Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-03-08
A DARING THIEF.
me Kansas Bank Robbers BOldnoss Leads
90 His Doath-story OF tho Robbery.

10 HIS D0Mtn-DtOry VI Sno AhOooakye
MERmKN, Kan, March 81 am .
slicker" were the words with which .
stranger greeted Night Telegraph 'Oper-
ator Taylor, OF this place, ut 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 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
Q 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 rs 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 q 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,"
rs 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 Summerheld 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 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 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
ct 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 q 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 II
Inches tall, weighed about 100 pounds,
had light complexion, light hair and
eyes and small blonde mustache.
STORY OF THE ROBBERY.
VALLEY FALLS, Kan, March 3.-Cash-
Ter Coen OF the bank Of Hicks, Gephart
q 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 o 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 DR.. 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 look 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 $l0,-
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 200. 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
Rot awav