one defendant to demand
why the boy hadn't called off the
joke while it was in progress.
The boys are William A. Blom-
gren, II, son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Joseph E. Blomgren, 1904 High
land drive; Daniel G. Hummel,
16, son of Mr.. and Mrs. j. o. P.
Hummel, 1922 Red Oak drive,
and Michael C. Bird, 16, son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles r. Bird,
612 Deerfleld avenue. The homes
are in a high-income section Of
the Montgomery County COM
munity.
Seized in Bank
They were seized last Saturday
in the First Federal Savings &
Loan Association.
The Bird boy had handed a
IStickup note to a teller. A GUS
toner, startled by the expression
of fright on the teller's face,
grabbed the boy, whereupon his
two companions entered the
room to explain the note was
Just a prank.
The boys were en- route home
from a Methodist-sponsored
basketball tournament. They
were with the team representing
Woodside Methodist Church. An
auto breakdown forced them to
miss their game. They were in
Hagerstown awaiting a telegraph
money order from home for the
car repair bill.
In the Western Union Office
near the savings institution, the
Bird and Blomgren boys coll
Elaborated on the stickup note.
they testified.
The Hummel youth explained
they were just messing around"
Mrs. Neva Shannon, the tel
Ter who received the note. said
she thought young Bird was
Joking, and asked him ARE you
kidding?"
She said, When he didn't an
sWer or make a move I got
lawfully scared. I was scared to
death"
Grabbed by Customer
The teller said that when tha
customer, Ernest Smith. 81.
grabbed the boy. the Blomgren
youth entered and apologized
very graciously."
Young Blomgren testified he
was standing at the loan Office
doorway when the note was de-
livered.
He said Mrs. Shannon looked
SO scared I doubled up laughing
and had to step outside. When
l looked back inside that's when
I saw Mr.. Smith holding Mike.
We were immature. 1t was lust
a stupid joke We didn't realize
what trouble it could cause. We
nave caused a lot of trouble to
our families, church and school.
We are deeply ashamed"
He resigned this week as pres
ldent of the Montgomery Blair
High School senior class. The
Bird boy is an editor of the
school newspaper.
Wanted TO Show Off"
The boys testified that young
Bird suggested the prank. He
told the court Il wanted to show
of and attract all the attention.
l never thought of the conse-
quences."
He said he started to back
down from his bravado but
thought lit would seem like I
was chicken if l didn't do it."
None of the boys was armed.
The Bird boy said he had MS
hands in his basketball Jacket
pockets. He wasn't pretending
to hide gun, he said. lust
standing lin tough, hoodlum
stance"
He said Il would like to apol-
ogize to the people of Hagers-
town.
Judge Kreykenbaum inter-
ruted. You had five chances
to let Mrs. Shannon know it
was joke. Why didn't you do
something then? What would
you have done if she handed you
the money!"
The boy said, Il wouldn't
have taken it, sir"
The court confined question:
ing to the events in the bank,
cutting of a defense line aimed
at demonstrating the boys
habits.
Il don't care how many times
he goes to church on Sunday if
ne holds up banks on Saturday"
Judge Kreykenbohm said.