On the morning of February 17, 1915, the Duenweg Bank, which was established in February of 1912, was robbed, at approximately 11:40 a.m. The men fled the bank with $1,806.50, after locking the cashier, F. B. Wilkinson, in the vault. He later freed himself. Failing to catch a street car proved to be the downfall of the three would-be bandits.
According to newspaper accounts of the event, "the men missed a street car by one minute, which they hoped would convey them to Joplin, and were forced to attempt escape on foot." The three were arrested about an hour after the holdup, when officers and a posse of Duenweg citizens surrounded them "near a hedge fence, one and one-half miles southwest of Duenweg." Less than four hours after the robbery, the fugitives had confessed, waived preliminary trial, were ordered held in circuit court, and were routed to the county jail at Carthage.
Most of the money was recovered at the time the trio was arrested, while the rest was found at the side of the road, where it had been dropped by the fleeing bandits.
History information brought to you by Billie Ingram. To purchase her book, The History of Duenweg, Missouri: Home of the Old Federal Mine by Billie June (Bartley) Ingram, please contact City Hall.
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