From the personal files of

Lena Stone Criswell

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT

Number 191

Marlin, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 6, 1958

ROBBERY THREAT AT

BANK HERE THURSDAY

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Man Claimed

He Had a Bomb

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    A bomb and robbery threat about 1:25 p.m. Thursday occurred here at the Marlin National Bank where President Cliff McCoy was confronted with a demanding note and threats by a stranger who indicated he was carrying a bomb.

    President McCoy said the man entered the front door of the bank which is adjacent to the president's office.   McCoy said at a first glance he thought the man was someone he knew and rose to greet him at the office railing.  The man was carrying a package wrapped in brown paper, under his arm.

    The bank official said the man laid down two pieces of paper on which was scrawled "this is a bomb, give me the money or I'm going to blow us all to hell."

    In reply, President McCoy said, "get out of here we are not going to give you anything," and as he turned away the stranger ran out the front door.

    Mr. McCoy said it all happened so quickly he was hardly able to get any identifying characteristics about the man except that he was white, wore khaki clothes, and did not recall if he wore a hat or cap, and appeared to be about 55 or 60 years old.

    Mr. McCoy said the man was carrying a small package wrapped in brown paper under his arm and seemed to somewhat hunch over the package.  He said he saw two wires protruding from the package.  It seemed there was something amateurish about the makeup of the package that was intended to be the bomb, that made Mr. McCoy feel that the bomb threat was a hoax.

    There was no money taken from the bank, the stranger was nowhere near the bank's money, no one else in the bank was in contact with the stranger.

    Windell Scruggs, bank cashier came into the bank from his lunch hour only moments after the incident.  Mr. Scruggs remarked later that if the robbery may have been successful that all funds in the bank are insured.

    Falls County Sheriff Brady Pamplin and his deputies, and City Marshal E. L. Walston and city officers started a search for the man.  Two FBI agents from the San Antonio office were in Marlin Thursday when the attempted robbery took place and they went in the bank and began an investigation.  They said they did not want their names mentioned.

    Alger Rodgers, at his barbershop immediately west of the Marlin National Bank on Live Oak Street may have been the only person outside the bank to get a good look at the man.  Mr. Rodgers said he noticed the man pass the barbershop carrying the package under his left arm.  Rodgers said this man may have had a hearing aid, but he was not sure.  He said the man was about 5 feet 11 inches tall, and seemed to be about 60 years old and was wearing khaki trousers and no coat.

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