The attempted robbery of the Labette County State Bank in 1933 …

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Labette Avenue

Editor’s note:  This is the first of two installments on the attempted robbery of the Labette County State Bank in Altamont which was 75 years ago in 1933.

ALTAMONT — Coolness, vigilance and bravery — not to mention some free guns and bullets from Uncle Sam — held off the robbery of the Labette County State Bank 75 years ago this month.
It was an event that put Altamont in the headlines of newspapers across the nation.
And, it also thrust two usually-quiet and stoic bank employees into the national spotlight.
For this was the first time when the good guys fought back against criminals and robbers.
And, the good guys won.
Here’s the story . . .
The early years of the 1930s were filled with desperate times.
With Americans up to their collective eyeballs in an economic depression, citizens resorted to desperate measures to stay alive.
Banks became perfect targets. One by one, banks in small towns across the midwestern United States were picked off by misfits who found plenty of loot and open range in which to hide.
Enter the names of Alvin Payton and Ken Conn.
By 1933, the two men were among the most hardened criminals in the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing. Conn, 21, was serving a life sentence for murder. He spent most of his childhood in and out of reform schools and jails in Colorado and Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, Payton, also 21, was an area native, having lived in the Mound Valley and Edna area. He was serving a a prison sentence — 20 to 100 years — for attempting to rob the Edna State Bank in 1930.
So, when Payton and Conn joined nine other inmates in prison breakout on Memorial Day 1933, banks across Kansas were alerted to the potential for the robberies.
That’s what happened on the morning of July 14 in downtown Altamont. Shortly before the Labette County State Bank opened its doors at 9 o’clock sharp, a Ford V-8 coupe carrying Conn and Payton arrived at the bank. They peered through the bank windows, hoping to garner the attention of teller Colene McCarty.
However, McCarty, along with her husband, cashier Isaac “Ike” McCarty, were already suspicious of the two men. They had noticed the two strangers driving along Huston Avenue, slowly peering out their vehicle windows as they “cased” the institution prior to the bank’s opening.
But rather than wait and have their suspicions confirmed, Ike and Colene went into self-defense mode.
Sitting atop the bank vault and unknown to most people in Altamont was a small crawl space, which was built as a hideout for a bank employee to serve as a marksman in the event of a holdup. Ike McCarty climbed into the concealed space and peered through a small window that overlooked the bank lobby. Next to Ike McCarty’s body were two guns: a shotgun and a rifle.
Meanwhile, Colene McCarty unlocked the front door at 9 o’clock. Payton and Conn entered the bank while Colene walked behind the teller gate.
And, that’s when the two robbers brandished pistols and ordered Colene to empty all of the money into a sack. Conn went into the rear of the bank, where several bank employees, including Ike McCarty’s father, bank officer A.H. McCarty, and several customers were gathered in an office. Conn ordered the locals to lie on the floor of the bank lobby. Colene McCarty, however, was ordered to stand at the teller gates and empty the institution of its available cash.
Unbeknown to the McCartys, the other bank employees or the two robbers was Robert Schooley. He was mowing the lawn of the Kansas Home Telephone Company — located across the street from the bank — when he glanced over to see the two men in the lobby holding guns on Colene McCarty. Schooley ran to the Baker Brothers Garage, which was located diagonally across the street from the bank, where he alerted several men of the robbery underway in the local bank.
At the same time, Ike McCarty rang another alarm — a bell system that connected the bank to the Baker Brothers Garage during a bank heist. The local telephone operator, Maude Hartwell, was notified and began a quick call of businessmen up and down Huston Avenue. Armed with government-issued rifles given to towns with limited police protection, the quickly-arranged militia began a defense of the bank and their town.
While Colene McCarty was dumping money into a bag, Schooley hunkered behind a pile of tires in front of the garage. He pointed his rifle squarely at the tires of the robbers’ car and fired. Four shots later, the robbers’ vehicle was immobilized.
Conn and Payton instantly became nervous of the shots of gunfire coming from outside the bank. Believing that they were the targets of the gunfire, they proceeded to take Colene, with cash sack in hand, and leave the bank via a back door with Colene being used as a human shield.
However, calm, cool and collected Ike McCarty put a bead on his gun sights and leveled the 10-gauge, sawed-off shotgun on Alvin Payton. When Payton got within eight feet of the vault, McCarty pulled the trigger. The blast from McCarty’s gun slammed into Payton’s face, instantly pulverizing his eyes and leaving him on the floor writhing in pain.
The shotgun powder blackened the curtain that concealed the lobby from the public crawl space.
But, Kenneth Conn, still unaware that the gunshot came from Colene’s husband above the bank vault, became scared. Believing that the gunfire came from outside the bank, Conn ordered the elder McCarty to go outside and inform the citizen defenders to stop shooting. He threatened to kill Colene McCarty unless the gunfire stopped.
Above the bank vault, Ike McCarty had a perfect view of Conn. McCarty put away the shotgun, fearing that any other gunfire would hit his wife, and picked up a .30 caliber rifle. He pointed the barrel of the rifle straight at Conn’s chest. Meanwhile, Colene McCarty maintained a cool composure while the robber held her as a shield and while her own husband leveled lethal weapons in his own hands — all within whispering distance of Colene’s ears.
When A.H. McCarty started toward the front door, Ike McCarty twice pulled the trigger of the rifle, knowing that the rifle slugs could come within inches of hitting his own wife.
However, the bullets missed Colene and struck Conn — the first one hitting the robber on the trigger guard of Conn’s pistol while the second striking Conn through the heart and severing the spine.
Conn slithered to the floor as his lifeless body spilled blood on the bank’s tile floor.
Ike McCarty dropped from his perch and walked outside the bank to give the “all clear” sign to the citizen defenders waiting across the street.
Inside the bank were two escaped convicts: one dead and the other blinded and disfigured.
Outside the bank was the robbers’ vehicle with four ventilated tires . . . plus a group of one dozen armed citizens ready to take aim at the robbers had they tried an alternative getaway.
And, no sooner did Ike give that sign than news started to spread throughout the nation with the speed of the telegraph.

Next week’s story: Altamont became the center of national media attention, and Ike and Colene McCarty were literally treated as national heroes.

A special welcome to the Labette County Fair is being extended by Jeff Falkenstien, fair board president for the second consecutive year.
Falkenstien has been involved with the fair since he was eight years old showing livestock at the 1969 Fair. He showed until he graduated from LCHS in 1979.
Falkenstien has been on the Labette County Fair Board for eight years. He was drawn to being a board member because “I was friends with most on the board and is committed to doing my part to assist in continuing this great educational experience,” Falkenstien said.
Before coming on the board, he served 15 years on the Wilson County Fair Board while he was the Agriculture Education instructor at Fredonia High School. Now he is one of the three Agricultural Education teachers at LCHS.
Jeff is married to Kim who is a para at Bartlett Grade School. They have three daughters–Whitney, who is at Ottawa University and plays Volleyball. Kinsley is a senior at LCHS, and Delancy is an 8th grader at Bartlett Elementary.
Falkenstien said the board members have been working hard on finishing up the hog pens and they have some really nice bleachers this year. “The City of Oswego put new seats on the stadium bleachers and that is a nice improvement,” he said.
“We have many new vendors and we invite everyone to come out and enjoy the week,” he said.

For more information, see the July 23 edition of Labette Avenue. Previously posted death notices can be found by typing the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page.

Jerry D. Carson

PARSONS—Jerry D. Carson, 68, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at the Elmhaven East Nursing Home, where had had been the past few days. He had been in failing health. Carson is a retired Certified Public Accountant and current Labette County Commissioner.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Sharlyn Gates officiating. A eulogy will be given by Sen. Dwayne Umbarger. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Community Foundation. They may be left at or sent to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.

Larry L. Traxson

EDNA—Larry L. Traxson, 69, of rural Edna, Kan., died Sunday, July 20, 2008, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, July 24, at the Angola United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Richland Cemetery, rural Angola. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to National Kidney Foundation. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Velda Lovena Hittle

WICHITA—Velda Lovena Hittle, 101, of Wichita, Kan., formerly of Edna, died Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at Wichita Presbyterian Manor.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Edna United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in North Edna Cemetery in Edna.

Memorials are suggested to Edna United Methodist Church or the Presbyterian Manor in Wichita and can be sent to Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., P.O. Box 468, Coffeyville, 67337.

Mary Ellen Babcock

PARSONS—Mary Ellen Babcock, 96, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, July 15, 2008, at her home.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Hyde officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Pansy Waters Hulette

PARSONS—Pansy Waters Hulette, 90, of Parsons died at 12:09 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons, where she had resided since May 2005.

Following cremation, the family will hold a private burial at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons or a humane society of the donor’s choice and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

William H. ‘Bill’ Jungles

PARSONS—William H. “Bill” Jungles, 65, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at his home.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Altamont. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Community Foundation or to the American Cancer Society and may be left at the funeral home. Further obituary details will be announced.

Louise T. Parsons

COLUMBUS—Louise T. Parsons, 90, of Columbus, Kan., died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at the Medicalodge of Columbus.

Graveside services will be 10 am, Friday, July 18, at the Columbus City Cemetery with Greg Morrell officiating. Burial will follow. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery for the services. Friends may call at the funeral home at their convenience from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday or 8 a.m, until 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Columbus. These may be left at or mailed to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 610 S. East Ave. Columbus, KS 66725.

Kenneth G. Riley

PARSONS—Kenneth Grady Riley, 38, of Parsons, Kan., formerly of Neodesha, died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Christ Church in Neodesha with the Rev. Dave Cheshier officiating. Burial will be in Neodesha Cemetery.

Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel in Neodesha, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Edith J. Brumback

COLUMBUS—Edith Janene Brumback, 70, of Columbus, Kan., a former Berry Garment Factory employee, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus. Burial will be in Park Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday at the funeral home.

Virginia M. Lagle

COLUMBUS—Virginia M. Lagle, 66, of Columbus, Kan., passed away Thursday, July 17, 2008, at the Freeman Health Systems in Joplin, Mo.

Family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus, with the Pastor Susan Brey officiating. Burial will be in the Sherman City Cemetery, Sherman City, Kan.

Memorials may be left for the First United Methodist Church in Columbus and may be left at the Simpson Funeral Home.

Harriet A. Wheeler

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.—Harriet A. Wheeler, 72, of Oklahoma City, Okla., formerly of Parsons, Kan., died Friday, July 18, 2008, at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Harriet Rosenstahl.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, July 21, 2008 at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons is in charge of arrangements.

David K. Dean

PARSONS—David K. Dean, 51, of Parsons, Kan., died at 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2008, at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin.

Following cremation, funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m., Tuesday to sign the register book.

Fred E. Patton

PARSONS—Fred E. Patton, 69, of ParsonsKan., died Sunday, July 20, 2008, at Labette Health.

There will be a graveside service at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery Patio with the Rev. Lewis O. Smith officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.

Robert G. “Rob” Carson

PARSONS—Robert G. “Rob” Carson, 46, of Parsons, Kan., died in a drowning accident, Monday evening, July 21, 2008, near South Mound, Kan.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 25, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Bottled water will be given out during the Labette County Fair Premium Sale on Friday, was deicded at the Oswego Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at noon at Oswego City Hall with President Cindy Dean, Kevin Sheddrick, Pastor Paul Wiand and Rena Russell.
Board members not present were: Lori Brake, Ron Geifer, Terry Robison, Matt George and Linda Rife.
Committee reports given were as follows:
• Kevin Sheddrick will select a template for the web page and bring it back for board approval and ideas.
• Kevin Sheddrick reported on new incentives the city is working on for housing.
In old business matters:
• It was approved for Linda Rife to have chamber brochures printed.
• It was mentioned the need for board members.
In new business and announcements the chamber decided to keep the present mission statement.
• The First Friday Coffee will be held at Labette Avenue from 7:30-8 a.m. Businesses interested in having a Friday Coffee or Open House need to contact Cindy Dean.
• There are 59 memberships to date.
• Voted not to participate in a health fair Aug. 7.
• Voted no on donating to a wiffle ball tournament.
• Pastor Paul has sent a letter to Dollar General headquarters on becoming a member of chamber. He is waiting for an answer.
Next meeting will be held Aug. 13 at noon.

PARSONS—Jerry D. Carson, 68, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at the Elmhaven East Nursing Home, where had had been the past few days. He had been in failing health. Carson is a retired Certified Public Accountant and current Labette County Commissioner.Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Sharlyn Gates officiating. A eulogy will be given by Sen. Dwayne Umbarger. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Community Foundation. They may be left at or sent to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.

A complete obituary will be in the next edition of the Labette Avenue.

Julie Kepner of Chetopa has joined the staff of Chesnutt Real Estate. She is a licensed realtor and will be assisting potential home buyers and sellers in getting the most for their money in today’s competitive real estate market.
Julie is the daughter of Wayne and Kay Wolsey of Chetopa and is married to Rick Kepner. She and Rick have two children, Brooke, 11, and Braydon, 5. Julie is the manager for Bellmore Apartments in Chetopa and also works at Chetopa Elementary School as a paraprofessional in the first grade.

The Labette County Appraiser’s salary was decreased by commissioners following five executive sessions at last Monday’s meeting.
Effective July 1 of this year, commissioners Brian Kinzie and Lonie Addis approved to reduce the amount of the County Appraiser’s salary by $5,000 annually or $2,500 for the remainder of the year. This reduction in pay resulted in the Appraiser LeRoy Burk resignation of duties as Flood Plain Administrator and the 911 Addressing Administrator. These duties have been dispersed to other departments.
Also approved was a three percent pay increase for the County Appraiser based on the new annual salary amount, $52,591.80 or $4,302.65 per month.
Approval was given to increase the salary of the 911 Dispatch Supervisor Brandy Grassl $100 per month effective July 1 of this year.
A salary increase in the amount of $150 per month was given to the Road and Bridge Supervisor Sandy Krider due to additional duties of 911 addressing that the appraiser resigned from.
The commissioners removed the stipend of $500 for the County Coordinator, Jim Cook, and merge it with his new title of Emergency Management/Coordinator effectively immediately. This creates one salary amount. A salary increase of $150 per month for the remainder of the year was issued.
The commissioners stated that the salary increases are due to these individuals, Brandy Grassl, Sandy Krider and Jim Cook, achieving education and performing at a level exceeding commissioners expectations.
IN THIS WEEK’S MEETING the commissioners:
• Update from Leon Steeby, Rob Garner and John Diediker on Labette No. 9 Fire Department.
• Macey McNickle given approval to put out for Juvenile Justice Authority job posting.
• Larry Steeby, Parsons Fire Chief and Brandy Grassl, 911 Dispatch Supervisor, gave commissioners update on the City of Parsons supporting the Parsons Fire Department to be dispatched through the Labette County 911 Dispatch facility.
• Denied request from Jason Piercefield for a waste management disposal site in Chetopa at this time.
• Commissioner Jerry Carson and Jim Cook were absent from the meeting. A work session followed the meeting.
• A budget work session will be held this Friday, July 18 at 8 a.m.
• Those attending were Cecil Fish, Rick Hizey, Lowell Scott and Jack Martin.
• They gave Register of Deeds Donna Strickland a $100 raise for her work with the other departments and for the technology she is advancing into.
• Accepted  several bids for the Osage Township fire department/community center project.

Some Diamond Coach Corp., Oswego, employees and members of the Diamond Network, left Friday, June 27, took a shuttle bus to Tulsa, Ok., and flew to Phoenix.
From there the group flew to Seattle, Wash., and sailed aboard Celebrity Cruise’s “Infinity” for the following ports: Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia.
They saw the Hubbard Glacier, Mendenhall Glacier, panned for gold, and went whale watching. The group celebrated Dick Seybolt’s birthday on July 3.
Those attending from Diamond Coach employees were: Dick and Arlene Seybolt, president of Diamond Coach; Charlie and Patricia Mitchell; Kate Strickland,Nancy and Bill Newby, Cheryl Hanigan, Carole McKinley, Dana McKinley (daughter) and Chris Taylor (grandson); Becky and Monte Province; JR and Cassie Garrett; Kenneth and Cheryl Curnutte; Shirley George and Betty Chapman.
Members of the Diamond Network attending were: Wayne and Betty Lowe;David and Rhonda Moore Kenneth Newberry and Tiffany Evans; Holly and Tom Klein; Mike and Lynne Trahan; Bill and Sharon Gorman; Bill and Claire Flynn, Blanche Grenier, Claire’s mother, (the trip was a gift for her 80th birthday); and Rex and Lil Hoy (travel planners).
They returned to Oswego on Friday, July 4.

Everything is set for the opening of the Labette County Fair which is scheduled for July 28-Aug. 2.
Labette Avenue will print its annual special edition next week to promote the 97th year of the fair.
Editor Rena Russell said everyone should look for this edition which will go to press on Monday evening and will be inserted into next week’s newspaper.
FAIR FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Labette County Fair and Livestock Sale is celebrating its 97th year. This traditional fair event has grown tremendously because of its strong ancestry and monetary support from area businesses, organizations, and individuals.
The sale can only prosper through the support of the businesses and individuals who contribute so generously.
The FFA and 4-H youth involved in this sale have given endless hours of work on their project, and these young people feel these hours of work have been vital to their future.
This year’s Labette County 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale is set for Friday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. in the new sale ring arena. This will be the fourth year for the Friday evening sale.
If you are not able to attend the premium sale but would like to continue financially supporting the sale, call Mary Jane Houston, (620) 236-7371. She will be at the sale on Friday afternoon with pledge money from Chetopa merchants and interested people. You can also call Labette Bank at 795-2121 or Matt George from the Oswego Locker (620) 795-4723 who will be collecting pledges from Oswego merchants.
Contributers are guaranteed this money will be well spent on Labette County’s leaders of tomorrow.

The 4-H Foods and Nutrition and Food Preservation judging will be held on Thursday, July 24 at the First Baptist Church in Altamont from 3-7 p.m.
All 4-H Food (Division F20, and F21 and F 22) exhibits will be judged ahead of the Fair. All participants need to check the fair book for complete guidelines on exhibiting their food items.
All participants need to remember to have a picture taken with the exhibits before having them judged. This picture will be on display at the fair. Gift baskets, educational exhibits, and food preservation exhibits can be displayed at the fair.

In an effort to continue to upgrade the facilities of the Labette County Fairgrounds the fair board has constructed a new barn where the sheep and hog barns have been previously. The building will be used for this year’s fair.
Individuals, families and groups have the opportunity to donate money which will be used to finish the building and help provide with racks and pens. Five participation levels have been set:
Bronze - $100; Silver - $250; Gold - $500; Platinum $1,000; Diamond - $2,000.
An engraved plaque will be displayed in the barn listing all contributors in this project at the different levels. For more information on how you can help with this project call:
Dan Peterson - 784-5646; Tom Nading - 226-3384; Keith Martin - 784-5337; Clint Hanigan - 226-3361; Ron McNickle - 336-3385.

Altamont’s Itchin’ for Stitchin’ Guild will sponsor an award to the most outstanding quilted item in the Arts & Crafts Division.

Labette Avenue is planning to attend the fair each day and take pictures for the annual “Scrapbook” edition which will be published two weeks after the fair has concluded. Watch for our staff at the fair — they would all like to meet you.