Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-03-06
"A. ROBBERS FATE.
He Receives Two Loads OF Buck
shot In His Chest.
The Desperado's slangy Description ofHam-
self Exettes Susplcioa and He n
Speedily Trapped and
- Killed.


self Exeites Suspicioa and He II
Speedily Trapped and
Killed.
MERIDEN, Kan, March ST. am .
slicker" were the words with which a
stranger greeted Night Telegraph Oper-
ator Taylor, of this place, at 11.SO
O'Clock Saturday night prior to asking
the usual question as to the time the
morning train would be due for Atch-
ison.
Being somewhat surprised at this UNI
usual gruf and uncalled-for remark,
Taylor scrutinized the man before him
more closely than he would have other
wise done and at once recognized from
the description sent out by wire no less
person than the outlaw who just five
hours before had entered the bank of
Hicks, Gephart & Co., of Valley Falls,
and at the point of two revolvers COM
PEELED Cashier Coen to hand over the
cash he was then in the act of putting
In the safe prior to closing the bank for
the day.
After being informed as to the train
time the mans next interrogatory was
where he might find a hotel to remain
over night. and, upon being informed,
he went direct to the hotel and request.
ed the landlord to have him a bed pre-
pared and to be called for the train GO
ing to Atchison at five o'clock in the
morning.
Upon the departure of the ''slicker,"
as he termed himself, Taylor informed
the authorities at Valley Falls of his
discovery and requested that they come
and make the arrest.
Officers Shire and Summerfield arrived
in due season and arrangements were
made with the hotel people to awake
their much sought after guest and bring
him into the hotel Office, where Meri-
denis city marshal and two deputies
from Valley Falls were stationed inn
mediately.
Upon the entrance of the unknown
two shotguns loaded with buckshot were
leveled at his head, and he was COM
manded to hold up his hands and sur
render, but to the officers surprise he
never faltered, but on the contrary adj
vanced with bold determination reached
both hands toward his outside coat
pockets and endeavored to get posses
sion of the revolvers he held in the face
of CashierCoen when he compelled him to
hand over his cash. This time the out
law was not SO fortunate as before, for
at this moment both deputies emptied
the contents of their guns into his chest,
and he fell dead in his tracks
About 50, 500 was found upon his per-
son, most of it concealed in his boots.
Two $500 packages of currency were
found with the cashiers noting on the
wrappers.
From registered receipt dated at
Burlington, Kan, it is believed the fell
lows name was Robertson, and that the
money was payable to one D. S. Smith
atOttawa, Kan, supposed to be an alias.
His watch was marked ''R.'' and two
foot rule the same.
The dead desperate was feet IL
inches tall, weighed about 100 pounds,
had light complexion, light hair and
eyes and small blonde mustache.
The body will be held here until Tues
day when, if not identified and taken in
charge of by his friends, it will be buried
here by the county.
Yesterday a coroner's inquest was
held before Justice Frazier, and the fol-
lowing verdict was rendered.
State of Kansas, Jefferson County, S.: An
fnquisition holden at Meriden, in Jefferson
County, on the body of an unknown person
there lying dead, by the jurors whose names
are hereuntO subscribed The said jurors
upon their oath, do say that the dead body
is to US identified as that of the robber of the
Hicks, Gephart & Co. Bank, at VAL
ley Falls, Kan, on March 1, 100,
and killed by gunshot wound while
attempting to escape arrest at Meriden,
Kan, in experimenting him as said rob-
Der. We find that said killing was lawful
and justifable In every respect. We further
find that said death was not felonious. In
testimony whereof the said jurors have
hereunto set their hands, the day and year
here below written. March 2. 1890. Abraham
Mosier, foreman; Robert Smith, George w.
Potts. Nathan Glenn, George A. Smith and
ID. II. Frazier, justice of the peace, acting
coroner.
The man was identified as the robber
beyond all question.
STORY OF THE ROBBERY
VALLEY FALLS, Kan. March 3.-Cash-
Ter Coen of the bank of Hicks, Gephart
& Co. yesterday told the story of the
bold robbery in detail. He said that
about four o'clock Saturday while he
was alone at work supposed farmer
with a red handkerchief over his face
entered the bank and stated that he
was suffering terribly with neuralgia
and that he wished to remain there un-
til DIR. Gephart should come in, as he
needed some treatment and Gephart
Was LIS uyS1Cldu no GOOk q seat DIV
the stove and waited there until six
o'clock. 1t being Saturday and the first
of the month the cashier was very busy
and did not lock up early.
At six o'clock the cashier closed ND
his business and was placing the money
in the vault when the thief appeared at
the vault door with two revolvers and
demanded that the cashier pay him S1O,-
600, and said that he proposed to lock
him in the vault for security The
cashier recognized that he was in the
power OF the desperate and pleaded for
his life. The thief then demanded the
currency and got about ZOO. He then
made the cashier lock the front door,
backed out of the rear side door, locked
it and dropped the key by the side OF
the house and 1eisurelv walked away.
Clippings.
The value of ton of silver, as we are
informed by several esteemed ex-
changes, is s37, 7O2. 81. This will be Of
much practical interest to all persons
hop Co. - ell 6as.