Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 165, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1911 — HAPPENINGS IN THE CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HAPPENINGS IN THE CITIES

Yeggmen Terror of Small Town Banks

LINCOLN, NEB—Since last fall no less than a hundred country banks in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Nebraska have been robbed. In each Instance from SI,OOO to $7,000 was taken, and practically the same procedure was followed In each case. In the three states named are approximately 2,500 banks, 2,000 of them In little towns and villages with practically no police protection. This is the usual program in the cases reported: Soon after midnjght the residents are aroused by tuto or three explosions. Those daring enough to venture on the streets see an automobile standing In front of the bank and two meh with guns giving orders to stand back. Inside are their companions, filling sacks with money from the safe. Having gathered all the cash possible the burglars enter the machine, fire a few Intimidating shots and go racing out of town. Then come the gathering of a posse, the cranking up of cars and a desperate attempt to follow and capture the robbers. In no Instance has there been a capture, and despite offers of

rich rewards for the robbers, dead on alive, the robberies continue. The automobile is blamed for much of the crime. "Before the coming of the motor car we could, overhaul this class ofi criminals,” said a police officer who was discussing the crime. “They went on horseback and there was littlel difficulty in covering the country by telephone and heading them off. “Now the country is alive with parties making cross-state runs and no more attention is paid to a strange can than to a freight train. With a high powered car it is easy on the prairie roads to cover 100 miles in threei hours. Than with a change of outer clothing to give the appearance of| tourists the robbers can motor leisurely through the most populous cities and put up at the first-class hotels! without arousing suspicion. “It is practically impossible tor the pursuers to -follow them because the route taken is unknown and the rapid! progress of the robbers puts them out! of reach.” ‘ While the country bank does notl keep large sums on hand In currency it always has a few thousand dollars, and the robbers are evidently not! looking so much for a large haul aa they are for a safe getaway. In thia they have been so successful for the last two years that they have grown bold and seem to think they have ~ai system for making money easily that cannot be defeated.