Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-30
4 BOLD BANK RoBsxxY.
The THE. % Holly Pursued by the Pslics and
Finally Caught.

BOLD BANK ROBBERY.
The THE, - Hotly Pursued by the Psaios and
! Finally Caught.
A few moments past noon yesterday three
men entered the Merchants Exchange Bank
on Commercial avenue, South Chicago The
casaier. Mr. Wilder and the bookkeeper. Mr..
Walter Willis, had both gone out to luncheon,
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 a
wooden gate came to the locked wicket which
divided the cashiers apartments from the Office
proper.
| The man at the first window said to the young
man, "Hand out the cash you've got there" at
the same time putting up two revolvers for him
to look at. Lynn hesitated an instant and the
man at the second window, who had one re-
voiver out, drew another, and pointing them at
Lynn said: Now, just let that fellow in back
there, and be quick about it."
| LYNN LOCKED Up.
| Lynn obeyed and unlocked the door. The
robber without word knocked the young man
down and then kicked him in the stomach
Leaving the young clerk on the floor dazed and
| groaning the assailant entered the vault and
| took from the safe three $500 packages of bills
! and about $50 in change. besides a tin box con-
tanning deeds and mortgages. After securing
/ this he walked out, and picking Lynn up threw
him into the vault and turned the lock.
| After Lynn had been carefully stored in the
vault the robbers pocketed their guns and put
! their spoil into large sack which they had
| brought along for the occasion. They then
started out. and they got to the door met
| Mr.. Willis. the boohkeeper. Mr.. Willis suppos-
ing them TO be customers passed them by and
4
out and taking buggy drove down the street.
Nj. Willis was amazed to find the vault
| locked and no one in the bank. The first thing
he did was to hurriedlv open the safe when. 10
his utter establishment out fell Young Lynn,
bloody and grooming: willis, the banks been
| robbed"
THE CHASE BEGUN.
The bookkeeper started to give the alarm. A
few yards from the door Police Lieutenant Jen-
kins was met coming from the railroad station
with Sergeant Powers. The clerks informed
the lieutenant OF what had happened. The SER
geant and lieutenant gave chase on foot. The
patrol wagon WIS but minute in getting out
with three officers. Jenkins and Powers, soon
overtaken, ciambercd in and whipping the
horses started III hot pursuit. As they turned
into South Chicago avenue they could see a
fleeing buggy a mile ahead of them, which they
instinctively knew carried their men. The po-
lice were gaining rapidly on the fugitives when
may, saw that his horses were playing out and
would eventually be eluded by the cool. calcu-
lating desperadoes. who had still a good long
lead and were driving with remarkable jTds
ment. Sending the wagon and officers on to
continue the chase the lieutenant jumped to
the ground and hurried to the nearest tele-
phone to order ont fresh patro,. Two of the
officers had brought shotguns, and he told them
to use them as soon as they got in range.
ONE RoEBER sURRENDERs.
The long race continued undated until the
buggy got to the corner of South Chicago ave-
nue. and Cottage Grove avenue. 1t stopped
short and the robbers deserted it. getting into
the meat wagon of Charles Mullin. Charles
waiting with his covered wagon. and the
idea evidently with the robbers was that they
could then Jog along and avoid suspicion. safe
ly housed. But they had not counted on such
prompt pursuit and. being seen by the officers,
had to continue on the run.
Near Goth street the officers came within
range and fired their first volley. The horse to
the meat-del;very wagon had about tagged ont
and the men jumped from the wagon and
Mullin logged along with his wagon. When
the men jumped they separated and the Off
GERS. 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 iii his delivery
the fellows at the point OF the pistol but he was
handcuffed just the same i'll jiffy. The other
two highwaymen meantime were out of sight.
While all this transp iring Chief of Police
Marsh was notified. He was in the mayors
Office at the time and in company with In
spector Hunt, drove for the Hyde Park station.
Before leaving. however. thirty men were de-
tailed by the chief to watch every railroad and
cable train and every road through the dis
trict. When the chief reached the station he
gave orders to have every open place searched
for the missing men.
THE OTHERS CAUGHT.
This was done and the robbers were found in
barn at 57th stree. and Woodlawn avenue
They opened fire on being discovered, and Pat
rick O Brien, a watchman. who Joined the party
was hit i'll the thigh. The shotguns were too
much for the robbers however, and they con-
cluded to give in. There was q short parley
and five minutes later every one of the burglars
and all of the stolen property was landed in the
Hyde Park police station. Along the road the
robbers had shot the lock off the tin box and
finding no money in it had dropped it in the
road. The last two men captured gave their
names as Frank Bennett and Henry Feather
stone. Featherstone, who apparently the
leader, is q. tall man with a sandy mustache
His name on other occasions has been Hennessy
1t is said the robbers, notwithstanding their
GOODNESS, overlooked, in the vault of the CASH
Ter drawer, funds to the amount of $4,000.
IL