Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-02
Gee. Geppert, Cashier OF the Medicine
Valley Bank, shot down I'm cold
blood. {. w. Payne, Pres
ideRt MORALLY wounded.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY or THE MEDICINE
VALLEY BANK.
-rhe Robbers fee without Booty and are
pursued by IndIgn ant citizens. They
are captured and brought beck.
THE MURDERERs MUST BE HUNG
30 say the Citizens Of this county, and the
Murderers 60 TO another World via
the Rope and Bullet Route!

Our town was thrown into n state Of in
ltense excitement Wednesday morning by
the preparation OF a murder and attempt
led robbery, which for bloOd-thirstlness and
bOldncss never was surpassed by the james
boys or any other set OF robbers In the
history OF this country.
Shortly after nine o'clock, when heavy
Snin was falling aud very few people on
the streets, four men rode into the city from
lthe west and hitched their horses Ia the
krear Of the corn crib back OF the Medicine
VALLEY bank. The bank had been open
3only few minutes; Mr.. Geppert, the
cashier, had just taken his place and began
work on settling the monthly accounts. f..
wv. Payne, president, was sitting mt his
desk writing, when as nearly as can be as
Icertaincd three Of the robbers entered the
building, ono going to the cashiers window.
one TO the presidents window and one to
The lattice door In the rear OF the Office.
Messrs. Geppert and Payne were ordered
to throw up their hands; Dir. Geppert com
Eplied, but Mr.. Payne leaped to seize a re-
syOlyer, when
FoCR SHOTS WIRE FIXED
In rapid succession; rs was subsequently,
learned, three Of the shots took effect. Two
,were received by Mr. Geppert, and one by
Sir. PAYNE. Rev. Friedlcy who happened
TO be OF the opposite side of the street, gave
(the alarm and Marshall DEM Who hap
pened to be in front Of Harrington & Smiths
grocery store opposite the bank rushed over
land opened firu on the robbers which was
Ypromptly returned. Mr. Dem crossed the
3strret to the livery stable north, and four
Sshots were fired at him rs he went, which
! he promptly returned with interest. The rob
sbers seeing the game was up broke for
their horses and amid lively fusiladc rode
.,out Of town, going south, and In a very few
Sminutes score Of well-mounted, we'll
armcd, determined men were in hot pursuit,
headed by Barney O'Conner, Vernon Lytle.
9Wayne Mckinney, Tom Doran, Roll CLARK -,
George Horney and n number Of gallant
boys whose names we do not recall.
To those who rushed into the bank a
thorrible scene was presented. George
lGcppert, the cashier, lay
DEAD IN TIE VAULT,
AWcltering In his blood, two holes In his
breast showing where balls had entered.
told the story. Mr.. Payne, president, lay
Enear the door OF the vault grooming with
spaiu. An examination showed that a pis-
.tol ball had entered back Of the right
shoulder blade, ranging across. probably
sgrazing his spine, and lodging under the
left shoulder blade. Dir. Payne's wound
Is very serious one AMI strong doubts are
Sentertdned rs to his recovery.
TIE CHASE.
9 Coming back to the pursuing party we
!, get the story OF the exciting chrse from a
participant. The pursuing party first came
ia sight Of the robbers beyond the crossing
4 of the Medicine river south Of town. The
robbers, seeing that they were about to be
Soverrlkcn turned aud opened fire, and sew
keril volleys were exchanged. While the
Eight was going on e. J. Taliaferro and
Zone or two others rode around the robbers
land headed them of on the south. Seeing
sthat they were cut of In this direction they
left the road and started almost west, for
the broken country known ms the Gypsun,
bills, but were so holly pursued that they
&had to leave their horses and take refuge
lin n canyon some three or four miles SOUTH
west Of town. The boys In pursuit sur.
rounded the canyon to prevent the posi-
Utility OF escape and George Friedly and
sc. j. HllfarrO came In for reinforcements
ia very short time every gun or revolver.
tborsc or mule In the town was pressed into
Service and on the road to the clnyom the
frobbers surrendered, however, before the
rciniOrcements arrived on the scene Of ac-
sstion. The surprise Of the clptors can bet
Ter be Imagined than described when IL was
tdlscoyrrvd that the robbers were all we'll
known. The leader of the gang was
HENRY NEWTON BROWN,
Marshall OF Caldwell; the other three were
Ben Wheeler, assistant marshal OF the same
place, William Smith, well-known
tcow-boy who has been employed for som,
time on the 4 8 range, aud John Wesley
alias Harry Hill, another well-known COW
hoy.
or these men, Brown Is the only one who
had acquired any notoricty. His history
on tile frontier began with his connection
with "Billie the Kid" In New Mexico. II
Is said that he was n companion Of the no.
ted desperate In some Of his most exciting
adventures. or late years, 'however, h,
seemed to have sobered down. Some three
years since he was elected assistant city
marshal OF Caldwell and for the past two
4yearshas occupied the position Of marshal
kof our neighboring city. lie was some
time ago presented with an elegant gold
mounted Winchester repeating rife by the
citizens or Caldwell, rs token Of their ap
probation Of his services as marshal Of thai
place. In appearance Brown does not show
the criminal particularly. He is q man Of
about medium height; strong. wiry build
wears no beard except a moustache, anC
HIS Iacc INDICATES nrmness and lack OF ply
steal fear. During the time he has held hi
office he has killed several men but wal
grnenlly considered entirely justifiAble.
Ben Wheeler, the man who fired the sho
(which killed George Geppert, Is a lary'
and powerfully built man, sandy complect
ed, and with rather an open countenance
SO far as we know he has never been note,
as dcsperAdo. lie has occupied the posi-
zion Of assistant marshal OF Caldwell To-
lhe past two years and has been considered
we believe,a good officer. His action yes.
ter'iay, however, showed him to be perhap
the most cold.blOOded murderer In tn,
gang.
Wesley ls rather under medium size an,