Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-11-18
BOLD ROBBERS FOOLED.
HOW THE LEADER OF THE
GANG WAS SURPRISED.
Their Plans We're Known and Prepared
for I'm Advance-Nhy n Remark
able Attempt at Robbery
Failed of Success.

A little after midnight lately a
gang OF men heavily armed and with
their heads elveloped in grain sacks
appeared ut the door OF a small frame
structu. Q occupied as bank in Cayu-
cos California escOrtng a supposed
clerk OF the institution.
They induced the latter to open the
door and the vault and only then dis
covered that they were trapped and
surrounded by olticers. The leader OF
the robbers was finally shot and the
rest escaped Tor the time in the DARK
ness.
The scheme. it seemed, was plotted
with SO little secrecy that dozens of
people in san Luis Obispo and
everybody in Cayucos know all about
it days ago. one William Brown.
who has II wide notorlety as the
brother OF John 1 en- ANN brown. who
killed Lorens T. Skoy and alterward
Died in San Quentin where he was
sent in consequence was the reputed
leader
with him was q man named Gosa
with whom the police have strained
relations. John Isom Jap Brown and
Z. A. Dunn. the latter u resident OF
TAX Park once in request as posi-
bly, connected with the celebrated
Greenwood murder and Just now
malodorous On account OF amily
row.
These worthless with two or three
othe.s laid the plot to drive from
san Luis ObIspo to the little town OF
Cayucos and rob the Cayucos bank,
recently established there. The lead
ers were 10 go TO the house of the
head OF the bank. Mr. SIMMER. take
him prisoner march HIM down
to the bank and compel hir- to de-
liver them whatever the safe con.
tanned
The plan was carried out with pre-
olson. Tuesday evening. about 8,
clock, &. A. Dunn appeared ut the
livery stable OF Mr.. Sarmento and.
secured from him a line dodble team
and two seated carriage for the
purpose OF attending party ut Oak
lark
Mr. Sarmento had some slight
knowledge OF Dunn and saw no rea-
son for refusing. just about l2
O'Clock the team reached Cayucos
with five occupants and was hilched
about 100 yards from the residence OF
Mr. SIMMER. The robbers had
barley sacks arranged TO be- drawn
over the heads as masks, ana pro-
cecded to put them on aad marched
up to Slmmler's house and knocked
on the door,
A voice as ed WHO is therepp
and presently the door was opened
but Mr. SIMMER was absent It
seems that the pl ms OF the robbers
had been given away. The officers
had been in ormed. as had also tho.
bank oEcers aid divers others
Mr. SIMMER knew all about il and.
in fact had organi ed small regi-
ment and when the robbers went
stealing 10 the house according 40
programme the whole population OF
Cayucos practically observed their
movements from various points Of
vantage.
Mr.. SIMMER OF course, was nok
anxious 10 be used by the robbers ac-
and a substitute had to be found to
him. olunteers were hard,
to obtain. and it was only about ten
minutes before II when BILLY Water
man agreed TO take the vacant situa-
ton.
lie had hardly got into his new
quarters and blown out his light when
the robber chief assaulted his door.
was polite and re eived,
the demands OF the foe with COM
posture. He explained that MIR.
SIMMER was absent on business and
that he was only the chief clerk in
charge. lie asked time TO dress
h mself and after a few minutes ne
cepted the escort OF his visitors To
the bank. Everything was uiet and
the night was dark. and the populace
laid low and watched operations
Waterman unlocked the door OF the
bank. as ordered. and passed in with
Mr. Brown and two others John
lsom and oss A candle was lisbtel
and Waterman under compulsion. un-
locked the safe and threw open it's
doors and at the same moment n
stern voice was heard in the demand:
Halt! Throw up your hands,
A half dozen men had been con-
cealed in the small back room. and nj
this opportune moment appeared each
with leveled shotgun. William
Brown responded with pistol shot
which hurt no one and instantly re-
ceived load OF BIB shot in his left
arm which keeled him over. cut the
arteries and was in fact mortal
wound. He succeeded. however. in
shooting again, the bullet striking a
loor and glancing across The back
VI Ex- Sheriff Mcleod buried itself
ust below the skin innicting only az
flesh wound.