3 Bandits Rob Athena Gas Station, Shoot Attendant Search for three bandits, ranging in age from 14 to 18. who robbed an Athena, Ore. service station and shot Attendant A. J. Queener Wednesday night, continued throughout Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon Thursday morning. At the same time officers were investigating the thefts of three automobiles Wednesday night. One was reported to be stolen from the Milton business section, another from Athena and a third from Helix, Ore. Walla Walla city police, the sheriff's office and the Washington state patrol joined the search for the three individuals who emptied the cash register of $90 and then shot Queener in the head as they were leaving the station. Queener's condition was described as unchanged in a Pendleton hospital Thursday morning. While not believed to be critical, he lost considerable blood and was extremely weak, hospital attendants said. The bullet struck a glancing blow in the head. The trio approached the Associated gas station at 8:45 p.m. when the place was empty of customers. They threatened the attendant, A.J. Queener, with two guns. Then after this 60-year-old man had handed over the contents of the cash register without resistance they. shot him and sped away in a car. Both the Oregon and Washington state patrols and the Umatilla and Walla Walla sheriffs offices quickly threw up road blocks. The bandits were described as ranging from about 14 to 18 in age. Three suspects were picked up at Wallula junction at 10:30 p.m. and returned to the sheriff's office here for questioning. The trio was released late Wednesday night the sheriffs office reported. Mrs. Blanche Towner. who operates a dog kennel near Ferndale between Walla Walla and Milton, was held up and robbed by three armed youths late Wednesday night, according to Milton city police. Officers said the description of the individuals given by Mrs. Towner. tallied with the description of those believed to have robbed and shot the owner of an Athena service station the same night. Mrs. Towner told officers was alone at the time and the three entered the house through the back door. She gave them all the cash she had at the time which was $2. Mrs. Towner was not harmed. Walla Walla Union-Bullet 79th Year, No. 281 Walla Walla, Wash Thursday, January 22, 1948 Front page