The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-08-26
Especial to Chicago Tribune.l


Especial to Chicago Tribunel
KEwANEE, August Is.
Your correspondent arrived here, the scene
of last nights daring bank robbery, at an
early hour this morning, and has, by the con-
nected version of all the actors save the two
principal ones, gathered the correct details of
the horrible affair. The deed rivals in auda-
ciousness any of the works done by the James
or Younger brothers, and it would seem as if
the veritable spirit of Jesse had materialized
and returned. President @. @. Blish, of the
Kewanee National Bank, occupied an hour
this afternoon in explaining how the work
was DONE The bank has capital of S75,0O0
a surplus of $4,000, and undivided profits Of
$1,000. The deposits run from $4,000 to $780,
900. Yesterday there was $170O00 in the vaults
In gold, silver, greenbacks bonds, and other
collaterals. 1t has been the custom to do bust
ness with farmers after banking hours-four
o'clock p. m.-and frequently they would call
until six I'm the evening. The bank occupies the
iiIstf floor of the east half of the city-hall. IL
has very strong vault of brick, Ave by nine
feet and seven and one-half feet in height
Within the vault is common safe in which the
more precious packages are kept, The Cash
Ter of the bank, @. S. Wentworth has been in
st. Paul for several days. and in his place were
the assistant, young man named j. j. Pratt,
and the book-keeper, Miss Charity Palmer, a
young lady sixteen years of age. She has been
In the bank three years, and is called an expert
book-keeper. The young lady was found at
her home at noon, confined to her COUCH
but she was free to recite her
story of the crime as best she could. She was
badly bruised there being two severe scars on
her forehead while her face was scratch ed
and bruised shockingly. Miss Palmer said:
"After opened the door they rushed upon me
so quickly / did not have time to think. One
grabbed my throat with his hand and pulled
me along the floor through to the other room,
Thought of shutting the door, and tried to do
It, but could not He choked me and blinded
my eyes, and tried to poke his fist down my
throat. / could hear them whisper, but could
not tell what they said, and then don't re-
member any more When came to was in
side the vault Then saw what the situation
was. l had my handkerchief in my hand
when went to the door, but 1t was partially
showed down my throat
Then the young lady told the Tribune corre-
spondent as to how she and Mr. Pratt began
freeing themselves, and how they finally got
out. 1t was about six o'clock last evening
when the work was done, or rather when Il
was commenced The President had gone
home some time before, leaving in the bank
heAssstant-C ashier-P ratt-+and Miss Palmer
There was rap at the window, and Mr. Pratt
who was within the vault putting away the
money, said TO her: go to the door and see
what is wanted" 1t had not been an unusual
thing to do, in view of the custom alluded to
above, and when it was remembered that dur
ing the afternoon two strangers had called
and asked permission to leave a sachel,
which was readily granted To reach the
front door Miss Palmer opened the door lead
ing into the Directors ROOM and also the door
out of It into the main room. She left both
doors ajar. The very instant she opened
the front door she was caught as she relates in
her story. Mr.. Pratt was in the vault when no
nrst heard the noise, and sprang for the open
door to the Directors room, intending to close
IL; but, as he was In the act of doing so. u
second robber met him with a revolver. Ho
Was knocked down. and lay upon the floor ip.
ssnsinle; linen tne nendS began pounding their
planned the work in all its details. They had
provided themselves with roll of strong
bandages. With these the robbers gagged MI.
Pratt and Miss Palmer, and tied them hand
and DOT. Mr.. Pratt was thrown into one cor
ner of the vault and Miss Palmer upon top Of
him. 1t was during this time of non-resistance
that the bandits took their booty They then
locked the vault and left, going out of the front
door in plain sight OF twenty men not five rods
away, with their $4,000 in a valse. They
walked leisurely out of town. Mr.. Pratt
finally worked his hands loose and be-
gan TO release his companion. Both were weak
from the loss of blood, and nearly suffocated.
He finally got hold of a silver dime, and, using
this for sorew-driver, turned two screws in
the combination-lock from the inside and got
out. His recital of the struggle makes 1t APP
parent that it was only by accident the two
persons got out alive. MIR. Pratt, upon reach
ing the window, gave the alarm, and help was
at hand within sixty seconds. Posses were
Immediately organized numbering IT'S men
and the country searched all night. Up to
four o'clock this evening the robbers were at
large, although they hadbeen closely pursued.
All the shops, factories aud stores have shut
down to-day, and the fields for miles around
are filed with boys. and men, with everything
m ms II m ire
arnis The utmost excitement prevails, and
lynchng ts as openly talked of as the daring