Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-12-26
Western Randitti.

nance OF OlU lcuudl tlHleS, anu s'A
achievement which would do honor
to Dick Turpln or Claude Duval, ,
or other notorious highwayman,too
place on the State line of Missouri,
about thirty five or forty miles south
of Kansas City, on Friday night
last.
Messrs. Bryant and Chandler are
the proprietors of a small country
grocery and dry goods store, loca-
ted south of Grand River, and a few
mile south of the village of West
port, Mo. The store is a decent
frame building, located at the cross
roads, about half a mile east of the
Kansas State line.
1t was just as the shades of eve
ming had cast gloom over the lrai-
ries of the vicinity, when two stran-
gers 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 mus
tache and beard la imperial. The
eldest wore u brown chinchilla
overcoat; the youngest wore 4 sol
dier's overcoat. Both had their
foreheads concealed by common
black felt hats.
Mr.. Bryant was alone in the
store, the evening 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 q
pleasant, gossipy conversation with
Mr.. Bryant, and appeared to be &C
quainted with the country. They
asked to see some woolen scarfs
and finally selected one and paio
for it and turned to the stove. Mr.
Bryant proceeded with his various
duties in the store, all the time
keeping up a careless and jovia
nversation with the two goo(
looking yonng men.
Mr.. Bryant turned from hi
shelves, where he had been busil.
engaged staightening up for th'
night, when he found his face il
very uncomfortable proximity t.
two large revolvers, while the smil
ing countenances of the two amia
able Young men had assumed
very busincss-iike aspect.
"Mr. Bryant, we want all you
available cash. We must have il
or take something you value still
more dear. So shell out withou
noise or delay
"But | will not submit"
eyes you WILL" replied the rot
bers. and in another second the ne,
wooden scarf was over his moutf
and his arms were soon securel
pinioned. His eyes were the
shaded with new shaw, and tn
| two robbers proceeded to rifle tn
store. They first secured the casl
amounting to about $4O0; then the
proceeded to select such articles {
merchandise as suited their fame.
manifesting both taste and discrin
: nation in their selections.
While these gay and festiv
youths were engaged in this questio
able business, an old farmer ju'
dropped in to pass a long evenin
v and talk over the news around tn
stove in the cross roads store. Th
young men received him courteous
ly, and took care of him as speedil
i as possible by gagging and blin.
:, folding him, and emptying his pool
: ct of his wallet, his knife, sewers
:. pieces of twine, buckle, a te
,, nails and some papers. He was e
corted to Il seat beside Bryant, thel
to silently study and wonder wh'
. was next to befall him.
I This business was scarcely CO..
!. cluded when two other farmer
strollcd into the store. They wei
welcomed by the bandits, and sieze
: upon as legitimate prey. One
this last couple manifested his d
- sire to go home by starting to r
\ turn home without leave. He ran
! short distance down the road, wht
he was stopped by the persuasi,
influence of pistol ball in his hi
He came back under escort. 1
and his companion were seated {
. the counter with the other two, al
their pockets riied. Two mo-
men struggled in separately, one
them an Irishman. These were su
cessfully captured and pinione
and six men were ranged in a ro'
. helpless and uncertain as to their f
:; tnre fate.
The robbers having secured Il
silence and security Of their Wis
ors pressed into service little b.
who had "just dropped in," al
= who was employed in and about t
store. With his assistance tn
proceeded to ego through" the stol
manifesting taste and discretion
/! their selection of goods and tri
kets. They took an abundant su
ply of cigars, tobacco and whisi
fitted themselves out with NJ
gloves, handkerchicfs, shirts, &
u" During this operation they disco
,r. cred a schoolmaster to be amo
!" their prisoners. The youngest to
1al occasion to lecture him upon t
8, 8. immortality OF being out late
&c nights, and its tendency to promo