"As
Diaz approached, I greeted him. He did not reply and became agitated when he recognized
me," said Miss Freeman. "I knew him from the Pauba Ranch where he was one of the
hands that worked for my Dad. He put a paper bag on the counter, drew a revolver, and
ordered me to put up my hands.
When Mr. Chisholm entered
the room Diaz had already crawled over the counter and put the gun to my back. He told us
that he would shoot us both if we caused trouble. He tossed the paper bag to Mr. Chisholm
and ordered him to fill it with money. He then forced us into the vault, where he
attempted to lock us in, but Mr. Chisholm pushed a screwdriver into the jamb as the door
was closing. Diaz couldn't get the locking mechanism to work, but escaped with about
$2,000.
As Diaz drove away in a
yellow Model A Ford coupe, Mr. Chisholm grabbed a Luger pistol he kept in his desk and ran
into the street calling for help. John McSweeney, a local rancher, was in the barber shop
across the street getting a shave at the time. He jumped out of the chair; towel, lather,
and all; and, he and Mr. Chisholm took off after Diaz in Mr. McSweeney's Buick.
They caught him about two
miles up Winchester Road. When Mr. Chisholm fired two shots through his windshield Diaz
stopped and surrendered. He was later tried and found guilty of first degree robbery, and
served three years in prison before being paroled."
The Bank's insurance company
rewarded Miss Freeman with a diamond broach, and Chisholm with a nickel-plated .45 caliber
automatic pistol for their bravery.
Roger Francis Honberger
October 24, 1992 |
