Danforth Bank Robbery

By Kit Zinser

Christmas was just the day before, and businesses on the square were slowly moving into the quiet cadence of their everyday routine.  Danforth Bank was no exception.

Wednesday, December 26, 1928, 4:00 p.m.:  The employees at the bank were winding down their day.  Miss Alice Risser totaled the day's receipts while Miss Barbara Imhoff moved cash back to the vault.  Frank Burkey wiped his hands as he exited the washroom.

Mr.  Jones, the owner of the Jones Cafe on the south side of the square, recalled seeing a man walking by the window as a Nash coupe pulled up and parked.  The stranger quickly switched places with the driver, who exited carrying a "traveling bag."  Positioning the coupe near the bank entrance, three men entered quietly while the leader moved quickly to the back hall, pointed a gun at Miss Risser, and ordered her to open the door into the banking room, where they encountered Miss Imhoff and Mr. Burkey.  The young ladies were ordered to sit on the floor.  Easy pickings.

However, those employees weren't the only ones in the building. Mr. Busse was in a back office dictating letters to Miss Ida Hess, and Asa Danforth, the bank's president, was meeting with Mr. A. Zimmerman. But nothing was amiss as far as they were concerned.

Quickly, counter drawers were pulled open, and the cash scooped out.  But, the safe provided a bit of a problem.  Mr. Burkey couldn't open the safe immediately because the crank was in the vault.  The gun waving perilously close, Frank didn't argue.  The crooks grabbed more cash from the vault but discarded a bag of valuable jewelry and legal papers that belonged to Mrs. Mary Danforth.  The leader growled: "Don't want no paper!"  As they departed with $8500, one thief tossed in a canister of tear gas to thwart pursuit.

Burkey rushed to Mr. Danforth's office, notified the president, and then hurried to Mr. Busse.  Asa called Chief of Police Bozarth at city hall (located on the NE corner of the square - now Brecklin's parking lot).  Busse, in turn, notified other police departments in nearby towns just in case of a crime spree.  Danforth opened for business on the 27th, thanks to a short-term loan from the Denhart Bank.  Insurance coverage came through, and the square returned to a skittish normal.  The Illinois Banker's Association Insurance company had investigators and local and state law enforcement following up.  A reward of $1000 was offered - "Dead or Alive."

Now, they say the least reliable thing is an eyewitness, and while the make of the getaway car was not disputed (A Nash Auburn), the color was.  Some said green with a stripe, and some said gray.  Others swore there were three men - two held dark complexions, and one was of fair complexion.  All wore caps; one sported a suit and the other two overcoats.  Various witnesses said, "I saw the car with three guys stop in front of the post office."  "Three guys were having dinner at Nutty's Diner."  "I came upon a car accident a few miles east of town with three guys in the car."  None of those accounts netted the thieves.  Jones kept telling anyone who would listen - "There were four men in the Nash."

On January 15, 1929, a bank in Brookfield (outside of Chicago) experienced a robbery similar to the Danforth heist.  The perps netted $9000 and some securities (or "paper").  The hunt became more serious.

Suspects were eventually rounded up and questioned extensively. Fairl Lane of Beardstown was interrogated because he was seen distributing gold coins.  Lane owned a very nice resort for sportsmen in Beardstown and a "palatial" houseboat where drinking and gambling were provided for patrons --guys like Al "Scarface" Capone.  Lane was later released after his alibi had been checked out.  Harry Eckhardt was arrested in Pasadena, California, and brought back to Illinois.  Eckhardt, originally from Bloomington, served time for robbery and had been identified in a picture lineup provided by law enforcement.  When seen in person by the Danforth employees, Eckhardt was released and deemed to be living "a clean life."

Then, as they say, there was a break in the case. Two men were captured up north in the Brookfield bank caper when they tried to pass securities (or paper). Burkey and Imhoff traveled to Cook County to positively identify the men.

William Cushing, 29, of Mattoon, leader of the gang, and Normand Ruffo, 20, of Chicago, getaway driver, were jailed in Cook County. Both men confessed. Later identified and subsequently arrested were Walter George, 22, of Mattoon, and L.R. Toler, 30, of Mattoon.

As part of his confession, Cushing said he plied his trade as a piano tuner in many Washington homes, including employment at the home of Asa Danforth.  Not seeing much of a future, Cushing's new fiancee handed the diamonds and other gifts bequeathed to her over to authorities.  Toler and George also confessed, but Walter George recanted, complaining that he was beaten and coerced into his admissions.

George stood trial in Cook County and was acquitted.  He then was transferred to Tazewell County to stand trial.  Cushing and Ruffo testified for George; Toler testified against him.  Walter had a few friends upon whom he apportioned packages who testified for him, feeling a tinge of obligation.  As a result, this trial ended with a hung jury.

1929 brought George a new trial, and this time, the jury paid attention to Toler's testimony. Walter joined his compatriots in prison.