The Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
August 15, 1923

The town of Redding was a scene of terror between the hours of twelve o'clock, midnight, Sunday night and about three o'clock Sunday morning, while a gang of five bandits was engaged in looting the Redding bank. The bandits succeeded in their attempt to blow open the vault and escaped with $2,000 in currency and from $2,500 to $3,000 in Liberty Bonds, besides a considerable amount in notes.

The robbers, in a Buick SLX, reached Redding just before midnight and, leaving the car a short distance from the business district, walked up town. Charles SMITH, who conducts a barber shop in Redding, was on his way home and seeing one of the men near the front of the bank asked him for a cigarette. "Sure," said the bandit and directed him to step around the corner of the building where he encountered another member of the gang and was taken in charge and into the bank where he was bound and placed in a chair with instructions to keep quiet. Entrance to the bank was effected through a window and the robbers seemed to make little effort to avoid arousing the citizens of the town. The proceeding was watched by SMITH, who was able to furnish a good description of the men. One was an older man, two middle-aged and two probably twenty-two to twenty-five years of age.

Three of the robbers were stationed at convenient points to guard the bank, one in front, one at the rear, and one near the monument in the square, while the other two entered the building and after digging a hole in the side of the vault placed a charge of explosive in an attempt to react the money vault. The first charge was not effective and this was followed by four charges in succession before the vault was opened. The first charge awakened citizens of the town. James MILLER, appearing at the window of his restaurant, asked the robber on guard at the reat what was the matter and was told to get his head back or it would be blown off. D. M. RICH, cashier of the bank, after reaching the square and taking a revolver in the hope of frightening the bandits, and this was answered by the bandit near the monument with a load of buckshot which literally shattered the front of the hardware store on the west side, entailing a loss of probably $300. J. N. HOOVER also approached the square and his appearance was the signal for another shot from the bandit.

Telegraph and telephone wires had been cut and communication with the outside world was completely cut off, with the exception of the Bell telphone line which it was later found had been missed. For more than two hours the bandits held the citizens terrorized and at bay, until they had completed the job of looting the vault, when they, after instructing SMITH to continue to keep quiet and facetiously remarking they would send him some money, went to their car, about a half-mile distance, and drove south

The alarm was at once given and county officers were called to the scene. Officers in towns in all directions were notificed. Sheriff Marion STEPHENS and Deputy Sheriff C. M. KING responded, and a posse was organized to pursue the bandits, who drove south. The officers at Denver had received word to be on the alert and when they approached a shot was fired by the town marshal as a warning for the men to stop. Instead a quick turn was made and at the first byroad the bandits drove east. As they approached New Hampton they were delayed by a blowout and car trouble continued until they reached a point southeast of New Hampton where they abandoned the car and went into a cornfield. Officers from all directions were hot in pursuit and farmers joined in the search. The cornfield was soon surrounded and the search commenced.

The men were easily tracked into a cornfield, but nearby was a patch of tall weeds through which it was not easy to trace them. Late in the afternoon two of the men, young fellows probably twenty-five years of age were located in a clump of weeds. At the command of the officers they came out, offering no resistance and leaving their guns on the ground. They were taken in charge and gave their names as Fred STACY and William FULLER. STACY gave his residence as Kansas City, but FULLER declined to give his place of residence. The men were placed in jail at Bethany [MO] and it became necessary to obtain extradition papers before they were released to the officers of this county [Ringgold].

County Attorney Grant L. HAYES went yesterday to Des Moines, where the necessary papers were signed by Governor KENDALL and word was received today the governor of Missouri had granted the request for the release of the men to the officers of Ringgold County. The two men will probably be brought to Mount Ayr this evening or tomorrow morning.

In the abandoned car was a large pocketbook containing Liberty Bonds and notes and a small amount of loose change was found, but the larger part of the currency is thought to be in possession of the three bandits who have not been captured. A thorough search of the cornfield and adjacent territory was made Monday, and it is said information has been received that the three men made their escape south from new Hampton in a Ford car for several miles until they found opportunity to exchange the Ford for a Buick and then continued southward.

It is said the two men arrested have the appearance of being in poor health.

The robbery of the Redding bank was the boldest robbery committed in this part of the country in many years and the only bank robbery committed in Iowa this year.

The bank robbers were incarcerated in Jail near Bethany, Missouri. Warned that the men might attempt an escape, STEPHENS had the two HUDSON boys from Redding on watch. It was raining that night. One of the HUDSON brothers said, "They're getting out over there." STEPHENS replied, "Let them have it."

HUDSON had an old revolver. He fired but hit the concrete beside the window. Concrete chips peppered the face of the escapee, making him think that he was shot. He went back to his cell.

The robbers were convicted and sent to Fort Madison. Mr. STEPHENS believes that some stolen negotiable bonds were never recovered. They also got away with some cash and hid it near Hatfield, Missouri, in a culvert or under a bridge where a local man found it. He testified at the trial. When asked what he did with the money, he replied, "I spent it."

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008