Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-28
AIDED BY a WOMAN.
The Hurley Bank Robbers in the Custody
of Officers.

HURLEY, Wis, Nov. 25.-Lou Thayer.
the woman connected with the robbery of
the Iron Exchange bank of $50, 900 on
September 20, has given the story of the
crime to the detectives. As result of her
inability to keep a secret. Phelps Perrin.
bookkeeper at the bank, and E. W Ba-
ker, a saloon keeper at Ironwood, Mich,
are under arrest on d charge of having
committed the robbery. The Thayer
woman is also In custody.
Perrin was found upon the streets of
Hurley and when served with the war
rant was greatly surprised aad stoutly
protested his innocence. He stated that
the express company would be made to
pay dearly for his arrest. Baker and
the woman were arrested at Ironwood and
In the possession of Baker was found the
sum of Sl,700 In cash. The fact that
Baker had recently become the owner of a
fine saloon In ronwood when he was
known to have been without money a short
time ago, will tell against him Perrin
was carefully guarded by the officers until
evening, and was then taken to the county
jail at Ashland. while Baker and the
woman were taken to the Gogebic county
Jail at Bessemer, having been arrested
across the line.
There is a great deal of comment in re-
gard to the case, and many are 10th to
believe that Perrin is guilty He has been
trusted employee of the bank for two or
three years, and has often been left in
entire charge of it for weeks at time dur
ing the absence of the cashier. 1t is gen
orally believed that if Perrin is guilty he
has been brought to it by evil associations
which have gradually changed his charac-
ter.
Perrin is very highly connected, his
father being a prominent banker and
business man of New London, Wis, and
a member of the firm of Bingham & Per-
rim, until recently engaged in business at
Ironwood. The father of Perrin has been
telegraphed for and will be here today and
will do everything in his power for his
son, IN whose honesty he has the utmost
confidence
The detectives are very reticent concern
ing the whole affair, and not even the
bank officials were aware arrests were
made, although the bank president, ]. G.
Reynolds, of Lake Geneva, has been here
for day OF two, and his visit gave rise to
some talk concerning the robbery. Just
what kind of a case the officers
claim to have against Perrin and Baker is
not known, but it is understood that Per-
rim is charged with aiding In planning the
robbery and in fixing things so that it
could be successfully carried out. Baker,
it is charged, made away with the money
after the crime was committed. Two
other men are also known to have been
connected with the affair, and it is sup
posed they will be arrested later on. =
II pCnI cit1p1c boUn bpnO copI1rp6 for
Baker and the woman, and they will be
brought to Wisconsin for their hearing.
1t is stated that the woman has been used
as decoy by the detectives and that her
evidence will be most damaging to Perrin
and Baker.
QIRoNwooD, Mich, Nov. 25.-Ed. Ba-
ker arrested yesterday for alleged connec-
ton with the Hurley bank robbery, is from
Oshkosh He started saloon here. At
first he had no money, it is claimed, and
was backed by Perrin, who secured his
license. The detectives are trying to in
duce him to go over to Wisconsin without
requisition papers. He has sent for his
lawyers, the Lemons, of Hurley, to ask
their advice In the matter. He will have
his preliminary examination to-day.
HURLEY, Wis, Nov. 25-Assistant
Cashier Perrin, Of the Iron Exchange
bank, was taken this morning to Ashland
and arraigned. The case was continued
until Friday and bail fixed at $4,000
which was promptly furnished. The man
Baker and the alleged mistress, Lou
Thayer, arrested for completely were taken
to Bessemer. It is rumored the woman is
detective in the employ of the express
cOmpan