Johnston CO OK- Mill Creek Bank Robbery - March 10, 1932

Submited by Linda Bonham Hanmer  lindacb@flash.net

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Accounts of Mill Creek bank robbery,  March 10, 1932 in Johnston County
Oklahoma

 Johnston County Capital Democrat

 Citizens Kill One; Wound Two As Robber's Flee From Bank with $830.

 Bulletin

      The two wounded Smalley brothers who were taken to the Sulpher
hospital were reported by Hospital officials Thursday morning to be resting
fine, and that both will recover. The one shot through the head is not as
dangerously wounded as first thought. The smaller brother was operated on
and the bullet removed from his neck. County officials will return the
prisoners to Johnston county in a few days. The body of Hamner was claimed
by relatives living in Wewoka.
      Two men were shot down, one killed as they walked from the First
National Bank, at Mill Creek, Wednesday after noon at 2:30, and the third,
the driver of the car was captured a short distance from town. The wounded
pair were taken to the Sulpher Hospital.
      The dead man was identified as Fred Hamner, Wewoka.  the wounded men
are brothers, named Smalley and live at Sulpher, formerly living at Wewoka.
The robbers were driving a Chevrolet coupe, 1932  model with license tag
number  99-512.
       The car drove up to the bank about 2:30. Two men got out of the car
while the third waited, and then came into the bank. Walking in, the two
drew their pistols and walked behind the teller's window, demanding Charley
Penner, cashier and Mrs.Dye, bookkeeper to lie down on the floor, while
Hamner put all the money in a black handbag. The bank officials were then
told to go with them, but Penner jumped into the vault, pulling Mrs. Dye
after him, and slammed the door. One of the bandits shot at Penner, the
bullet striking the door about an inch from the edge. Penner then turned on
the bank alarm.
       Hamner and the elder Smalley brother, as they  walked out the door to
the sidewalk, took a shot at citizens at the Young's garage. The shots were
returned and Hamner, who was carrying the suitcase fell dead, being struck
in the back of the head on the right side, the bullet coming out between his
eyes caving in the front part of his face. Smalley was shot in the head
above the left eye. The driver of the car, a brother to Smalley, drove south
from the bank about 75  yards, backed the car up about 40 feet and open fire
on the citizens. While they were returning the fire, Smalley who was lying
on the sidewalk crawled to his gun and was raising to shoot when a gun came
down on his head. The driver of the car then went towards P. W. South's
farm, south of Mill Creek.
       The Sheriff's office was notified and Deputy Sheriff Robert Donaldson
and Under-Sheriff Pat Trotter hurried to Mill Creek. Trotter took charge of
the wounded man, while Donaldson and Orb Bulman, of Mill Creek, started on
the trail of the other wounded Smalley brother. Nearing the South farm the
car was found with the bumper dragging, and a casing off. Leaving their car
the officers trailed the wounded man by blood marks on the ground. His trail
led to the creek and to South's barn. Separating to cover a timber spot,
both officers came upon the bandit. A demand was made to" reach skywards"
and the robber obeyed. Searching him, the officers found no gun, but 11  .45
pistol shells were taken from his pocket. Returning to the car the officers
found a 12 gauge shot gun and a 30-30 rifle, both well oiled. Smalley was
returned to Mill Creek and given medical aid. Deputy Donaldson and County
Attorney Kenneth Clark, then accompanied the two wounded brothers to the
Sulpher Hospital. the driver of the car was shot through the left arm above
the wrist, and a flesh wound on the left leg above the knee and a wound on
the back of his neck.
     Hamner, the dead robber, looked to be about 35 years of age, heavy-set,
weighing about 165 pounds. He had a pin-striped suit on, and a pair of
overalls
 and a lumber- jack over the suit. Seminole County authorities stated that
Hamner was well known about the courts. The Smalley brothers now live in
Sulpher, where one of them had been a patient of the Soldiers Hospital. They
formerly  resided at Wewoka. The one that was shot down at the bank, wore a
growth of beard, a dark suit, he is not expected to live. The driver of the
car wore a jacket, laced breeches, and leather boots.
       The robbery of the Mill Creek bank was the third. On July 11, 1927
the bank was robbed of
 $ 4,200. By two men, Jimmy Wilson was arrested, identified and given a 15
year sentence in McAllester.
       On the fourth day of September, 1931 the bank was robbed by 3 youths,
Arthur Fraley and Luther Goodall were captured and confessed. They are
serving a 10 year sentence at the state penitentiary. The third robber was
not captured.

There is also a reference to this incident in a book written by
Michael Wallis

Linda Bonham Hamner
Murray/Jefferson County Coordinator/Archivist
for the  OKGENWEB Project
lindacb@flash.net