Watauga Democrat

ATTEMPT TO ROB
BANK OF ASHE

Burglar-Proof Equipment Baffles Amateur Yeggmen. Arrests Made in Wilkes County. Preliminary Trials Given.

Jefferson.—C. L. Collins and Carl McKnight, who gave their residence as Winston-Salem, are in jail at Jefferson as a result of an attempt to rob the Bank of Ashe Tuesday night of last week.

The bank robbery failed when the burglar-proof equipment of the bank thwarted their attempt. The door of the bank was pried open, but apparently the robbers, after looking the inside over, abandoned the attempt.

After entering the bank they broke into the Jefferson garage and removed a large safe and loaded it on their car. However, in getting away, they struck a telephone pole. The collision knocked the safe from the front bumper of the car on which it had been placed.

In the meantime the noise awakened Attorney Joseph M. Prevette, who secured his gun and shot in their direction.

They abandoned the attempt to reload the safe and drove rapidly away. The attempted robbery took place about 2:30 a. m.

Neighboring town authorities were notified to be on the lookout, but local authorities were successful in catching the two men who are charged with committing the crime. E. C. Eldreth, Howard Morphew and E. F. Scott located the two men in Wilkes County near Deep Ford hill, sitting in their car half asleep.

The Ashe officers were joined by Sheriff W. B. Somers and Jailer J. B. Sheets, who assisted in arrest of the two men.

When found they had in their possession two hammers, a wrecking bar and other equipment. The handle of a car door was found near the telephone pole and this tallied perfectly with the missing handle of the men's car.

At a hearing in Jefferson both men denied any part in the robbery but were remanded to jail.