Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-03-06
A DARING rHlgF.


Tho Kansas Bank Robbers Roidness Loads
10 His Death--story of the Robbery.
MERIDEN, Kan, March ST. am a
sliclser" were the words with which a
stranger greeted Night Telegraph oper-
ator Taylor OF this place, at 1l.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 un-
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
a person than the outlaw who just five
hours before had entered the bank OF
Hicks, Gephart a. Co., Of Valley Falls,
and at the point Of two revolyers 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.
Altar 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 a bed pre-
pared and TO be called for the train GO
ing TO Atchison at Ave 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 Summeriield 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-
den's city marshal and two deputies
from Valley Falls we're 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 ad-
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 81, 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 5 feet II
inches tall, weighed about 100 pounds,
had light complexion, light hair and
eyes and a small blonde mustache.
STORY OF THE ROBBERY.
VALLEY FALLS, Kan, March s.-Cash-
Ter Coen of the bank of Hicks, Gephart
& Co. yesterday tod tho Story OF the
bold robbery in detail He said that
about four o'clock Saturday while no
was alone at work supposed farmer
with 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 his physician. He took seat by
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 up
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 Sl0,-
OOO 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 $1,000. 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 leisurely walked away
Coen Immediately rushed to the front
door and gave the alarm, but the fellow