Aspinock Memories
A bank robbery in Putnam --- it went awry
An interesting chapter in Putnam’s History starts off after WWWI. Although the U.S. did not get involved until late in the war, we experienced a period of economic prosperity which led through the roaring ‘20s. The great social experiment of a Prohibition was enacted.
Unfortunately on Oct. 29, 1929, the Wall Street Stock Market crashed and we entered into the era of the Great Depression. At the end of the 1930s, economic prices were rising, advertising trends shifted from “what you needed” to “what you wanted.”
There was a hardware store in downtown Putnam on Main St. where Art & Framing (Block 135) is today. The owner of the hardware store was Ralph Brearley. He was considered an upstanding citizen — he was an alderman in Putnam and was a member of the Putnam’s police commission.
Although things were getting better economically, Mr. Brearley’s store was still feeling the economic squeeze. He would be at his store and would see many people going in and out of Cargill Bank (where the Complex dance studio is today) across the street. As he watched every day, he came up with an idea: to rob the bank. During this time George Martin, a State Police Radio dispatcher from Danielson, came into the hardware store complaining of a desperate need for money. So Mr. Brearley lends him some money under false pretenses. Officer Martin comes back again in early 1941 asking for more money. Mr. Brearley tells him of his idea of robbing the bank across the street and they agree to do it together.
As the plan unfolds, Mr. Brearley contacts an ex-Putnam thug, Walter Krzemein, who had an arrest record for selling illegal alcohol and now lived in Hartford. Mr. Krzemein agrees to help but suggested they find a safecracker. He contacted Scotty Nocker, who immediately said “NO”, but suggested they contact Thomas Smith. Smith said he wasn’t qualified but he knew someone from Bridgeport who was. So Mr. Brearley and officer Martin gave him $9 for a train ticket to Bridgeport. Mr. Smith never went to Bridgeport. Not wanting to get in trouble, he went straight to the State Police with the plan. A retired State Policeman, William Mackenzie, agrees to go undercover as a safe cracker.
Officer Martin contacts Mr. Brearley and suggests the best time to do the robbery would be at 3 a.m. on Monday, May 12 because 2 trains were scheduled to be going through Putnam at that time and the noise they made would cover the noise of the robbery. Mr. Martin also said he would delay any alarms set off at the bank and send all CT. State Police cars away from the area.
Mr. Mackenzie, working with the State Police, reported the plan to them. Unbeknownst to Mr. Brearley that night when Mr. Martin reported to work, he was arrested and stripped of his uniform and gear.
Meanwhile, while Mr. Krzemein, the ex-thug, and Mr. Mackenzie, the undercover State Policeman, and Mr. Smith, the informant, are in a car driving to Putnam, Mr. Brearley starts fearing the plan might not work so he goes home and goes to bed.
At exactly 3 a.m. the car with Mr. Krzemein, Mr. Smith and Mr. Mackenzie enters the alley next to the bank. Mr. Krzemein had no idea that there were 20 State policemen stationed on the roof top of the old courthouse and other hiding places in and around the alley waiting for them.
Detective Wheeler was on the roof top and opened fire over the vehicle trying to avoid hitting Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Smith. Two officers pulled into the alley to prevent them from escaping.
Mr. Brearley was arrested later at his home. After a 4 ½ day trial, Officer Martin was sent to prison — 4 to 6 years, Mr. Brearley for 3 to 5 years and Mr. Krzemein 2 to 4 years.
The trials took place during the summer of 1941. Why do you think this event was forgotten and not many people remember?
Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7, 1941 and WWII took over the headlines
By William Pearsall, Town Historian
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.
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