St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-30
Desperate Gang Of Chicago
Toughs Attempt a Bank
Robbery.
;Break-Neck Race and Run
ming Revolver Fight With
Police.
Assistant Cashier Of the Mep-
chants Exchange Bank
Locked in the Safe.
Excitement Runs High, as
This Is the Second Bold
Attempt.

CHICAGO, Dec. 90. = Jesse James,
widest exploits at frontier settle
ments were outdone in Chicago
to-day by three stoekyards toughs.
The Chicago bandits are undoubtedly
the same that a fortnight ago coolly
robbed the office of the Allerton Pack
Ing house within few feet of hundreds
of Allerton's butchers armed with cleav-
ers and knives. The feat to-day was
desperate bank robbery, followed by a
break race and running revolver
fight with the police for number of
miles on the bOulevards. 1t was few
moments past noon to-day when three
men entered the Merchants Exchange
bank. on Commercial avenue, South
Chicago. The cashier, MI. Wilder, and
the bookkeeper, Walter Willis, had
both gone out to lunch. and the only
person left in the bank was Frank
Lynn, about twenty years old, who
acted as assistant cashier. There were
two windows in the bank railing. One
! of the men who entered the bank went
to each window and the third one
| walked to the rear, and, going through
wooden gate, came to the locked
wicket which divided the cashiers
apartments from the Office proper. The
man at the first window said to young
Lynn:
'Hand out the cash you've got there"
at the same time putting up two re-
volverS for him to look at. Lynn hesi-
tated an instant and the man at the
second window, who had one revolver
out, drew another, and, pointing them
at Lynn, said: "Now, just let that fel-
low in back there, and be quick about
it."
Secured the Doodle.
Scarcely breathing, Lynn minded like
good child and nervOusly unlocked the
door. The rObber Immediately entered,
and, without word, knocked the young
man down with terrific back-hander
him IN the stomach. Leaving the young
clerk OH the floor dazed and groaning,
tie assailant unceremOnlously entered
the vault and took from the safe three
$500 packages of bills and about $50 IN
change besides a tin box containing
deeds and mortgages. After securing
this he walked out, and picking Lynn
up, threw him into the vaultand turned
the lock. After Lynn had been carefully
CtOtOtt III thC NaulO thC DOCh-
eted their guns and put their spoil
into large sack which they had brought
along for the occasion. They then
started out. and AS they got to the door
met Mr. Willis. the bookkeeper. Mr..
Willis suppoSing them to be customers,
passed by them and went back into the
bank. The robbers walked out, and
taking buggy, drove down the street.
Mr.. Willis was amazed TO find the vault
70 RI in,
first thing he did was to hurriedly open
the safe, when, to his utter astonish-
ment, out fell young Lynn, bloody and
grOaning:
"Willis, the banks been robbedv"
The Chase.
The bookkeeper, with Lynn struggling
after him, at once started to give the
alarm. A few yards from the door
Police Lieutenant jenkins was met COM
ing from the railroad station with Ser
geant Powers. The clerks excitedIy in
formed the lieutenant of what had
happened. Pausing only long enough
to send word for patrol wagon to fol-
low, the sergeant and lieutenant gave
chase on foot. The patrol wagon was
but minute in getting out with three
officers. Jenkins and Powers soon over
taken, clambered in, and, whipping the
horses, started in hot pursuit. As they
turned into South Chicago avenue they
could see a fleeing buggy mile ahead
of them, which they instnctively knew
carried their men. The lash was piled
mercilessly and the police Tere gaining
rapidly on the fugitives, when at Grand
Crossing the lieutenant, to his dismay,
saw that his horses were playing out.
and he would eventually be eluded by
the cool, calculating deSperadOes, who
had still good long lead and were
driving with remarkable judgment.
| Sending the wagon and officers on to
continue the chase, the lieutenant
jumped to the ground and hurried to
the nearest telephone to order out
A Fresh Patrol.
Two of the officers had brought shot
guns, and he told them to use them as
soon as they got in range. The long
race continued unaDated until the buggy
Cottage Grove avenues. 1t stopped
short and the robbers deserted it, get
ting into the meat wagon of Charles
Mullin. Charles was waiting with
his covered wagon, and the idea
evidently with the robbers was
that they could then jog along
and avoid suspicion so safely housed.
But they had not counted on such
prompt pursuit, and being seen by the
| officers, had to continue on the run.
Near Sixtieth street the officers came
within range and fired the first volley.
The horse to the meat delivery wagon
had about tagged out and the men
Jumped from the wagon and Mulin
logged along with his wagon. When
the men jumped they aeparated, and
the officers, leaving the patrol wagon,
followed the nearest man. He took in
the situation and, throwing up his
hands, surrendered, giving his name as
John Corbett. Lieut.. Jenkins now came
dashing by with the fresh patrol and
overlook Mullin in his delivery wagon.
Mulln protested that he had driven the
fellows at the
Point of the Pistol
but he was handcuffed Just the same in
ajitfy. The other two highwaymen
| meantime were out of sight. While
all this was transpiring Chief of Police
Marsh was notified. He was in the
mayors office at the time and, in CON-
pany with Inspector Hunt, drove at a
mad pace for the Hyde Park station.
Before leaving, however, thirty men
were detailed by the chief to watch
every railroad and cable train and every
| road through the district. When the
chief Isached the station, he gave
orders to have every open place
searched for the missing men. This
was done and the robbers were found
in barn at Flfty-seventh street and
Woodlawn avenue. They opened fired
.. onbeiHg discovered and Patrick o. 'Brien,