Bandits Slay Mine Boss; Get $11,000

1916

FIVE HUNDRED WORKERS HUNT OUTLAW PAIR.

Pay Roll Carrier's Car Is Halted and Official Shot Without Warning — Driver Unhurt.

MARTINS FERRY, Ohio — Police and specially employed detectives are still out searching for the two masked bandits who shot and killed Lee Rankin, superintendent of the Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Company, and escaped with $11,000 which Rankin was carrying to the mine to pay the employes.

Rankin was on his way back from the bank at Martins Ferry in a taxicab driven by Paul Pickens. At a lonely spot in the road two masked and armed men emerged from the bushes and without giving the two men in the taxicab a chance for their lives, began to shoot. Pickens threw up his hands and was spared.

The robbers quickly seized the money from a suitcase and disappeared. Rankin was hurried to a hospital by Pickens, but died without regaining consciousness. In Rankin's pockets was found $1,000 that the bandits overlooked.

Rankin was popular with the miners, most of whom are foreigners, and a posse of 500 men was formed as soon as the news of the robbery reached the mines. Armed with rifles and revolvers, these men hastened out to scour the country, declaring they would kill the murderers on sight.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 5.

Rats Lured Into Traps by Rodent Leader Who Acts as "Pied Piper"

1919

SHERMAN, Texas. — Sherman's Pied Piper, an aged, bewhiskered and tailless rodent, is no more. A frisky terrier, unaware of the importance of the tailless wonder, pounced upon him one day this week as he was leaving a trap where he had led hundreds of rats to their doom, and brought his useful career to an untimely end. And Sherman folks are sad. They feel like wearing mourning. Meanwhile rats which have infested the city have become "leery" of traps and are multiplying.

It was several weeks ago that the rat killing campaign was begun here. They were trapped by the hundreds. The killing was done by dogs assembled about the traps to pounce upon the captured rodents as they were turned out. One day what appeared to be the "daddy of all the rats" was found in one of the traps. One of the wise citizens suggested that this rodent's tail be amputated. He declared the old rat was the leader of the others and that his pride in leadership would make him leave the city. when his long tail was cropped off.

The operation was performed and the old rat turned loose, and admonished to leave the city.

But did he? Not much. The following morning the old rascal was found in one of the traps with forty others. The others were killed and the "leader" turned loose again. The following day he was back in the traps with more than a score of others. This continued from day to day. The people began to believe they would soon have the rats exterminated.

But the unusual happened. One morning this week in letting the captured rats out of a trap the "daddy" rat ran out with them. The terrier failed to recognize the "leader" and leaped upon him. Before any assistance could be given the old rat was killed. Since that time but few rats have been found in the big municipal rat trap.



Bullet Knocks His Hat Off

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — Only by the narrowest margin, John Stoudt, conductor on a trolley line, missed death when a bullet passed thru the number plate on his cap and knocked off his headgear. It is thought the bullet was fired by a would-be robber, who was scared off by the arrival of night-shift men.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 5.

Dreaming He's Fighting Intruders, Hacks Brother With Ax

1902

MURDERS IN A DREAM.

NASHVILLE, Ind., June 28 — Dreaming he was fighting burglars, John Snyder, aged 18 years, the son of Newberry Snyder, living near Beck's grove, eight miles south of here, seized an ax and literally chopped to pieces his brother, Grover, aged 20 years.

The young men had attended an ice cream supper at the home of County Superintendent Manuels and on their return home they were told by their mother that she had heard someone prowling about the premises and she showed them where she had placed the ax which she intended to use to defend herself if she was attacked.

The young men retired, and a short time afterward Mrs. Snyder was aroused by the screams of her son and rushed into the bed room to find John standing horror-stricken beside his brother's bed with a bloody ax in his hands. The victim is terribly lacerated about the body and legs and his recovery is considered impossible. John claims he was dreaming burglars "were in the house and that he was beating them off when he seized the ax and attacked his brother.


CONFESSION OF BOY ROBBERS.

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind., June 28. — Eleven boys, aged from 8 to 13 years, have been arrested and jailed in this city for numerous robberies at the junction. For several weeks the cars and stores in that neighborhood have been looted and much valuable goods taken. To-day the police bagged the entire organized gang of juvenile robbers, who confessed.

—Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN, June 28, 1902, p. 8.

Breaks From Jail; His 180th Escape

1920

Notorious Roy Dickerson Is Again At Large

Alleged Ring Leader of Gang Which Looted Bank at Girard, Ala., Defies Prison Bars

LOS ANGELES, Cal. — Roy Dickerson, charged with aiding in the robbery of a bank at Girard, Ala., made what is said to have been his 180th escape from jail here, when he used a crude key on his cell lock in the city prison, climbed up a ventilator shaft and fled.

Dickerson's wife, who is in jail here, said her husband formerly was a vaudeville performer, making a specialty of freeing himself from handcuffs and other restraints. She told the police he had escaped 180 times and that he never had been imprisoned successfully longer than two months.

Dickerson's cell mate was found asleep after the escape. He told the guards he had not heard Dickerson's movements.

Had Escaped From Atlanta Pen

Dickerson was the alleged leader of a band of bandits who were involved in the looting of the Phoenix-Girard bank of Girard, Ala., and obtaining about $30,000 in cash. He had previously made his escape from the Fulton County penitentiary, in Atlanta, Ga., along with three other inmates.

The gang, after making the raid on the Girard bank, it is claimed, scattered and met in St. Louis for a division of the spoils. Subsequently detective shadowing the bandits arrested Dickerson here, who, with his wife, was living in a twenty-four-apartment house that they had purchased.

They were going under the name of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Lynch.

The sum of $10,000, supposed to have been a part of the bank robbery loot, was recovered by the detectives. They had an equity of $8,000 in the apartment house.

Charge Wife Aided in Escape

Detectives declare that Dickerson had been in the penitentiary several times before in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, and that he had made his escape each time through the aid of his wife. When Dickerson escaped from the penitentiary in Atlanta his wife was living in a hotel in that city.

After the meeting of the bandits in St. Louis the various members of the band were shadowed and the apprehension of many of them was effected. Seven of the gang were taken at different parts of the United States.

Dickerson's wife was seen in St. Louis by detectives and the pair were traced to this city. Waiting for an opportunity to take the pair and get the money at the same time, they continued shadowing Mrs. Dickerson and they were taken about two weeks ago in their apartment house here.

Highwayman, Dressed as Woman, Aids in Hold-Up

Washington, D.C., 1913

Two highwaymen, one attired as a stylish young woman, held up John McLain of 1108 Florida Northeast, he told the police of the Ninth precinct the other night, and at the point of a revolver demanded his cash and jewelry.

McLain was going to his home, when he was accosted at Montello avenue and Morse street Northeast by two men, one dressed in woman's clothes. Both had their faces smeared with lampblack. The one in man's clothes pointed a revolver at McLain, and demanded his money. He only had 26 cents, so the highwayman took that, and pointing his revolver at McLain told him to "beat it." McLain did.

Hastily turning a corner, he met Policeman Steele about to mount the steps of the Ninth precinct station. "There's a couple of hold-ups down the street," he yelled at Steele. The bluecoat spied the pair about four blocks away and started after them on the double-quick. The two heard his footsteps and vanished around a corner. No more was seen of them.

Before they disappeared, however, Policeman Steele saw the "woman" pick up "her" skirts and do 100 yards in about ten flat. Underneath the skirts "she" had on a serviceable pair of trousers.

McLain expressed doubt as to his ability to identify the pair should they be arrested. He said the lampblack they had on their faces made it difficult to remember their features, in addition, the beskirted member of the team had on a heavy veil.

A blue broadcloth suit, furs and muff, tan shoes, and a big black picture hat comprised the attire of the one who masqueraded as a woman. The police are wondering just what the game was.

—Syndicated feature article


ROBBER WAS IN SKIRTS

With Companion, He Gets Enormous Sum of 25 Cents.

SO MR M'LAIN REPORTS

Two Masquerading Youths Lead Policeman a Merry Chase — Quarry Lost in Alley — "Highwayman" Stumbles Over His Skirts — "Victim" Is Employed in One of the Government Departments.

Held up, the police say, at the point of a revolver by two white youths with blackened faces, one dressed as a woman and wearing a heavy black veil, John McLain, of 1108 Florida avenue northeast, late last night gave up 25 cents under threat of death at Montello avenue and Morse street northeast. McLain had more money in his pocket, but told the alleged robbers that that was all he had.

Passing by the corner a few moments later, Policeman Steele, of the Ninth precinct, was hurriedly told of the robbery by McLain, and gave chase. They were less than a block away. Hearing him coming, he said last night, the one dressed as a woman picked up his dresses and both ran quickly away.

Gathered His Skirts and Ran.

Policeman Steele threatened to shoot, but the two continued running and dodged up one street and down another, After following them for about four blocks, they evaded the policeman in an alley, and he was forced to abandon the chase.

McLain, who is employed in one of the government departments and is 24 years old, told the policeman he was sure both of the young men were white and not more than 21 years old. He plainly saw the blacking on their faces, he declared. The one dressed as a woman stumbled over his dress several times, he said.

McLain was returning to his home shortly after 11 o'clock, he said, when he noticed what appeared to be a negro man and woman approaching him. He paid little attention to them until they got within a few feet of him, and then the one dressed as a man suddenly whipped out a revolver and shoved it in his face. "Give us all the money you have or I will kill you," McLain said the one dressed as a man muttered, as though trying to disguise his voice. The other one, he said, told him to hurry up in a voice distinctly masculine.

Gave "Highwaymen" 25 Cents.

Fearing that the man would enforce his demand, McLain said he took 25 cents out of his pocket and handed it to the one dressed as a woman and told the pair that he had nothing else valuable. The sound of an approaching man frightened the "highwaymen" at this time, and they took the quarter and hurried away, he said.

Policeman Steele had just left his home and was on the way to the Ninth precinct police station to begin his night's work. Seeing the policeman, McLain rushed up to him and told him of the robbery, pointing out the two forms rapidly disappearing into the darkness along Montello avenue.

Followed by McLain, the policeman rushed after the couple. He had gone only a few steps when they began running, evidently having heard his approach. They went a block on Montello avenue, and the policeman was rapidly gaining on them. Then the one masquerading as a woman picked up his skirts about his waist, and both began running faster.

Decided Not to Shoot.

Policeman Steele blew his whistle as he ran, but got no response. He also called to the couple that he would shoot unless they stopped, but they only ran faster. He did not actually fire.

Returning to the Ninth precinct police station, Policeman Steele sent out a general lookout for the two robbers, but up to a late hour last night no further trace of them had been found.

McLain described the two as being both young and smooth-faced. The one dressed as a woman was entirely in black, and had on a black veil, he said. The other was dressed in a dark suit and slouch hat.

—The Washington Post, January 13, 1913, page 3.

Cole Younger

1903

COLE YOUNGER. [Good link]

Unfortunately Minnesota omitted to stipulate that Cole Younger must not write a book.—Milwaukee Sentinel.

Cole Younger, the paroled bandit, is being given public ovations in Missouri, and yet the man never won a prize fight in his life.—Denver Republican.

Cole Younger is now in our midst; but this fact does not cause anything like the alarm it would have caused 26 years ago.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

Cole Younger's refusal to consider himself a hero will be likely to give the country the impression that there really is some heroic stuff in him after all. —Denver Republican.

Cole Younger is indignant in his denial of intention to go on the stage. This entitles Mr. Younger to an unconditional pardon, nem con and eo instante. — Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.

Col. Cole Younger is preparing to enter Missouri by way of Kansas City and Kansas City is purple with mortification that Cole Younger should see her union depot at its worst—St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

Cole Younger has advised the Missourians that he does not wish to be received as a hero. In deference to his wishes no brass bands nor beautiful maidens laden with high-priced flowers and with their sweet lips trembling with welcoming sons will meet him at the Lee Summit day-po.—Denver Post.

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 4, 1903, page 4.

Prison for Poison Booze Men

1920

HARTFORD, Conn. — Nathan Salzberg was given a prison sentence of from eight to twelve years, Frank Rose three to five years, Saul Joseph three to five years, and Jacob Bronerwine one to three years. The four were charged with the sale of wood alcohol whiskey which resulted in thirteen deaths here at Christmas time.


Three Robbers Get $368,250

Two Safes Are Blown After They Chloroform the Watchman

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Police authorities said they had no clue to the identity of three men who during the night chloroformed, bound and gagged a watchman and robbed two safes in an office building of $368,250 in securities, of which $118,000 are negotiable.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 20, 1920, page 1.

Saws Found in Jail Cells, Men Charged with Robbery

Ohio, 1917

NEARBY HAPPENINGS

Chicken Thieves Busy in Auglaize County — Current Events of Interest

Saws were found in the cells of Jonas Mann and Morgan Dunstan, at the Auglaize county jail in Wapakoneta and it is believed that they had planned to escape from the bastile. The two fellows are under arrest charged with having robbed the Victor and Ausman stores at St. Marys.

Mrs. Jacob Zahn, aged seventy years, had been visiting several weeks in Decatur previous to going to Florida to spend the winter. She started en route South, when she suffered a stroke of paralysis and was removed from the train at Portland. Later she died at the home of Nelson R. Williamson, where she has been removed.

Mrs. Benjamin Geise. aged thirty-three years, of Delphos, is dead following an operation. She was formerly Josephine Goebel and is survived by a husband and three small children, the youngest being but four weeks of age.

A chicken thief raided the Webmeyer and Fledderjohn farms in Auglaize county, selling the birds for forty dollars at New Bremen before he could be apprehended.

Seventy-five loaded cars of freight are congesting the Clover Leaf railways yards at Delphos, held there as a result of the Eastern railroad embargoes.

Judge T. T. Shaw has been selected to fill the vacancy in the Defiance Board of Education caused by the resignation of William Gieger.

Geo. W. Dyer, aged eighty-three, is dead at his late home in Buckland. He was the father of ex mayor George Dyer, Jr., of Lima.

William Harpster, of near Ottoville, formerly of Delphos, broke his right collar bone in a fall from a wagon.

—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, January 29, 1917, page 2.

A Tire on the Road, Stop To Get It, Robbers in the Ditch!

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 1921--

HOLDUP IS FOILED BY SPOTLIGHT

A spare automobile tire in the road, an old game resorted to by a certain class of bandits lured three young men from this city to stop to investigate last night, about three miles north of Sheboygan on the Lake Shore road and nearly cost them all the money they had. They were saved from the trap set for them, however, by the use of a spotlight on their car.

The young men who figured in the incident were Max and Gus Holman, members of the H. J. Holman & Sons overall company in this city, and Simon Leviton, a friend who was with them.

Saw Tire In Road

It was shortly after nine o'clock when the three, in the Nash sport car owned by Max Holman, were driving north on the Lake Shore road. As they arrived at a point three miles north of the city their attention was attracted to a tire lying alongside the road.

After passing the spot where the tire was seen they decided to stop and get it. They had passed it some several feet and backed the car up toward that point. Mr. Leviton, who was in the back seat, got out of the car and ran back to look for it. When he arrived at the place where he had seen the tire he did not see it, so he waited until the car got back to him. After it got there, they turned the spotlight on and discovered the tire had been moved farther away from the road and that it was attached to a rope.

Discovered It Was Bait

When they saw this they decided that It was only the bait of a holdup man and Mr. Leviton, the only one out of the car, ran and Jumped in and the driver, Max Holman, started the car off.

Led to Clump of Bushes

Mr. Holman stated this morning that the rope tied to the tire led to a clump of bushes a few feet from the road and that they knew someone was behind pulling it away from the road to draw whoever was attracted by it away far enough so that whoever was there would have had him in their power.

The spotlight was thrown on the spot where the tire lay only in an attempt to learn where it was, but Mr. Holman declared he believed it was the only thing that saved them from being robbed. As it happened, Mr. Leviton had a large amount of currency in his pockets.

It Is believed that when the spotlight was turned on it blinded the men who had planned the holdup so they could not see behind it and that it foiled their scheme.

Telephone For Sheriff

After arriving at Jack Johnson's roadhouse they stopped for a few minutes to telephone the sheriff's office. They said two men and a woman drove up in an automobile shortly after that and asked for a supply of gasoline. Max Holman declared one of the men was covered with mud and that he believed he was one of those who staged the tire episode and that the lady in the car was a blind to sidetrack any suspicion that may have been held toward them.

Sheriff Koehn received the call and immediately dispatched two of his deputies to that point to investigate. Mr. Holman said the three who were subject to the tire game waited at Johnson's for about 25 minutes, but that when representatives of the sheriff's office did not appear, they continued their journey.

--The Sheboygan Press, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, August 2, 1921, page 1.