Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-03-06
A ROBBERS FATE.
He Receives Two Loads Of Buck
shot in His Chest.
STORY OF VALLEY FALLS ROBBERY.
The Desperado's Slangy Description of Him.
self Excites Suspicion and He Is
Speedily Trapped and
Killed.

MERIDEN, Kan, March ST. am a
slicker' were the words with which a
stranger greeted Night Telegraph Oper-
ator Taylor, of this place, at 11.S0
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 I'M
usual gruff 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 hotel to remain
over night, and, upon being informed,
he went direct to the hotel and request
ed the landlord to have him bed pre-
pared and to be called for the train 60
ing to Atchison at five o'clock in the
morning.
Upon the departure of the ''slicker, 8"
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 i'm
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 ne fGll dead in his tracks.
About 81, 500 was found upon his per-
son, most of it conceded in his boots.
Two $500 packages of currency were
found with the cashiers noting on the
wrappers.
From a 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
at Ottawa, Kan, supposed to be an alias.
His watch was marked 'R." and two
foot rule the same.
Tbs dead desperate was feet IL
inches tail, Weighed about 16O pounds,
had light complexion: light hair and
eyes and a small blonde mustache.
The body will be held here until FHes-
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 Sefqlct was rendered.
State of Kansas, jeff .rson County, S.. An
! inquisition no den ut NJ, FideR, in Jefferson
County, on the body OF an unknown person
there lying dead, by the jurc rs 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 l, 40,
! and killed by a gunshot wound while
| 70 a MaridQrN
! Kan, in apprehending him as said rob-
Der. We find that said killing was lawful
and justiiable in every respect. We further
| find that said death was not felOntous. In
| testimony whereof the said jurors have
| hereunto set their hands, the day and year
6ere below written. March 2. 1880. Abraham
| Mosieg, foreman; Robert Smith, George w.
Potts, Matthias Glenn, George A. Smith and
D. Fl. Frazier, JUSTICE of the peace, acting
| coroner.
The man was identified as the robber
beyond all question.
| STORY OF THE ROBBERY.
VALLEY FAILS. Kan. March S.-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
ana thai 4e wished to remain there I'M
til DR.. GephaFt sA.Saa come in, as he
needed some treatfHeat aAa Sephart
was his physician. He took ssat bg
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 rot lock up early.
At six SsAaek th1s cashier closed up
his business and was 9laciAg {thRIss money
in the vault when the thief appeared At
the vault door with two revelveFs and
demanded that the cashier pay him St9,-
600, and said that he proposed to lock
him in the vault for security. The
cashier recognized that he was in the
power Of he desperate and pleaded for
his life. Fbe th,sf then demanded the
currency and got about s., ges: He then
made the cashier lock the front door,
backed eat of the rear side door, locked
it and dropped The key by the side 0f
the house and leisHFely walked away.
Coen Immediately rushed TO tbs fEeHt
door and gave the alarm, but the fellow
got away.