The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-09-27
$l.5O PER ANNUM.
A Daring Bank Robbery.


The robbery of the First Naconal
bank Of Kewakee, ILL.,, was most
audacious affair. The bank is favora-
bly, situated for the work accomplished
there. On one side and at the rear
there is no occupied building for some
distance, while at the front and on the
other side it is separated from other
business houses by the street. When
the bank closes for the day the curtains
of the doors and windows are drawn
down. The men who committed the
robbery had been around town at
different times for several days. One
OF them came in on the evening train,
and, stepping into the bank on his way
from the depot, asked to leave a valise
in the office until the next day. He
received permission to do so. During
the remainder of the day the men were
seen by different persons, sometimes
together and at other times separately,
In the different parts of the town.
One was tall, slim, beardless man
about six feet high, with a consump-
tive look, low, square jaws, and rather
prominent features. The other was
somewhat shorter, thick set, with red
sunburned face, and light mustache.
The former was dressed in a dark suit,
with linen duster, and the latter in
dark blue, with glass or pearl buttons.
Toward evening they visited the livery
stables to hire teams, but did not go
together.
AS it happened, they were unable to
get what they wanted. At few min
utes before 6 o'clock they went into
the bank together. The cashier of the
bank, Mr.. G. S. Wentworth, was on
vacation, and the bank was in charge
of the assistant cashier, Mr.. j. j.
Pratt, who, with the second assistant,
Miss Carrie Palmer, was balancing the
cash preparatory to locking it up.
They had about finished when they
heard quite a loud rap at the door, and
MIR. Pratt, thinking some one had ar
rived late with a deposit, told Miss
Palmer to open the door. Miss Palmer
recognized the man who had left the
valise, and, supposing that was what
he was after, unlocked the door. She
was immediated seized by the shorter
If the men, who placed his hand on
her mouth and showed her around
through the back Office to the vault.
The other hastily preceded them, and
rs Mr.. Pratt, who was in the vault at
the time, opened the door and started
to come out, the scuffling noise arousing
his suspicious, he was dealt a stunning
blow with the butt of revolver,
which left him unconscious until the |
villains had accomplished their work.
Miss Palmer Jared worse. She was |
treated in a most shocking manner.
The burglars at first stuffed her mouth !
with linen and her own hair, and then
beat her head upon the floor, bruising
and cutting her outrageously. She re-
mained conscious until nearly the last,
but says she does not remember hear
Ing the men go away. Both were
bound and laid in the vault, and after
the robbers had secured their plunder
the vault door was locked.
The men then walked coolly out of
the house with $18,769.05, about $12,-
300 of which was in gold, and made
their way out Of town toward the
northeast. They had been seen to go
into the bank by several persons.
Others saw them when they came out
with their heavy load Of plunder in
5he valise.
Shortly after they left the bank both
5he inmates of the vault recovered
and began pounding and
calling for help. Mr.. Pratt, with a
silver dime for a screwdriver, after a
lime succeeded in removing the COM
Oination lock and released himself and
from their captivity.