News: Greenwood (Gangsters Visit Again – 7 Jul 1934)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Gruwell, Drinkwine, Mason, Olson, Schwarze

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 12 Jul 1934

Again we had a visit from gangsters, the second in less than two months, when five armed men in a four-door sedan drove into the yard of Otto Gruwell, a farmer living four miles northwest of here (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.), Saturday afternoon about 6:30.

Mr. and Mrs. Gruwell and their niece, Mae Drinkwine were in the barn doing chores, and Mrs. Gruwell attracted by the barking of their dog, went to see what was wrong, and when asked what they wanted, was told they were "looking for a still.".

When she told them there was no still on the farm, they shoved her into the house. Two of them followed her, while the other three proceeded to the barn. They asked for money, and upon being told there was none, began a thorough search of the house looking in trunks, drawers, dishes, clothing and every place possible.

The only reply to Mrs. Gruwell's questions were, "You think so" and that they "Would fill her full of holes" if she made a crooked move. After completing their search without success, the two men tied Mrs. Gruwell with a clothes line. She was able to free herself in a short time and went to the barn where she found her husband and niece also tied with clothesline, but their bonds were more securely tied and she was obliged to cut them with a knife. Mrs. Gruwell was unable to see the car number, but said it was a blue car with yellow trim and red wheels.

The telephone wires had been cut and Mr. Gruwell was obliged to go to C.A. Mason's farm to telephone for Simon Schwarze, local marshal, who in turn notified Sheriff Olson of Neillsville. Mr. Gruwell said the three men who came to the barn followed much the same procedure as those in the home. They drove south upon leaving. Four of the five men were young and the other was an elderly man. One wore a gray suit and hat, another a cinnamon brown suit and buff hat, and the third, whose face was marked by a scar from the left ear to the chin. No description was given of the other two. They spent a half hour at the farm, but did not secure any loot.