The Alto Herald (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 8, 1934 Page: 1 of 8
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THE ALTO HERALD
f' Hi!
F. L. WEIMAR, EDITOR AND OWNER
— =
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.50 PER YEAR
VOLUME XXXIII
THE ALTO HERALD, ALTO, TEXAS, MARCH 8, 1934.
NO. 43.
Robber Ki!!ed !n Attempt
To Ho!d Up Continenta! Bank
[was coming from the directors room
of the bank, when they came in and
gave the command; Mr. Rounsaville
Was in thjb vauit ready with the shot
gun. McClure commanded Hughes
and McCuistion to get back in the
rear of the
Much has been told and re-totd on
the attempted robbery of the Con-
tinenta! State Bank here early Mon.
day morning, just after the bank had
been opened for the day's business.
The stories have been weird in ex-
treme and sensationat as the tale was
tepea^B so often. started to go behind the cage by the
After time has brought opportunity door that enters the cage on the
if or sober thought and mature de- right. He found the door locked and
liberation, it can now be seen that the ripping out an oath, started back to
two men who attempted to rob the the front of the cage. White this was
bank, had; not a chance in the worid ,going on, McClure was trying to get
to accomplish their purpose, and it is Hughes and McCuistion to the vautt,
"We Played the
Game and Lost"
a thousand wonders that both of
them were not killed, together with
Messrs. Rounsaville, Shattuck, and
Earle, as there was more than fifty
#hots fired during the melee, all
within one minutes time, and Kil of
them were fired in the wide open
street but two, they being fired in
the bank at the robber^ by Mr.
RounsaviUe. j
Pieced together as near as possible,
the story is. that these two men stole'
a Willys-Knight coupe from A. S.j
Moore, City School Superintendent
of Rusk. Leo Spencer, the robber in
jail at Rusk, said they got it about
mid-night Sunday night, and hid it in
the woods until daylight Monday
morning. Coming on to Alto, they
ate breakfast in the White Swan
Cafe, and then hung around town
until just a few minutes after 8:30
'Well, we played the game and
lost," was the laconic statement of
Leo Spencer, one of the bank robbers,
who attempted to rob the Continental
State Bank here Monday morning.
Lying on a cot in a dark cell at
Rusk some two hours after the
event, he made the above statement.
) "I had went hungry and cold about as
lobby, while Spencer j ]„^g gg ^ c(m]d and had to do some
thing. We tried to rob the bank and
didn't get away with it," he con-
tinued. Asked if he wanted to notify)
any of his people that he was in
trouble, or if he wanted any of the
dead man's people notified, he stated
that neither one of them didn't have
Seed Loan Rules
That Must Be Fol-
lowed to Get Loan
Regulations for making emergency
crop loans indicate a. farmer may ob
tain such a loan if' he cannot qualify
for credit elsewhere, if he has a jus-
tified need for credit and if he is co,
operating with the production control
program.
The maximum amount which can
be borrowed by any one farmer is
$250 and the minimum $25; interest
rate, 51/; per cent. Time and place
for receiving applications for the
loans, commonly known as "seed
loans" has not been announced lo-
cally, but it is thought it will be
about March 15.
I Farmers who have a source of in-
t--..!-- . ... . .. come other than farming are not
havtng any success any people, "we re both orphans, , ,. ^
' ,, ' j eltgtble for emergency loans, it M
said.—Jacksonville Progress.
but he wasn't
either, because he missed Rounsa-
viUe, and asked McCuistion where the
other
was. About that time, RounsaviUe
stepped to the door of the vault and
and that is about all he would say.
Both Spencer and the dead man
) have been seen here before, being
(here during the time the carnival was
i in Alto, some two weeks ago. They,
P'a""ed to rob the bank a week ago.
' '' ^ " but the weather was so bad they were
CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL
GAME
bt'ck to the front of the cage. He had
to aim high or kill Shattuck, who
was between him and the robber, and
the load went over the cage and
spattered the top of the front doors.
Seeing that they were not going to
have any luck, Spencer started to
'back out the front door yelling for
McClure to "beat it." McClure began! bU]'cd and tried on a
to back up, keeping his gun on'
Hughes and McCuistion as he backed
towards the door and they backed out
the door together and ran for the car.
As soon as they were out, Shattuck
grabbed a forty-five colts automatic
and drove the car in the side street j pnd started after them, with Rounsa-
between the First National Bank and <yj]]g right at his heels with the shot
Continental State Bank, leaving the )gun. Shattuck got out of the door
ear facing San Antonio street for a before they could get across the
quick get-away. Fred McClure, the street to their car and began to let
;man killed, got out of the car, leav- 'e,n have it with the automatic and
ing Spencer at the Wheel and went ir< RounsaviUe reloaded his shot gun
the Continental Bank, presumably fot and gave them both barrels of that,
the purpose of seeing who was in McClure turned backward and fired
there, and pretended that he wanted &t Shattuck and Rounsaville as he
to get a check cashed. Seeming to get Iran for the ear, hia bullet going
the information he wanted, and through the plate glass window of
evidently satisfied that the robbery the bank on the east side of tha
could be accomplished, he went back ,front part of the bank and struck
to the ear, and got Spencer and they Judge McCuistion, who was on the
proceeded to "arm up" there at the inside, the bullet hitting McCuis.
car. McClure did not get in the car, tion's watch in his watch pocket and
but got his gun standing beside the bending it beyond any more use.
car and was seen placing it in hts This probably saved McCuistion from
bosom as Spencer crawled from teing wounded.
under the wheel and they proceeded Reaching their car without being
to the ibank to accomplish t e ro . Spencer jumped behind the
bery. They did not know that all oi ^eel and yelled for McClure to get
this ihad been seen by Mr. in and "let's get away from here,"
ville out of a side window ° ^ but McClure had evidently decided to
bank. Just as soon as McC ure a shoot it out, got on the other side oi
left the bank to go back to t e c<-T c^r, and was shooting back at
and get his weapons and Spencer, Rgm^aville, who was behind the large
Mr. Shattuck advised Mr. bank column in front of the bank,
ville that he believed they were an shattuck who was standing by
Tobbers and to watch them ou o e g^th of the bankers were pour-
side window. As soon as t e to ers [gad at the car and McClure was
-were seen getting their weapons, Mr. ^ when City Marshal
Rounsaville, who was watc tng em was at the entrance of
from the safe deposit ^au ' the b<.nk alley saw the situation and
aro. nd to the big vault an P'" ^ up stepped up on the sidewalk, ran to his
a double barrel shot gun sa was g^oe shop a few feet distance, and
kept in there and waited jus tnst e his pistol and began to shoot at
of the vault for them to come on m McClure from that angle. This
the bank. . . , ' placed McClure in a tight spot, as ha
They came in the door wtt < pts o * being shot at from both sides,
in their hands, and McClure o ere Earle emptied his pistol and ran back
to stick'em up or we 11 shoo e ou^ ^ his shoe shop and got a high
powered rifle and began pouring
this in the direction of the robber
car. McClure then divided his shoot-
ing. First, he would shoot at Shat-
afrald to tackle the job for fear they
could not get away on account of bad
roads. This information was given
the sheriff's department by Spencer.
They have criminal records in thid
tmmediatt? sectton. During the las:,
term of Ltstrict Court they were
charge of burg-
lary, but acquitted beca'usa
I sufficient evidence. They
R. L. Banks, Director Athletics of
this county, announces the champion-
ship basketball game to determine
the Interscholastic League Champion
of this county.
This game will be played between
Wells High School, Class A winner
of the county, and Atoy School,
Class B winner of the county, at
Jacksonville College Gymnasium,
night, March 9, at 7:30
of in-j Friday
were o'clock.
charged with burglarizing the resi. j There is no doubt that this will be
.dence of W. J. Anderson at Jackson-
ville.
Being unable to get any informa-
tion concerning the dead man, the
county will bear the funeral expenses
,and !hc will be buried in a pauper, t g p palmer, C. H. Dur.
grave. Spencer will likely be kept in, B. M. Ray, 0. T. Allen, W. A.
one of the best games of the season'
in this county.
ROAD MEETING AT MEXIA
of you. Jack Hughes, manager of
Brookshire Bros, store, was at the
counter in the lobby of the bank,
counting money getting ready to
make a deposit; Mr. Shattuck was at
the front cage, Mr. WiH McCuistion
(Continued on page 4)
To My Friends
! havj opened the Gu!f FiHing Station near the
rai!road and wiM appreciate part of your Business
Complete Line of Gulf Products
Tires, Tubes and Accessories.
We Wash and Grease Cars.
PHONE 84
Carl Garner
! WOULD APPRECIATE PART OF YOUR BUSINESS
jail at Rusk until the summer term 6i! Trantham, C. M. Earle
District Court, which convenes next
July. '
MEETING OF BASEBALL
PLAYERS AND FANS
THURSDAY N!GHT
A meeting of all persons interested
in having a baseball team to repre-
sent Alto this year, will be held at the
HeraM office on Thursday night,
March $th.
If you are a baseball fan or play-
er and would like to have a good
team for Alto, you* are urged to ati
tend this meeting.
F. L. Weimar, Business Manager.
Dewqy Beauchamp, Captain.
and Clyde
Poore, were in Mexia yesterday at. j
tending general meeting of citizens
along the route of Highway 7.
The meeting was to further thej
interest of completing highway 7'
through East Texas. A large delega-
tion met at this city yesterday and,
appointed a delegation to mfst with;
the State Highway Commission ill
the interest of this road
APPRECIATION
FRANK KNIGHT'S MOTHER
D.ED AT LUFKIN
Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Knight regret to hear of the death
of Mr. Knight's mother, Mrs. T. J.
Mabery, the sad event occurring at
the family home in Lufkin during
the early hours of Sunday morning.
They have the deepest sympathy
of their Alto friends in their un-
timely misfortune.
We wish to express to our Alto
friends and neighbors our sincere
appreciation for their words of con-
dolence and the beautiful floral
offerings tendered on account of the
death of our dear mother and grand
mother. Your kindness will always
be remembered. '
Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Knight
and Children.
HALF AND HALF
COTTON SEED FOR SALE
First year seed. Good turn-out.
$2.50 per hundred pounds.
T. M. Penn, Route 1
Rusk, Texas.
711
The First Mationa) Bank
OF ALTO
Capita! $50,000.00
MEMBER
^fEOERAL RESERVE^
SYSTEM
THE FIRST CARE OF THE DEPOSITOR SHOULD BE
THE SAFETY OF THE BANK.
THE FIRST CARE OF THE BANK SHOULD BE
THE SAFETY OF THE DEPOSITOR.
It is our cate for the safety of the depositor that has caused our
growth, and earned for us the confidence of the entire community.
The United States Government is a large stockholder in this bank,
and our deposits are insured by the Federal Insurance Deposit
Corporation, under the provisions of the Banking Act
of 1933, guaranteeing deposits.
"YOURS FOR FAMUL AMD EFF!C!ENT SERVICE"
Spencer Makes
Statement To
Dist. Attorney
Leo Spencer, the bank robber who
escaped death here Monday morn-
ing when he attempted to rob the
Continental State Bank, refused to
make a statement to anyone but the
District Attorney, and was taken to
Lufkin Monday night and made the
ffollowing statement to Mr. Stone
concerning the bank robbery.
He also confessed to participating
in the wholesale robbery at Cushing
about a: month ago, when the night
^watchman was tied up and a number
of stores were robbed. His state.
,ment is as follows:
"I met Slim (Fred McClure) at
San Antonio and we planned the
Alto job there. We stoie a car in
Rusk Saturday night, drove to Alto
and went into the woods where we
slept in the car during the night.
The car would not start the next
morning, and we had to crank it,
and we drove in to tow.) and bought
a new battery for $4.95. We had one
nickel left after we bought it-
We drove up near the bank and
parked the car, and Slim went into
the bank. He tried to get me to go
Sin with him first, and had to come
back after me three times, before he
could get me to go in.
When the man in there blazed
Rway with a shot gun, we both run
for the door. I don't guess I got the
tguts Slim had, if I had, I'd have
fought it out with them.
Slim emptied his pistol at them and
reached in the car for the shot gun.
I was trying to get him to get in.
I was slumped down in the front
seat starting the motor. Then
that City Marshal hit Slim with a
rifle bullet. I didn't know Slim was
shot. He kinda sagged there on the
sidewalk. I was mad at him because
he would not get in the car. Tht
bullets was buzzing all around us.
I started the car and made a dash
for freedom, but was captured after
City Marshal Earle shot the tires on
my car.
I wish I was in Slim's place now,
his troubles are over and mine are
just beginning. He's got nothing to
4vorry about now. Well, I wrote my
music, now I guess it is up to me to
sing it."
Spencer recounted his wander-
ings over the country in the past
year, beginning with farm work in
Louisiana, work in Arkansas, in the
wheat harvest of the middle west,
and finally his trip to Texas where
he met up with "Slim" in San An-
tonio.
"I was an orphan and I never
had any schooling and I never had
a chance," He said. "If I had some-
body to look out for me when I wag
a kid and could of gone to school;
like you fellows, maybe I wouldn't
be here today. But I'll make good in
the penitentiary. They won't have
any trouble with me. I'm just as
[much to blame as Slim and I got it
coming to me."
He said the slain bandit was an
army deserter from New York state.
He was questioned about various
other Texas robberies but maintained
that this was his first "job."
Cherokee County
PoH l ax Payments
Near 5000 Mark
Had fifteen more citizens of Cher-
okee County paid poll taxes, there
(would have been an even five thou-
sand poll tax payments in this count?
this year, the total paid being 4985.
{ This will bring the voting strength
between six or seven thousand, as it
is estimated that there are between a
thousand and fifteen "unders and
overs" in the county.
This is about two thousand more
poll tax payments than 1933, the in-
crease being on account of 1934
being an election year.
The following is an official list of
Cherokee County boxes and their
poll tax payments: )
Box
No. Place No.
1 E. Rusk 401
2 N. Alto 339
E. Jacksonville 683
Mt. Selman 66
Griffin 83
Lone Star 36
Box Creek 57
Wells ^ 186
Mixon 64
Maydelle 165
Union 24
B&ll's School House 26
Forest 118
14 Rusk!, 678
15 S. Jacksonville 439
16 Dialvitle 110
17 S. Alto 276
18 N. W. Jacksonville 343
19 Nebo j.... 50
Summerfield 76
Turney 60
Gallatin 91
Reklaw 64
24 Henry's Chapel 44
25 Reese 61
26 Pleasant Hill 51
27 Ponta 78
28 Ward's Store 3?
29 Concord 7(^
30 Black Jack 4. -- '
31 Fastrill 5
32 N. E. Jacksonville 18'.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
20
21
22
23
Total
4985
TWENTY YEARS AGO
Mrs. W., A. Trantham and Miss
Grace Delaney were visitors in Jack-
sonville Saturday. Helen and Delores
Trantham accompanied them to Jack-
sonville, spending the week-end there
.with relatives.
Tihe following item was taken from
the Jacksonville Progress under the
caption of twenty years ago:
The political announcement col-
umn in the paper was growing rapid,
ly. It was particularly interesting to
inote there were six candidates for
county treasurer. Those listed were
C. K. Norwood, Joe Summers, Gene
Hawkins, John N. Rosamond, John C.
Ellis, and' 1. P. Russell. Forre&t
Reagan was a candidate for sheriff,
and John B. Guinn wax tunning for
re-election to the office of county
attorney.
Dr. J. H. Evans of Palestine
dropped dead in his office there on
Tuesday about 11 o'clock. Another
doctor was present when the end
t^me, but was "unable to do anything
for the dying man. Dr. Evans former-
ly lived ini Alto, but had moved to
Palestine a number of years before.
He was 58 years of age, and at the
time of his death was president of the
Texas Board of Medical Examiners.
FOR SALE
Kelley Disc-Cultivator. Riding at-
tachment. Can be seen at Stribling's
store. Priced at $60.00.
E. L. Raney.
Just Piain Honest Service
W-- appreciate your Garage and Parts Business, and Try to Give
you the Very Best of Service. Keep in Mind we have only first class
mechanics, and first class equipment.
We are in position to sell you the best in—
TIRES AND TUBES. BATTERIES, AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORIES
AND A COMPLETE LINE OF CHEVROLET PARTS.
COME IN AND SEE US. WE WILL BE GLAD TO SEE YOU.
Brooks & Pearman Garage
Phone 236 For Wrtcber Service
——,
J-
\
4
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Weimar, F. L. The Alto Herald (Alto, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 8, 1934, newspaper, March 8, 1934; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth214689/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stella Hill Memorial Library.