Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-06
BOLD ROBBERS RAID A BANK
A Desperate Attempt Made
in Broad Daylight.
THE CASHIERS COOL BRAVERY
He Held the Cash and Reached
for a Revolver.


ERIE, Pa. Oct. AIT IL. 30 y. M, to-day
a runaway occurred on State street, in the
heart of the city. While the attention of
the crowd was thus diverted four men
entered the keystone National Bank,
corner of State and Eighth streets, as If to
transact some business, but whipped out
revolvers covered the cashier ana clerk,
while one of them yelled: Hold up your
hands"
The clerk did so, but the cashier, Il. V.
kepler. raked in pile of money with
one hand and reached for Il revolver with
the other. Before he could secure it one
of the robbers fired, the shot taking effect
in the cashiers face and neck. keplcr fell
to the floor insenslhle, and the robbers
after firing four more shots at the clerk
evidently lost their nerve and left the
bank on tho run, ilourishing reyOlvers
and shooting in the air to intimdatc the
people who had gathered at the first sound
Of shooting.
THE QCARTETTE EASILY CAPTURED.
The robbers ran up Eighth street, firing
back on the pursuing crowd as they went.
Police Officer Dochrell followed them in a
carriage and overlook them six squares
away, where they were about to drive off
IN II rig which had been htched ut the
cnrbstonc. AS the officer leaped from the
carriage and shouted at the robbers, one
of them took careful aim, fired twice, but
missed his man. BY this time the men
seemed to be completely tired out with the
chase, and made little resistance.
They were taken to police headquarters.
Upon them were found nine colt revolvers
and an unlimited amount OF ammunition.
They had evidently been prepared for a
long fight. They gave their names as fol
lows: John Courtney aged % G, w.
llawley, aged ~, of New York; e. w.
smith, aged 80, and Daniel r. Evans, aged
u, of Syracuse. The last named claimed
to be well connected in Syracuse. They
were taken before Alderman Mcmahon
and sent to the county Jail To await hear.
ing on Monday, october 10Th, at ~
o'clock.
THEY CAME FROM BUFFALO.
II was learned that the men came from
Buffalo, having been there on Saturday last
They came to Erie last night, put up at
the l.icbel House and this morning entered
the store OF Solomon Cedar, made some
purchases and presented bogus check in
payment 1t was refused andthey left the
store unmOlested. sAftcr being locked
into their cells one of the men was caught
trying to hide cold chisel, saws, car
Iridges and other articles in a waste pipe.
The robbers will he charged with assault
with intent 10 kill and assault with intent
to rob.
They are a young and green appearing
lot MS their poorly laid plans and easy
| capture shows. They are doubtless il
quartet OF dime novel victims. They say
they robbed gun store in Syracuse, One
Of them said
1--WE Just thought we'd wake up your
| jay town. The men were well dressed.
Courtney, who shot the cashier, is about
feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about $50
pounds, He is a hard looking character.
Cashier kepler is suffering from a flesh
wound only and will recover. II develops
that the bank robbers cut the hitching
strap OF the horse tied in front of the
| bank, and giving the animal Il vicious
Kick started u down street to attract the
attention Of the people, and the rlse was a
most excellent one, for in the hlbbub
| created on the street the firing was not
| noticed until Clerk Liebel rushed out of
| the bank and cried out, Murder Bon.
| bcrs kepler has been murdered "
| THE CASHIER NOT SERIOUSLY WOUNDED,
| Brave Kepler, although bleeding pro,
| fusely, managed to gather himself up and
under cover of the smoke which filled the
room he dragged himself back to the vault,
| throwing the door shut upon very large
amount Of the national treasury depository
The cashiers blood had spurted out all
over tue bank papers, currency and trays
| of cash which he had almost lost his life
| i'll dragging away from the reach Of the
man Courtney, who was making desperate
efforts to reach it as he fired on the cashier.
Courtney is the coolest OF the gang and
| laughed and Chatted as the crowd yelled
out to lynch him and his COMPANIONS in
crime. His principal partner, llawley,
| deplored their foolishness for attempting
10 do such job in a farmer town. Evans
and Smith, although equipped AS burglars,
have broken down and realize the cnormity
| Of their crime and the disgrace which they
| nave brought upon their respected parents
| i'll Syracuse.
The maximum punishment which can
be mrted out to the members of the gang
is y years in the penitentiary.