Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 267, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1919 — MT. AYR BANK IS ROBBED [ARTICLE]

MT. AYR BANK IS ROBBED

BANDITS BLEW OPEN VAULT AND ESCAPED WITH LIBERTY BONDS TUESDAY. The little town of Mt. Ayr, just over the Newton county line, was buzzing with excitement this (Wednesday) morning at an early hour when it was learned that the bank at that place had been robbed some time during the night and that a considerable amount of money in Liberty bonds had been secured by the thieves. Only meagre details have been furnished us, due to the fact that the bandits destroyed the telephone wires, thereby shutting off all outside communication the town had. It is understood that the robbers, blew open the bank vault, so muffling the explosion that no one knew of the robbery until the bank was opened this morning. It is supposed that the thieves made their escape by automobile. ■ Mr, Makeever stated after a visit to Mt. Ayr this morning that the ex-’ tent of the loss would not be over four or five hundred dollars. The thieves secured a large amount of bonds, but the majority of them were registered and the thieves will be unable -to cash them. A large number of mortgage notes held by the bank were also taken but will be of no value to the thieves and can be duplicated. Some nitroglycerine, an old damp rag and a glove were the only articles left by the thieves. County Commissioner Daniel S. Makeever, of this city, is president of the bank and Joseph' Sigler, of Mt. Ayr, is the cashier.