The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-09-21
The Mortified Bank Robbery.

The St. Paul (Minn. J Ptoneer Press nud
Trlbune OF the 9th contains an account Of
the recent attempted bank robbery at
Mortified, as given by Mr.. Wilcox, one
Of the clerks in the bank Mr. Wilcox
says
Mr.. Haywood occupied the cashiers seat
at the desk which you see at the end of the
counter. Mr.. Bunker and myself occu-
pied seats at the desk, Mr.. Bunker being
nearest the opening at the corner. The
first thing we knew three men were upon
or over the counter, with revolvcrs pre-
scented at our heads, one of them cxclaim-
ing: "Throw up your hands, for we in
tend to ROB the bank, and if you haIloo
We will blow your brains out,' and we
could not Go otherwise than comply,
They then asked which was the cashier,
to which Mr.. Haywood replied: "Hc is
not in" They then sprang over the
counter, and demanded the safe to be
opened. Addressing each in turn, they
said: " You are the cashier" which
each denied. Seeing Haywood seated at
the cashiers desk, one of the r,lffians
went up to him with his long narrow bar
relied pistol, and said, with an oath !:
" You are the cashier; now open the
safe" Mr. Haywood said: at is a
timc-lock, and cannot be opened now"
One OF the men then went into the vault,
the door being open, also the outer door
of the safe. Haywood at once sprang for
ward and closed the door of the vault,
shutting the robber in, when another of
the men seized Haywood by the collar
and dragged him away from the door, and
released the incarccratcd robber.
The man who came out of the vault-a
slim, dark.complcxioned man, with u
black mustache, then called to the other
to seize the silver which was lying loose
about $50 and put it in the sack. They
did not do this, but seized about twelve
dollars in scrip and put it into a two
bushcl flour sack which they had with
them. The dark-complexiOned man,
who appeared to be the leader, then again
attacked Haywood, insisting upon his
opening the safe, threatening to cut his
throat if he did not, and actually drawing
Il big knife across his throat. The heroic
and faithful teller, however, was not to
be deferred from his duty, and would
rather sacrifice his life than bctray his
trust. Some few moments-it seemed
ages to the bewldered and terror stricken
lockers on-wcre spent in Heywood's
struggling to break from the murderous
villain and gain his liberty. At length he
broke away, and, regaining his feet, ran
toward the door, crying murder!'
The man at once struck him with a
pistol and knocked him down, and drag,
ging him to the safe door commanded
him to open it. But the intrepid clerk
stolidly refused, when the william shot at
him but did not hit him. Evidently the
shot was intended to intimidate rather
than injure, but the scoundrel had reck-
oncd without his host, for the effect was
lost upon Haywood. But upon discharge
of the pistol Bunker made start for the
back door and ran for dear life, one of the
robbers pursuing and firing, the shot TAX
ing effect in the shoulder. Bunker, how
ever, reached the street water street, and
ran to DR.. Coombs' office.
During the whole Of this time four OF
five men were riding up and down the
street, shooting in every direction and
keeping up an incessant fusilade. One OF
the men outside came riding up furiously
and called for the men to leave the bank.
The game is up" he said, land we arc
beaten"
Almost Immediately they took the
alarm, and somehow jumped over the
counter, making their exit. The small
man was last to 60. He mounted q desk
and shot at Haywood, which l do not
think is the one that took effect. Hey.
wood lodged behind his desk, or sank in.
to his chair QIeywood's desk stands al
right angles TO the bank desk, and he sal
sideways to the opening at the front, with
his back next to the wall), and as the rob