The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-09-17
WEST VIRGINIA BANK ROB
BERS.
A Remarkably Cool Crime--The
Pursuit. aud the EscaPe--HOW
PcODle Feel About ~.

People Feel About II.
HuxuSGToN, W. VA Sept. 9, 70.
To the Editor Of the Repabucan;
! Will you and your readers believe thai
| write truth or fiction when tell the
plain facts Of the remarkable bank rob
berry here, an affair in all its details al
most incredible in this country or in thi,
century? Four men have been stopping
in this neighbOrhood for two or three
weeks, one Of them at a hotel here, max
ing a considerable bank deposit aud fire.
quently calling at the bank on business
registering as ]. G. johnson, Of Tennessee
the other boarded at farmers, dealt a
| little in stock aud purchased four fine
horses. WithOutcreating suspicion, they
rode TO a farmers on Saturday, with their
horses in splendid condition, and re.
mained until Monday. While there they
were grooming their horses almost con-
stantly, frequently bathed their backs
with arnica, had them carefully shod and
made ready for the fearful race before
them. At2 o'clock Monday, they rode
quietly into town, tied their horses, and
two of them crossed the street TO the bank
Of Huntington. One stood near the
horses, another entered a store opposite
the bank, called for cigar, asked the
three men inside II they had any "shoOt-
ing irons" then coolly drew his own and
frankly told them his friends were having
a little trouble making change over the
way and didn't wish TO be disturbed.
In the bank the two sPTang over the
counter, seized the cashier, Mr.. Oney, and
demanded money, lie gave the $1,000 ly'
ing on the counter, and, after some delay,
opened the safe and took out about $4,000
more. They asked II this was all, threat.
ened him II he answered falsely, carefully
examined the vault, and then in the quiz
etest manner opened his books, saw The
balances Of Saturday and then the leader
said, ~ believe you are right, but this Ia
mighty poor bank, Mr.. Oney, and 1t Is
too bad 10 tempt honest men with false
appearances" As II this was not audac.
ious enough, he turned again to the cash
Ter, and said: II knew you in Mosby's
command and don't want you TO suffer
How much stock have you here" lie
answered politely "About seven dollars
and half when our Dick Turpin cool
ly unrolled his money, made exact
change, and laid It on the counter,
lie then said: "You sec | am moi
after your money, Mr.. Oney, aud Il
would he very dangerous 10 leave this
bank alone, but must trouble you TO cross
the street with me, "a may need help
in mounting" They then marched Oney
and the colored porter across tho street
mounted coolly, called in the sentinel
when the leader made another speech
ave are Obliged to part with you, and, al
you seem to have something to say, you
may now say 1t; in fact, you may yCil.'
And the cashier did yell, and Jim yelled
and the three men In the store yelled, and
the president, who was quietly walking
up the street with friend, and had just
wondered what his cashier was out there
trading horses for, yelled, and the two
hundred people who were on the street
yelled. The robbers rode quietly out Of
town, walked their horses up long hill
overlooking 1t, and sawNwild community
running for shot guns, mounting dray
horses and in very few minutes in hOt
pursuit. And the pursuit was hot. Most
Of the horses ridden at furious pace were
"stoye" or "bloWn" before they reached
the summit, while the robbers waved
their hats and loosed their reins. The
country has been aroused, and hundreds
have been in pursuit.
The robbers have been In the saddle
now three days and nights, and seem to
have ridden with great caution, and have
tevery day been in sight Of their pursuers
They have an advantage In being able ia
ride ut night, while their pursuers have
an advantage in getting relays Of fresh
horses. There are no telegraph lines in
the country, and they have evidently
bribed people along the way to throw the
pursuefs Off the track. The ride is al.
most az remarkable as the robbery. The
sherilTs OF thirteen counties are in the
pursuit. Immense rewards are offered,
the robbers have been declared outlaws,
and yet those four horses, 1.-TWO bays, a
gray and brown" have steadily gained
upon, and have probably now distanced
their pursuers, They have crossed rivers
and mountains, and are nearly beyond the
borders Of Kentucky and near tile noun.
tains Of East Tennessee. The location Of
the bank, although at one end OF the
town, was not favorable to the robbery.
It was upon the principal street, at least
twenty stores were in sight, and several
people passed during the occurrence.
Some ladies were sitting In the windows
opposite and noticed The disturbance.
The cashier detained them fully fifteen
minutes, and yet they showed no nervous.
ness. They made no attempt TO conceal
their faces. They appeared to be well In.
formed men, and certainly all they met
were impressed iavorably.
Do not think from my manner that !
treat this matter lightly. I am one Of
the nggrieved citizens. They have a IT..
tie Of my money, and | am properly In.
dignant. We have sOlemnly resolved not
to wait the slow process Of the law. II
they are caught they shall hang. We are
not In Mexico nor In Italy, and btigands
they are and must die. But a. the hang.
ing seems to be delayed from some cause,
and the ludiCrous was somewhat promi.
nenl In the affair, wehaye decided to take
our smoke before dinner. And II we
must be robbed again, the unsympaLhiz.
ing world cannot send a more engaging
thief than ]. G. johnson Of Tennessee.
For general information, | would say
that Huntington Is town Of 5000 In.
habitants, in West Virginia, eight miles
from the Kentucky line, that the bank
was private one and that the entire
plumber was less than $4,000, and that
the moonlight nights and dry weather
have greatly aided the escape. Yours,