Ward Shooting Thwarted Bank Theft, Cops Say

Camden Courier, June 8, 1925

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WARD SHOOTING THWARTED BANK THEFT, COPS SAY Police Declare Bandits Planned Big Robbery at Westville WOUNDED PATROLMAN HAS CHANCE TO LIVE Robbers Displayed Unusual Daring by Returning to Scene of Crime Police today declared the shooting of Policeman Robert Ward frustrated an attempt to rob the new bank at Westville. Two of the seven bandits are being held in the city jail without bail while further arrests were promised in the early future by detectives working on the case. The arrests will cause a big sensation both in Camden and Philadelphia, police intimate. Physicians at the Homeopathic Hospital, where Ward has been since he was shot down early Saturday morning, today said the wounded policeman has an even chance for recovery. It was at first thought that the bandit's bullet had penetrated his left lung and that no hope was held for his recovery. The shooting of Ward occurred on Sixth street near Everett street. With several companions he was in an automobile going south on Sixth. When he saw an auto parked in the darkness without any tail light he went to investigate and was shot down.

Camden Courier, June 8, 1925

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Assailant Identified Edward Dillon, 21 years old, one of the men under arrest, has been identified by Ward as the man who shot him. Edward Brannin, 24 years old, is the other man under arrest. The other five men made their escape by commandeering the auto of Fred Klosterman after their own bandit car had hit a fireplug and was wrecked. They still are at liberty. Police who are investigating the shooting are firm in the belief that the bandits were on their way to rob the new bank at Westville when they were discovered by Ward. The sleuths would not divulge the source of their information or their reasons for the belief, however. When asked if Dillon or Brannin had "peached," the police would neither confirm nor deny reports to that effect. Bandits Were Daring The daring of the five men who forced Klosterman to take them to Gloucester shows the character of the bandits and bears out the statement of Detective Wood, of Philadelphia, that they are members of the famous "Francis Bailey Gang," of Philadelphia. This gang has been involved in several shooting affairs lately. The abandoned automobile was found in Gloucester by the police, more than two miles from the scene of the shooting and the wreck. Police now believe one of the five bandits, after the journey to Gloucester, secured another automobile and braved arrest by going back to Sixth and Everett and towing the damaged car to Gloucester. Examination of the car shows that the bandits had removed several articles that would have been damaging evidence. One of the reports is that the bandits had an acetylene tank concealed in the car and which was to be used in blowing the safe at Westville. They had an elaborate kit of burglar's tools. It is further reported that the five men hid in Gloucester all night and quietly made their escape after daybreak. It is further reported that the identity of at least two of the men is known to the police.

Police Declare Bandits Planned Big Robbery at Westville

WOUNDED PATROLMAN HAS CHANCE TO LIVE

Robbers Displayed Unusual Daring by Returning to Scene of Crime

Police today declared the shooting of Policeman Robert Ward frustrated an attempt to rob the new bank at Westville.

Two of the seven bandits are being held in the city jail without bail while further arrests were promised in the early future by detectives working on the case. The arrests will cause a big sensation both in Camden and Philadelphia, police intimate.

Physicians at the Homeopathic Hospital, where Ward has been since he was shot down early Saturday morning, today said the wounded policeman has an even chance for recovery. It was at first thought that the bandit's bullet had penetrated his left lung and that no hope was held for his recovery.

The shooting of Ward occurred on Sixth street near Everett street. With several companions he was in an automobile going south on Sixth. When he saw an auto parked in the darkness without any tail light he went to investigate and was shot down.

Assailant Identified

Edward Dillon, 21 years old, one of the men under arrest, has been identified by Ward as the man who shot him. Edward Brannin, 24 years old, is the other man under arrest.

The other five men made their escape by commandeering the auto of Fred Klosterman after their own bandit car had hit a fireplug and was wrecked. They still are at liberty.

Police who are investigating the shooting are firm in the belief that the bandits were on their way to rob the new bank at Westville when they were discovered by Ward. The sleuths would not divulge the source of their information or their reasons for the belief, however.

When asked if Dillon or Brannin had "peached," the police would neither confirm nor deny reports to that effect.

Bandits Were Daring

The daring of the five men who forced Klosterman to take them to Gloucester shows the character of the bandits and bears out the statement of Detective Wood, of Philadelphia, that they are members of the famous "Francis Bailey Gang," of Philadelphia. This gang has been involved in several shooting affairs lately.

The abandoned automobile was found in Gloucester by the police, more than two miles from the scene of the shooting and the wreck. Police now believe one of the five bandits, after the journey to Gloucester, secured another automobile and braved arrest by going back to Sixth and Everett and towing the damaged car to Gloucester.

Examination of the car shows that the bandits had removed several articles that would have been damaging evidence. One of the reports is that the bandits had an acetylene tank concealed in the car and which was to be used in blowing the safe at Westville. They had an elaborate kit of burglar's tools.

It is further reported that the five men hid in Gloucester all night and quietly made their escape after daybreak. It is further reported that the identity of at least two of the men is known to the police.