First record of a bank robbery

[IhartU]

February 13, Liberty, Missouri. Another wholly new crime was perpetrated today by an unidentified band of former Confederate "guerillas". At 8:00 am, nine or ten howling riders galloped into town, and four dismounted at the bank. Inside, cashier Greenup Bird and his son William found themselves gazing down four revolver barrels.

The robbers forced the Birds into the vault, and swept the contents into a sack. Then they locked the birds in and rejoined their companions to ride away.

But as they left town, one of the bandits casually shot 19 year old college boy George "Jolly" Winmore, who was preparing to go to class with a valentine for his sweetheart.

This cold-blooded murder following open robbery of a bank by men who made no effort to disguise themselves, speaks volumes for the lawlessness of the central south western states since the disruption brought on by the late war.