Grand National Bank (St Louis, MO)

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LOUIS BANK LOOTING CALLED AN INSIDE

Tools Are Found in Basement

SUSPECTS HELD

Chief of Detectives Declares Some Person in Bank "Knew What Going On"

Associated St. Louis, May tools, found in the basement of the Grand National bank, looted of more than one million dollars when safe deposit boxes were robbed Sunday, strengthened Chief of Detectives Kaiser's theory of an "inside job." Three men, including two former officials of the institution, are held under $50,000 bond each, to answer any charge that may be placed against them. search of the unused and unlighted basement rooms of the bank last night disclosed police 12 percussion caps of the type used in setting the explosive which blasted the vault door, quantity of soap, lamp, punch, pound hammer and pinch bar. "Apparently this is an inside job," Chief of Detectives Kaiser declared, "and you can quote me to that effect.' Somebody with inside knowledge of the vaults or bank knew what was ing The inside door of the vault was unlocked, Kaiser said, adding the blasting of the door was merely to "throw dust in the eyes of the police." Start "Run" on Bank Customers started run on the bank today. More than 100 customers in line to withdraw their deposits when the institution opened its doors. An hour later the line extended for nearly block and uniformed policemen guarded the door, admitting them few The Federal Reserve bank sent $250,000 to the institution two days ago, in anticipation of withdrawals. Declares Bank Solvent Officers of the bank posted bulletins today requiring 30 to 60 days' notice for withdrawal of savings accounts. Vice President Joseph Ledbetter repeated an announcement made yesterday by President Ed Mays, that the bank was sound and in liquid condition.

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RUN ON LOOTED

WITHDRAW FUNDS FROM LOUIS

Police Required Guard Before Grand Repeated Announce-

May Customers started today on the Grand National Bank. which was "looted of than million dollars by robbers who broke into the vault early last Sunday. Despite repeated announcements its officers that the institution sound more hundred depositors standing in line withdraw their funds the bank opened this morning. An hour later the extended block, and uniformed police guarded door, admitting time. Two days ago the federal sent million dollars used against withdrawals. Officers the bank posted bulletins requiring from thirty to sixty days' notice for withdrawing savings counts. Ed Mays, and Joseph Ledbetter. vice-president. today peated an announcement previously that after its $350,000 securities and $43,000 cash had charged off. the bank's capital would unimpaired, and its surplus reduced The discovery last night of wrecking tools the basement the bank building strengthened the police theory the looting was an "inside job." Three includformer officials of the instiare held under $50,000 bond each in connection with the

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RUN STARTED ON BANK ROBBED LAST SUNDAY

St. Louis, May 31. found the Grand National Bank, looted than when safety deposit robbed Sunday, strengthened Chief ser's theory an "inside including former officials institution. held under $50,000 each to answer any charges that may be placed against them. search of unused and unlighted the bank night disclosed police caps, the setting off plosive which blasted the vault door, quantity soap, lamp, punch The inside the vault unlocked, Kaiser Adding blasting the merely throw the eyes the LINE BLOCK LONG

Customers started the bank today. More than 100 were line withdraw their when the institution opened doors. hour later the tended nearly block and formed guarded the door, them time. Officers the posted bulletins today thirty sixty days notice for withdrawal savings Vice Joseph Ledbetter repeated terday President Ed Mays that the bank sound and in liquid condition.

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MONEY TRUCKS BRING NEEDCASH DEPOSITORY LOUIS.

St. Louis, May Grand National bank, looted more than in cash, securities and other valuables, taken from safe deposit boxes week ago, weathered today. long line of customers, fearing the institution would fail after closure yesterday that its part of the approximate filed bank all day withthrough drawing deposits. At times, the line extended more than block down street. $450,000 One Truck. Twice trucks with money additional cash from the federal bank. One delivery, the reserve bank announced, consisted $450,lent for the the emergency Chase National bank of New York. Late today, President Ed Mays out statement that the crisis had that demands had passed, met and would continue to be He declared the bank is solmet. and will to operate. Uniformed police guarded the door, ten customers patrolled sidewalk, time, those waiting in line keeping order ordering spectators Anticipating heavy withdrawals, officers had posted bulletins bank thirty and sixty days' notice for withdrawals from savings accounts. Continuing their officials reiterated their robbery "inside plaining they were convinced bank's employ familiar with robbers' plans before the looting, which took place last Sunday morning while the safe deposit vault, being dismantled for Gifford moving, Herbert, cashier, who has resigned, and William Brittin, custodian the vault, was fired yesterunder $50,000 bonds inday, vestigation in the burglary.

Missing Lawyer Returns. Jacksonville, May Paul Thompson, prominent Jacksonville attorney who disapfrom Louis four months peared conference with following tong leaders there, returned home here today. weakened physical and apparently suffering from shock.

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ROBBERY FOLLOWED BY HEAVY BANK RUN

Million Dollar Vault Disappearance Yet Unsolved

United ST. LOUIS, $1,000,000 robbery of the Grand National bank apparently long planned and executed with the greatest finessee, remained unsolved Saturday after week investigation.

A on the institution started Saturday and continued during the evening. Bank officials said the loss to bank proper only $264,000, and capital of $800,000 unimpaired. Detectives they believed the burglary inside This development followed finding of tools eached in storage of the bank, and arrest of Cashier Herbert Custodian William Brittin, for investigation.

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RUN ON ROBBED BANK St. Louis, May 31-(P)-The Grand National Bank, looted of more than $1,000.000 in cash, securities and other valuables taken from safe deposit boxes week ago, weathered run today. Late today President Ed Mays declared that the crisis had passed and that demands had been met and would continue to be met. He said the bank was solvent.

SCOUTS ENTERTAIN KIWANIS Manchester, Tenn., May 31(Spl)-The Manchester Boy Scout troop entertained the Manchester Kiwanis club with program at the club's regular meeting Tuesday night. Special numbers on the program were given by Scouts Robert Hickerson, Milton Jones, Frank and Clark Willis

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Looted Of Million, Grand National Stormed By Depositors

FUNDS ON HAND TWICE REPLENISHED

Police Term Robbery Inside Job

St. Louis, May 31 Grand National looted of more than cash, and other valuables taken boxes week ago, weathered run today. long fearing the institution would fail after disclosure yesterday part would approximate $400,000, filed through the bank all day, withdrawing deposits. At times the line extended for more than block down the street. Funds Twice Replenished Twice trucks arrived with additional cash from the Federal Reserve Bank. One the bank anof for the by the Chase National New York. Late the day Ed Mays, president the bank, that the crisis had passed and that all demands had been and would continue to be met. He said the bank solvent. "Inside Job," Police Assert Continuing their investigation, lice officials reiterated their opinion the robbery was an "inside They that some one in the bank's employ was familiar with the robbers' the looting, took last Sunday morning while the safe deposit vault, being dismantled for was unguarded. Gifford Herbert, cashier, who resigned, and William Brittin, todian vault, who was discharged yesterday, are under $50,000 bonds pending investigation.

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Looted St. Louis Bank Withstands Heavy Run

St. Louis, Mo., May 31-The Grand National bank, looted of more than $1,000,000 in cash, securities and other valuables taken from safe deposit boxes a week ago. weathered run today. A long line of customers, fearIng the institution would fail after disclosure yesterday what its part of the loss would approximate, filed thru the bank all day withdrawing deposits. At times the line extended for more than a block down the street. Twice money trucks arrived with additional cash from the Federal Re rerve bank. One delivery. the bank announced. consisted of $450,000 lent for the emergency by the Chase Na. tional bank of New York.

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RUN WEATHERED BY LOOTED BANK

Federal Reserve Sends Cash After Solvency Doubted by Depositors

ST. LOUIS, May 31-(AP)The Grand National bank, looted of more than $1,000,000 in cash, securities, and other valuables taken from safe deposit boxes week ago, weathered a run today. A long line of customers, fearing the institution would fall after disclosure yesterday that its part of the loss would approximate $400,000. filed thru the bank all day withdrawing depos-

At times the line extended for more than a block down the street. Twice money trucks arrived with additional cash from the federal reserve bank. One delivery, the bank announced, consisted of $450,000 lent for the emergency by the Chase National bank of New York. Late today President Ed Mays declared that the crisis had passed and that all demands had met and would continue to be met. He said the bank is solvent.

AUTO BARES MURDER INDIAN APOLIS, May 31 (AP) charred body of man, believed to be Harold Herbert Schroeder, of Mobile, Ala., was fourd this morning in the smoking debris of an automobile along road west of here. Deputy sheriffs said the circumstances indicated the man had been robbed and murdered.

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RUN WEATHERED BY LOOTED BANK

Money Trucks Arrive Twice to Aid St. Louis Institution in Crisis

ST. LOUIS, May 31 (A.P.)-The Grand National bank, looted of more than in cash, securities and other valuables taken from safe deposit boxes week ago, weathered run today. A. long line of customers, Ing the institution would fail after disclosure yesterday that Its part of the loss would approximate $400.000, filed through the bank all day withdrawing deposits. At times the line extended more than a. block down the street. Twice money trucks arrived with additional cash from the Federal Reserve bank. One delivery. the announced, of $450 000 for the emergency the Chase National bank of New York. Late today President Ed Mays declared that the crisis had and that all demands had been would continue to be met. said the bank solvent. Contin their police officials relterated opinion the robbery was an They were someone in the bank's employ familiar with the robbers' fore the looting, which took place last Sunday while safe deposit vault, being dismant for moving, was unguarded Gifford J. Herbert, as resigned. and William A. custodian of the vault, who discharged are $50,000 bonds pending investigation.

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CASHIER GETS HIS JOB BACK

Bank Watchman Max Seufert Discharged as Herbert and Custodian Brittin Are Reinstated.

ELEVATOR SHAFT CLEW IN ROBBERY

Mays Tells of Plan to Take Business Into Institution Called 'Continental National.'

Five new developments relating to the Grand National Bank robbery today the bank opened for business They plan reorganize the bank evidence of the bank in sound of Cashier GifHerbert resigned, and Custodian William Brittin, who had been of and important Dismissal of Bank Watchman Max Seufert President Ed Mays issued the following statement about the reorganization plans 'Our institution in sound condition and its capital and surplus are unimpaired. We plan to keep that capital and that we draw necessary. should any suits be filed against the Grand tional.

Business Normal plan to take the business of the into institution known the Continental National Bank which to with entirely capital surplus. To this propose apply for permission the United States of currency Washington Only few depositors were in the bank this morning. They came to conduct ordinary business. was evident that bank's directors had completely the "run" which started Saturday morning After meeting withdrawals ing $739,000. bank had $750,000 cash on hand at the close of busiSaturday night, The clew the discovery that the bandits might easily have entered the bank basement and moved loot by means elevator shaft leading through the Beers Hotel building, in which the bank Explains Reinstatements Herbert Brittin whose con nections with the bank ended they had rested and placed under bond to that might be placed against them connection with the robbery. were reinstated. Mays said, because the directors the "have the utmost confidence these Mays explained that Brittin and Herbert permitted resign "because wanted to give the police free rein in their invesHerbert and Brittin resumed their former duties today Brittin custodian of deposit department where the robbers gained trance on the morning May 25 and made more than worth securities, cash jewelry from safe deposit the bank and its patrons The throws an new light on the question to the got in and out of the bank been that they entered by the front on Grand with key, although one reported anybody leaving the bank during time the no business On daylight and of the in the city, the burglars got into the bank and and left some time noon. Today reporters the might used vator shaft the basement get into the department door in the wall of the on the elevator shaft. It directly opposite temporary iron door which guarded the deposit vault elevator. an ancient affair, operated by cable, runs tween the ground floor of the bank building. Mays disclosed that the time of the robbery, pended at the ground floor, that anyone could have the shaft, able to walk under the and into by forcing the door which guarded (Continued on Page

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RUN ON BANK $739,000

At Same Time $250,000 Is Deposited in St. Louis Institution.

ST LOUIS June in the Grand National Bank. which lost approximately $400,000 in the looting of its safety deposit vault week withdrew ago, of $739,000 from checking accounts yesterday bank official said He added total of $250,000 deposited The official cash hand the bank closed last and it would be increased before the opening Other officials claimed the "backbone" of the run had been broken and business would soon return to Police activity was suspended over today but Chief of Detectives Kaiser expects to renew the search for the robbers of the vault morrow The bank directors have official action on the telephone received yesterday which said the bonds would be returned the reward is boosted from $25,000 to $100,000

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FULTON YOUTHS IN WRONG LINE

Wating For an Hour For Show Tickets Boys Find Selves in Gold Rush.

Two Falton youths, in Louis Saturday, found themselves in amusement and decided to take theatre They wandered Grand Avenue, expecting attend Theatre lined up with hey supposed were other pleasure seekers, and after an extended about hour, found themselves the midst miniature Klondike Reaching the vicinity of the the boys stepped the line, which they supposed to secure tickets for the The line made little progress and the boys stood and stood making any great about the matter Finally of boys grow impatient Billy McClure turned and remarked. believe they open until The front of them iround rapidly and with his almost gasped have they dawned upon the boys they in the wrong line investigation proved that they line of depositors that on the Grand Nationa which robbed the before of about million