Digital Bob Archive

12 May 1978 issue

JANUARY 25, 1932-The official inquiry into Juneau?s first bank hold-up ended today when a coroner?s jury, convened by U. S. Commissioner Charles Sey, found that the killing of William A. Mcghee was justified. The story of the hold-up unfolded this way:

Just after the B. M. Behrends Bank opened for business on Saturday morning, the 23rd, McGhee entered the side door, on Third Street. He was wearing a long overcoat and had a white handkerchief tied over the lower part of his face. In each hand he carried a pistol. These later proved to be a .32 caliber Luger and a .38 caliber Colt. He walked over to the wicket window of George E. Cleveland, the assistant cashier, shoving three customers out of the way. He brandished the two guns at Cleveland and demanded all the money in the cage.

McGhee put the Colt, which he was holding in his left hand, in the overcoat pocket on that side. Then he shoved the money in on top of the gun, turned and started for the door.

Meanwhile, his actions had been noticed by Mrs. Etta Bringdale, clerk for the bank, who called them to the attention of Cashier Guy McNaughton. He took a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver from a drawer of his desk and, holding it behind his back, followed McGhee.

?Don?t follow me,? McGhee warned. But McNaughton did follow him and the shooting started when McGhee reached the sidewalk.

At that moment, McGhee was jumped by Dan Ralston, a taxi driver who was coming down the hill from the post office with his wife. They had just crossed Third Street when the two armed men came out of the bank. Ralston realized what was happening and leaped on McGhee?s back just as both men opened fire. McGhee?s shot went wild and hit the bank building. It was afterward determined that the Luger had jammed. McNaughton fired three times, in rapid succession. His first shot hit McGhee in the stomach. The second hit Ralston in the leg and the third hit Ralston in the neck. These two bullets inflicted rather minor wounds, but McGhee was seriously hurt.

After firing the three shots, McNaughton returned to the bank to call officers. A bank teller, Harold Gallwas, had followed McNaughton from the bank and he reached into the overcoat pocket of the prostrate robber and removed the $3,000, returning with it to the bank.

Both McGhee and Ralston were taken to St. Ann?s Hospital in separate cars. On the way, McGhee evidently realizing he was seriously wounded, said, ?Just bury me in any old grave. I took a chance and missed.?

McGhee died at the hospital at 1 o?clock this afternoon. Just prior to his death he had been questioned by a deputy marshal. ?It?s too bad I didn?t get that banker,? he told the deputy. ?I?d like to riddle you, too.?

McGhee was about 41 and had come to Juneau last summer from Ketchikan. Soon after he arrived here he was convicted of violating the Alaska Bone Dry Law and was fined $60. He also had a record in Washington State, including a conviction at Port Townsend for smuggling Chinese aliens into the country.

Ralston is rapidly recovering from his wounds
This was Juneau?s first bank hold-up and is believed to have been only the second one in Alaska, the first having occurred at Anchorage several years ago.

JANUARY 4, 1913-There was a meeting in the Auke village last night attended by about 40 Indian property owners. The meeting was called to hear a report by W. G. Beattie, superintendent of Indian schools, on a proposition by the Juneau Commercial Club for the reclamation of the tidelands in front of the village.

But the idea of allowing the tidelands to be filled in front of the village to provide a playground and baseball park does not appeal to the residents of the village. There is every indication that a strong protest will be made against any attempt to take away their rights by filling the waterfront.

Each property holder has had his parcel of land surveyed and recorded so there is no question of title to the upland, and they believe they have superior rights to the tidelands.

JANUARY 1, 1903-What is believed to have been the first football game in Alaska was played here this afternoon, under adverse conditions, by the Juneau and Douglas High Schools. The temperature was around 15 degrees, a Taku wind was blowing, and there was a foot and a half of snow on the ground. Only one kick was attempted and it resulted in the ball sailing out into Gastineau Channel. The game was delayed while a skiff was found to rescue the ball. Douglas made two touchdowns in each half for a score of 20-0.

The Douglas team, averaging 93 pounds, included Harry Clarke, Fred Eggers, Ernest Powell, C. Johnson, Tom Cole, Robert McKanna, Bill McCormack, John Penglase, I. Warren, John Museth and John Bonino.

On the Juneau squad were Robert Cragg, Albert Rapp, Royal Shepard, Frank Bell, Frank Maloney, George Kennedy, William Casey, Iver Langseth, George Gribble and Ben Stanley. They averaged 95 pounds.

APRIL 19, 1894-There was a large attendance at a town meeting called for the purpose of petitioning Congress for a law enabling the town to incorporate. A petition to Congress was drafted by those present and also a proposed law to provide for the incorporation of Alaska towns. U. S. District Judge J. S. Bugbee assisted in the drafting the proposed law. A committee of three was appointed to circulate the petition and obtain signatures.

DECEMBER 9, 1912-The game of football has been dormant here, so far as anyone can recall, for nearly 10 years but it was revived yesterday afternoon and brought out several hundred spectators at the ball park on the waterfront.

The Juneau High School team, calling itself the High Brows, was coached by Earl Jameson, local newspaperman. A picked town team, known as The Outlaws, was coached and captained by Jess Neville. The final score was 11-0 in favor of the high school.

Bart L. Thane, Dr. Eggingston and Grover C. Winn were the officials.