The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-09
A NEW JESSE JAMES.
Daredevil Bank Robbery at
Columbus Grove, Ohio.
THE THIEF ELUoEs PURSUIT.
A Young Man shoots the Cashier and .
Farmer, and Escapes With Pockets
Full of Greenbacks.

LIMA, o., Aug. S.-One of the bold est
bank robberies ever perpetrated in this Sec
ton of the country occurred this morning
at Columbus Grove, a town OF about 1900
people, twelve miles north of here. CASH
Ter Maple had just opened the Exchange
bank and laid out s., 900 near the cashiers
window. About $50 O'Clock man ap-
peared in the door with revolver in each
hand. He Immediately began shooting.
Cashier Maple was struck twice, once in
the arm and once in the right side. As he
fell to the floor an old farmer, William
Vandemark. aged 60, entered the door,
having come to get the money for some
hogs he had just sold. The robber turned
and shot him, INJECTING fatal wound. A
third man sat in the lobby of the bank,
paralyzed with fear. He was not molest-
ed. The desperate then grabbed st,2oo IN
greenbacks, showed them into his coat
pockets and rushed out doors, shouting:
81 ana a second Jesse James" crowd
had been attracted by the shooting, but
there was scattering when the wiid-eyed
murderer appeared on the street. having
gun in each hand and shooting lndis-
crirninately. One bystander, Henry Huck,
was struck down by billet from re-
volver. The fellow ran to the outskirts OF
the town and disappeared.
The desperate is described as short and
heavy set, with full face and small black
mustache. He appeared about 30 or 30
years old.
A posse was quickly organized and
started in pursuit. Another posse started
from West Cairo, and the sheriff and chief
OF police organized body to assist in the
capture. If found the fellow will be shot
down like q dog. At IL o'clock tonight
the robber is still at large, and the chase
has been abandoned until daylight. The
desperate is known to be alone. Nearly
the whole population OF the northern part
of the county is assisting in the hunt, and
it is thought he will escape.
Cashier Maple will recover. He gives
the following account of the affair.
The robber, who is a boyish-looking fellow,
walked up to the wicket demanding money.
thought 1t was town boy trying
10 have sport with me. Because the
man held revolver in each hand,
made reply to him in that line Of thought,
whereupon he fred. The first two shots struck
me, and the third missed. l then grabbed my
revolver, which had only one load In ii. and
fred. missed, and he started out. lie met
Vandemark and shot him and then turned back.
/ was standing in the celiarway with drawn
revolver and held him at bay until he saw
could not shoot, when he commenced firing at
me again. lodged into the cellarway for pro-
lection, and saw him through the partly open
door reach behind the screen and take all the
money he could reach, deliberately put 1t
In his pocket and walk out Mr..
Vsndemafk says he was entering the
bank when the fellow came toward him
fourishng his revolver. He shot once and then
A.rt. Ito a. -
sisted to a doctor . office by his son, and while
there saw the robber tearing his way through
the streets by means of drawn revolvers, and
disappear at the railroad crossing some distance
down the street
The robber had been in Columbus Grove
day or two before the robbery, claiming
to be silk hat member.