The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-20
Two Despcradocs Capture Country store In
Cass County, Mo
From liz Kansas City (MoI TIN

, From the Kansas City (MoJ Times.
The latest, and one of the boldcst, robberie
Of the year. and one the details of which rCat
Like a romance of old fcudal times, and Al
. achievement which would do honor to Dicl
ITurpin or Claude Duval, or other notorious
y highWavmen, took place on the state line o
/ Missouri, about thirty.tiye or forty miles soutl
Of Kansas City, on Friday night last.
McSsrs, Bryant and Chandler are the pro
pretors of small country grocery and dry
goods store, located south of Grand Rivel
and few miles south of the village of West
point Mo. The store is a decent fir imc build
| ing, located at the crossroads about half q
mile east of the Kansas state line.
1t was just as the shades of evening had
cast gloom over the prairies in the vicinity
when two strangers rode up to the store
They were young men, evidently between "A
and % years Of age, one a fair COmpleXioned
man wearing light whiskers; the other
rather younger had dark hair and sported a
mustacAc and beard la imperial The cid
est wore brown chinchilla overcOat; the
youngest wore a soldiers oycrcoat Both
had their forCheads concealed by common
black felt hats.
Mr.. Bryant was alone in the store, the even.
ing was cold and rather dark, the nearest
house was several hundred yards away The
two young men entered the store and walked
up to the stove to warm themselves They
entered into pleasant and gossipy converSa
ton with Mr. Bryant, and appeared to be
acquainted with the country. They asked to
see some wooden sCarfs, and finally selected
one and paid for II and turned to the stove
Mr.. Bryant proceeded with his various. duties
in the store, all the time keeping up a careless
and jovial conversation with the two good
looking young men.
Mr. Bryant turned from his shelves where
he had been busly engaged Strengthening up
for the night, when he found his face in very
uncomfortable proximity to two large revol-
vers, while the smiling Countenances of the
two amiable young men had assumed very
businesslike aspect.
"Mr Bryant, we want all your available
cash. we must have it, or take something
you value still more dear. SO shell out with
out noise or delay"
But | will not submit"
yes you will" replied the robbers, and in
another second the new wooden scarf just
purchased was over his mouth. and his arms
were soon securely pinioned His eyes were
then shaded with new shawl, and the two
ROBBERS proceeded to rifle the store They first
secured the cash, amounting to about $4G0;
then they proceeded to select such articles of
as suited their fancy mantcS'
ing both taste and discrimination in their
selections.
While these gay and festive youths were
III this questionable business, all old
farmer just dropped in to pass away long
evening and talk over the news around the
stove in the cross-rOad store. The young men
'eceivcd Inn courteously, and took care OF
lim as speedily rs possible by gagging and
him, and emptying his pockets
If his wallet his knife, several pieces Oftwlne,
| buckle, and a few nails and some papers
lie was escorted to seat beside Bryant
here TO silently study and wonder what
icXi was to bclal him.
This business was scarcely concluded when
wo other farmers strolled into the store
They were welcomed by the bandits, and
seized upon as Legitimate prey, One Ct this
asst couple manifested his desire to 90 home
" starting to return home without leave. He |
AN short distance down the road, when he !
was stopped by the persuasive influence of
Dstol-b in his hip, He came back under |
,scort He and his companion were seated
Ipon 'he counter with the other two, and
heir pockets riied. Two more men stray |,
yled in separately one of them an freshman.
These were successfully captured and pm
oned, and six men were ranged in Il row, |
helpless and uncertain as 10 their future |
ate.
The robbers, having secured the silence |
nd security of all their visitors pressed into |
ervicr little boy who Just dropped in"
nd who was employed in and about the
tore With his assistance they proceeded to
go through" the store, manitesting taste and |
discretion in their selection Of goods and |
rinkcts. They took an abundant supply of
igars, tobacco, and whisky, fitted themselves |
'ut with new gloves handkerchicfs, shirts,
&c. During this operation they discovered a |
choolmastcr TO be among their prisoners. |
The youngest took occasion to lecture him |
,pon the immortality of being out late at night
md its tendency to promote bad habits, and |
advised him never Ia 30 abroad late again. |
The freshman was upbraidcd with beng so
,oOT rs to have only forty Cints" in his |
pockets, which they avcrrcd was not enough !
u pay for the rope to bind him with The !
wounded man was examined and pronounced !
lot badly damaged, and was made To- stand |
Up with the others
Having satisfied their Cupldity and placed |
themselves outside of "a respectable amount of
whisky, they then proceeded t. arrange for
heir departure. TIE prisoners were escorted |
'Itside the store, and ranged in line facing .
he road; the boy was piniOned and blind
Olucu ike inc otncfS, ana placed WIN thcnl.
The thieves then led up their horses, and
hird horse which had been ridden there by
me of the captured farmers. The oldest of
he thieye. then addressed the prisoners
II want you, gentlemen, to stand perfectly
iill until my partner is out of sight. | will .
tay here with You for while The first
nan that raises Il noise or attempts To get
.way, | will shoot his head off You must
wait here perfectly still for two hours if YOU
lont, I'll make meat of you"
One of the thieves had already departed 4
with the led horse. Tho last one walked 4
'tcal,hily away some distance. and soon
afterwards was heard Galloping away in the
direction of the state line The boy managed /
% get himself looSc from his bonds and soon
had the rest of the prisoners loose. But the
bold thieves were far out OF sight and hear
ng.
a. soon a. dayligh; dawucd numbers of
Indignant citizens were out on the trail The /
outlaws were trailed into The Indian Territory I
q j. thought that they will be oycriakvp: III
hey are, there will be- a sudden icrkin. ui
'ouug neck with new HEMP