The Bank That Wouldn't Open The Safe

Armed robbers demanded he open the safe. He told them it was locked. It wasn't, and that lie cost him his life.

On September 7, 1876, the James-Younger Gang attempted to rob the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota, and acting cashier Joseph Lee Heywood refused to open the bank's actually-unlocked safe, falsely claiming it was on a time lock. Armed townspeople converged on the scene, killing two gang members and effectively ending the gang's criminal career for good, though Heywood was shot and killed as the robbers fled. More than 450 banks across the country later contributed to a fund honoring his sacrifice, a moment this episode also uses to examine how far modern bank policy and business insurance have moved from what Heywood chose to do that day.

This is bsnsHistory, the daily podcast about the moments when business quietly reshaped the world.

Written and hosted by Ron Trucks. Research and editing by Rodney Russ. Sound design by Angela Cahoy. Music by Cody Martin and Soundstripe.

For more daily business stories, visit www.bsnsDAILYpodcasts.com