Lone Gunman Robs Bay State Federal Savings Bank on Nahatan Street of $2,300-October 9, 1963

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies launched a massive manhunt today following a daring daytime bank robbery yesterday afternoon. A lone, unmasked gunman held up the Bay State Federal Savings and Loan Association branch office located in the Star Market Shopping Center on Nahatan Street, escaping with $2,300 in cash.

The brazen holdup—the first bank robbery in Norwood since the infamous Teddy Green heist in 1951 where $32,000 was stolen—occurred just moments before the 5:00 p.m. closing time, leaving hundreds of holiday shoppers in nearby stores completely unaware of the unfolding crime.

A Crude Note and a Small Handgun

The suspect, described as a white male between 30 and 40 years old, standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing roughly 150 pounds, and wearing a gray ski cap without any mask or gloves, walked straight up to the teller window.

The window was operated by Mrs. Joseph Komola, 23, of 71 Alandale Parkway, Norwood. The gunman slid a crudely handwritten note across the counter that read:

“This is a holdup. Push no alarm. Do not scream or I will pull the trigger. Put all the bills in here. No one’s or two’s. Work fast.”

Initially, Mrs. Komola looked up, wondering if the man was joking. However, any doubt vanished when he thrust a small handgun toward her.

“This is no joke,” the gunman warned, handing her a large manila envelope. “Hurry up, no ones or two’s.”

Bank Manager John F. Murphy, 23, of 165 Albion Street, Somerville, recalled standing directly behind Mrs. Komola at that moment. “I was standing behind Mrs. Komola and she looked at me as much as though to say that the gun looked like a toy,” Mr. Murphy told police. “I was afraid that she would tell the fellow to get the heck out of the bank, because she’s not the kind to stand for any funny business.” Murphy quickly instructed Mrs. Komola to comply and fill the envelope.

As the gunman grabbed the cash and turned to flee, he issued a final threat: “Stay where you are, don’t follow me or you’ll get hurt. I’m not fooling.” In his frantic haste, a bundle of currency dropped to the floor; although he stooped to grab most of it, he accidentally left behind roughly $300 scattered on the linoleum.

A Trail of Stolen Cars

While the gunman fled toward the shopping center parking lot, Bank Manager Murphy successfully managed to memorize the registration number of the getaway vehicle.

Police checks revealed the car—a brand-new vehicle belonging to Lexington resident Mrs. Jean M. Stetson—had been left earlier in the day for a 1,000-mile checkup at Boch Rambler on Route 1. Her husband, Paul Stetson, a staff member at Lincoln Laboratory in Waltham, told investigators the car had been taken from the rear of the dealership lot with the keys left in the ignition.

Two hours after the robbery, State Police Cpl. John Farrell and Trooper Basil Walsh located the abandoned Stetson vehicle undamaged in the parking lot of Mal’s Department Store on Route 1. Investigators later theorized that the bandit had originally left his own vehicle at Mal’s lot, walked over to Boch Rambler to steal the Stetson car, committed the robbery, and then drove the Stetson vehicle back to Mal’s to switch back to his original getaway car.

FBI fingerprint experts lifted latent prints from the teller window and processed the recovered car, discovering smear marks on the windows indicating the bandit had attempted to wipe away fingerprints before fleeing.

Swift Police Response and Investigation

Norwood police were summoned immediately by Mrs. Komola. Sergeant John Flaherty and Patrolman Robert Lawrie rushed to the scene in cruisers to comb the immediate area, while Police Chief James M. Murphy arrived promptly to direct the investigation. Within minutes, a heavy cordon involving FBI agents, State Police troopers, and surrounding municipal departments was thrown across the region, though an initial search yielded no immediate arrests.

Chief Murphy called in off-duty officers to reinforce the investigation. Norwood officers assisting included Sgts. John Wall, James Curran, William Travers, and Joseph McNulty, alongside Patrolmen James Thomas, Joseph Flaherty, Thomas Michienzi, Arthur Groh, and Albert Bishop.

Both Mrs. Komola and Mr. Murphy—who had each worked at the bank for less than a year under bank president H. Chester Webster—noted that specialized training received during a recent police seminar on bank robbery safety proved invaluable in helping them remain calm and retain accurate physical descriptions for investigators.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger