Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-02-24
Attempted Bank Robbery, and Murder at
Leechburg.

One OF the boldest attempts at bank rob
berry ever known in Western Pennsylvania.
rivaling in its daring the famous Dalton af-
fair at Cofeyville, and resulting in the
death of an innocent and highly respected
citizen, ACQUIRED at Leechburg, Tuesday
evening
About o'clock Charles Ashbaugh, a
printer on the Leechburg Adrdace, while
in the rear part Of the Office, happened to
look out and saw three men engaged in
forcing an entrance through the back win
dow Of the Leecbburg Banking Company.
He at once ran to the Council chamber
and notified Constable Nicholas Collier,
who was attending the borough election
there Constable Collier tells his story as
follows:
"Nr. Ashbaugh was greatly excited and
cried OUT, 'Mr. Collier come quick-.here
are burglars in the bank I at once ran
out of the building and meeting William
Shaeffer,, said TO him. There are some
parties entering the bank, come along
Billy He replied, Il have no revolver,
Nick, but will stay with you, and follow
ed me around the bnilding TO the back OF
the bank.
AT the rear Of the bank, we jumped
over low board fence and just then three
IN n filed out the rear door of the bank.
One ran TO the other side Of the yard and
turning opened fire upon me. Another
ran to the side of the fence behind me asd
opered cross fire. / was a little in ad
vance of Shaeffer and pulling my revolver
opened fire upon the man opposite me. /
fired four shots at him.
"Shaeffer suddenly fell against me, and,
catching him on my arm, heard him say,
am shot in bad place / asked him
where, and he replied in his heart. I then
fired the last shot in my revolver over
Shaefer's head at the last burglar "a he
went over the fence and he cried I'm hit;
/ can't 90 far Then / carried Shaeffer
into the bank hall and be expired there in
q few moments. The burglar I shot fell
into an empty cellar adjoining the bank,
but scrambled out and escaped with the
others"
The firing attracted q crowd Of people
and they quickly followed the fleeing men.
Down Market street they chased them un-
til Kirkpatrick d Company's mill was
reached. Here the men separated, one GO
ing up First street and the other down the
railroad Then both men mysteriously
disappeared.
Scarcely had the first wave of excite
ment died away when George Southern,
barber, came up street with a stranger
whom he had caught running down the
street just after the shooting. The man
was promptly lodged in the lookup snd Is
-thsrs-- yst.- Fro1n all -AppsaEanns- ths-
Leechburg people are determined he shall
stay there About a dozen citizens are
holding guard in and around the building
About midnight posse of men led by
G Wagner caught one Of the robbers on
bill above White Rock, near Allegheny
Junction, on the Allegeny Valley railroad.
He was found crouched behind a tree and
was nearly exhausted He made feeble
attempt TO resist, but was overpowered.
He was taken to Allegheny Junction and
refused to give any information about him
self. There seems to be no doubt a. to
him having been one of the robbers.
The posse who caught him report that
there was firing Of guns farther back on
the bills and it In thought another Of the
hunting parties were in conflict with the
other r0bber.
On Wednesday the two men came near
being lynched BY mob; but were safely
landed in the Kittanning Jail that evening.