On October 30 1931, three unmasked bandits robbed the Exchange Bank in Montour County
The Morning News , (Danville, Pennsylvania),
30 Oct 1931, Fri • Page 1
The robbers then looted the cash drawer and vault. The exact amount taken was not disclosed, but was thought to be around $1,100. A small safe within the vault of the bank was on a timer, and that device saved the bank $1,000, as it could not be accessed.
Not the actual get away car, but an example of a 1930 Oakland Sedan
In 1931, Luther Shook was in an automobile accident, which broke two traffic light stands in Williamsport Pa. He was arrested and fined $82, but the police allowed him to go home and find the money - giving him a few hours to do so. Luther went home, but he didn't have $82. So he went to his father for advice.
And his father suggested they rob a bank.
At trial in April of 1932, Reuben, Luther's father, admitted that he and his neighbor, John Krause, often discussed robbing the Exchange Bank. Krouse's plan was to to to Wilkes Barre to get a "safe-cracker" he knew to help dynamite the safe. Reuben, who spent three months the previous year, in prison for violation of the Volstead Act [Prohibition] said that Krouse was "always planning to get easy money."
Krouse was already in the Penitentiary at the time, convicted of stealing 31 tires from gas stations in Williamsport. Reuben Shook was arrested for the same crime, but after confessing, had been released.
John Maley however, son of the well known Williamsport baseball player, was at the Shook residence at the time, and he agreed to be the getaway driver, according to the Shooks. Maley would later insist he only knew that they were "going to Exchange to get money", not that they were planning to rob a bank.
"Rather than see my boy go to jail,'' Reuben explained, at his sentencing trial, "I suggested that we go to Exchange and take a chance on the bank. Krouse was away from home Maley was at our place and heard the conversation. We asked him to drive the car. At first he refused and then agreed.
"We failed the first time we arrived at the bank. When we got there I lost my nerve. We drove past the bank for a half mile and then turned around and came back. "I got up courage and we stopped in front of the bank.
"As I entered the building I did not know whether to I run or stick him up. I pulled out my gun. While he (indicating his son) tied Dennin I gathered up the money." Shook explained.
According to Reuben, Maley was supposed to go into the bank with him, and Luther was supposed to stay in the car. But Maley lost his nerve, so Luther went inside with his father.
As it often appears that Luther and Reuben did not get their stories quite straight before testifying, Luther told how he had placed two pieces of clothes line rope in his pocket before leaving home which he used to bind Dennin.
But in a rare moment where the stories aligned, both Rueben & Luther denied that they had threatened to drill hole in Dennin.
Dennin had a slightly different memory of the events.
Dennen recalled the two men entering the bank, both unmasked, and both pointing revolvers in his direction. "Stick them up!" was their terse order.
"[Dennen] said he raised his hands but evidently not high enough to suit the bandits and Luther Shook remarked "Stick 'em up or I'll drill a hole in you." He told how the young Shook tied his hands and then forced him to lie on the floor with his face turned away from them while they bound his feet. He said during the process he moved slightly and one of the me again said, "If he don't lay still, drill a hole in him, then he'll be quiet." H admitted that lie did not see Maley who remained in the car during the robbery. "
The robbers then looted the cash drawer and vault. The exact amount taken was not disclosed, but was thought to be around $1,100. A small safe within the vault of the bank was on a timer, and that device saved the bank $1,000, as it could not be accessed.
Not the actual get away car, but an example of a 1930 Oakland Sedan
In fleeing from the bank Reuben said Maley drove 55 and 60 miles an hour. "I became nervous and asked to drive after several miles. I told him I knew the roads better. I cut, the speed to 40 or 45 miles an hour," Shook said.
An hour and a half after the robbery, Luther's fine was paid in full. The Shooks testified that they used the rest of their share of the money to pay bills, life insurance premiums, and to purchase a second hand car.
John Maley's share was $200. He sold it for $140 to Samuel Fischer of Montoursville, of who took it to New York to launder it.
A month later, on Thanksgiving day, Luther Shook, age 20, married a 16 year old girl.
And then on February 8th, 1832, the father and son team robbed another bank.
This time, Maley was "unavailable" to help, out, so Floyd Hoover took his place. Hoover said he and the two Shooks drank some liquor before the Allenwood robbery, and that him and Reuben were quite intoxicated, but that Luther did not drink much, because he would be driving the car for the getaway.
When they arrived at the Allenwood bank, Luther remained in the car, and Floyd Hoover went into the bank. Hoover and Reuben Shook wore colored glasses to disguise themselves, this time.. Once inside, Hoover herded Harold Naber and Mrs Edna Sholtz, the bookkeeper, into the vault. He then fired a shot which hit the safe doo. The men grabbed $1540, and fled.
As they sped away from the scene in Allenwood, they were followed by Fred Ungard, the postmaster at Allenwood. He followed them through Dewart, all the way to Blue Ball, and as the robbers thought the car was gaining on them, Reuben got out on the running board and waved a pistol. Ungard gave up the chase.
The men then abandoned the car they used at the Weaver garage in Oragneville. Mr Weaver, the garage owner, reported that he had gone home for the night when he heard a car pull up to the garage. He thought they wanted gas and started to put his coat on to go back to the garage, when another car pulled up. He saw three men get out of the first car, and get into the second car, which was occupied by two women. Weaver went out to inspect the abandoned car, finding the tags missing, the engine number obliterated, and the car covered in mud and dirt.
The Trial & Sentencing
The men were caught because they abandoned the car at Weavers garage in Orangeville. Although they had removed the plates and "erased" the registration number, the authorities later received a tip that helped them to trace the cars owner.
Each of the four men were picked up at their homes one by one. Although they all denied their guilt at first, they later made full confessions "with little trouble."
The men admitted that they were planning to rob the banks at Picture Rocks and Laporte, next.
Only $20 of the more than $2600 obtained from the two banks remained. It was an old $20 bill, issued by a bank in Los Angeles California. It's type was no longer in circulation, and the bandits knew that, so they did not spend it.
In their confession, the men said they traveled back roads through the Muncy Hills to the Shook homes after each robbery, and then traveled to New York City a few days later to exchange their currency.
At the time of sentencing, Reuben Shook was 40 years old, Luther was 20.
"The latter left behind a 16 year old bride of four months who sat in the courtroom and wept when the sentence was pronounced."
"The latter left behind a 16 year old bride of four months who sat in the courtroom and wept when the sentence was pronounced."
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Reuben Shook, who was partially deaf, had trouble hearing the questions in court, his son would repeat them to him. Reuben testified that it was his suggestion that they rob the bank. He testified that Luther Shook was his only child, and that his wife was still living. He was employed by Neyhards Hardware Company, Williamsport Pa
Reuben was in jail March 1-June 3 1930, for violation of the Volstead Act [Prohibition].
Luther Shook is arrested again in 1940. He was sentenced 10-20 years for the Exchange Bank Robbery, but was released on parole in 1938, 7 years after the robbery. In 1940, he committed another robbery.
Reuben & Luther Shook both applied for parole in 1937. Both were denied. In November of 1938, nearly 7 years into their sentence, they applied again. This time Reuben was denied, but Luther was paroled. Reuben applied again Oct 1938, and June 1939, and "Early" 1940. He was denied each time.
Luther returned to prison in January of 1940, just over a year after being paroled. He, along with two other men, was charged with a burglary of a private home in South Williamsport , and was sentenced to 18 months.
Ruben applied for parole again in 1940, stating that he had been a poisoner of good conduct, had operated a prison barber shop for the past three years, and had saved all of his earnings. His application stated that if he was paroled, he would have employment and live with his brother, J.W. Shook, in Bellefonte. Reuben was granted parole in 1942. In 1949 his sentence was commuted.
Floyd Hoover, age 21, of Newberry was sentenced to 7-14 years in the Eastern State Pennitentiary, and a $1,000 fine. He was married shortly before his sentencing. In the 1940 Census, Floyd Hoover was listed as an Auto Mechanic, living in Williamsport with his wife. He was apparently out on parole, as the Daily ITem reported that he was refused a pardon in July of that year.
This was the 3rd robbery attempt at this bank [exchange] in 8 years, and the only successful effort. Seven years earlier bandits had broken in through a coal window, and again through a door, and in both cases they dynomited the lock on the vault, but they could not gain access.
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
2 Nov 1931, Mon • Page 1
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
16 Nov 1931, Mon • Page 1
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
20 Nov 1931, Fri • Page 3
Shamokin News-Dispatch
(Shamokin, Pennsylvania)
8 Feb 1932, Mon • Page 1
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
9 Feb 1932, Tue • Page 1
A July 26 1932 article in the Morning News tells us that the assets were bought by the Watsontown National Bank. It says that the Allenwood bank was established in the "horse and buggy days, when it was practically necessary in order to carry on business of the community to have a bank near the center of the community."
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
10 Feb 1932, Wed • Page 1
Two women are linked to the Allenwood & Exchange Robberies. Two women picked up the men after they hid the car in Orangeville. Fred Ungard, the postmaster and Allenwood merchant followed the bandits as far as Blue Ball where he grave up the chase. One of the men had fired a gun at him.
Shamokin News-Dispatch
(Shamokin, Pennsylvania)
11 Feb 1932, Thu • Page 2
The Allenwood Bank robbery & Exchange Bank Robbery are believed to be committed by the same bandits. (and they were correct - the Shooks were the primaries in both)
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
11 Feb 1932, Thu • Page 1
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
19 Feb 1932, Fri • Page 1
The Wilkes-Barre Record
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
6 Apr 1932, Wed • Page 1
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
7 Apr 1932, Thu • Page 1
.
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
9 Apr 1932, Sat • Page 1
Note - "Dark Moleskin pants"appear,from a google search,to be what we think of as Docker style pants. "Red Mackinaw" is what we refer to as "Woolrich Plaid" - the typical red and black plaid.
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
13 Apr 1932, Wed • Page 1 & 6
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
15 Apr 1932, Fri • Page 1
Shamokin News-Dispatch
(Shamokin, Pennsylvania)
21 Apr 1932, Thu • Page 1
The Morning News
(Danville, Pennsylvania)
22 Jan 1940, Mon • Page 1
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Reuben Henry Shook was the son of Henry H. & Mary Anna Shook. He was the grandson of Jacob & Mary Snyder Shook.
He married Mabel Weller.
He died on May 2 1980 in Florida, age 87.
Luther Delay Shook was born December 8 1912 to parents Reuben Henry & Mabel (Weller) Shook.
In 1925 he lived at 1525 High St, Williamsport Pa
He married a 16 year old girl in 1931.
He was listed as divorced in 1940, when he was in the Penitentiary in Philadelphia.
Luther Died December 12 1967 and is buried in Lycoming County Pa.
Then they made their escape in an Oakland Sedan, heading towards Turbotville. They were later spotted in Comley (just north of Turbotville), where they forced another car off the road, apparently headed towards Jerseytown.
More than 40 state police officers and highway patrolmen were quickly summoned, but their thorough search of the area found no signs of the bandits. Descriptions of the men were sent throughout the valley, and numerous, conflicting, tips came in.
Two men were arrested in Tioga County, they were similar in description to the robbers, and were driving a blue oakland sedan, similar to the one used in the robbery. James Dennen, the cashier who was bound during the robbery, could not identify the men, so they were released.
When the Wilkes Barre Bank robbers were caught, James Brennen, and a cashier from the Allenwood bank that was also robbed, went to Wilkes Barre to see if they were the same bandits that robbed them, but again, they were not the same bandits.
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