The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-03-01
ROBBERY AND r
Bold Attempt TO Rob the Leechburg
Bank-A Courageous Citizen.
Shot through thc
Heart.

nthTls
The town of Leechhurg, on the
West Penn. railroad, five miles above
Allegheny Junction, has been in a
turmoil of excitement during the
past week. On the evening Of cleo.
Tim a bold attempt was made to rob
the Leechburg Banking Co e bank.
About 8 o'clock Charles Ashbaugh, a
printer on the Leechburg Advance.
while in the rear part Of the %"fice,
happened to look out and saw three
men engaged in forcing an entrance
through the back window of the hank.
He at ouce ran to the Council cham.
her aud notified Constable Nicholas
Collier. The latter at once started
for the scene accompanied by VIM.
Shaefer. At the real of the bank
they met three men who rushed out
nf the dour, at the same time opening
fire on their pursuera. Several shots
we're exchanged between the robbers
and the constable. Shaefer had no
revolver. A bullet from one of the
robbers revolver struck Shaefer, pass
my through his heart aud killing
him almost instantly.
In the excitement over Skaters
death the robhers came near making
good their escape. Two of them
were caught, however, after a desper.
ate chase. They we're brought back
tn Lechburg, and next day had q
hearing, and we're hustled off Ia Kit.
tanning Jail as quickly as possible to
save them from the fury of the peo.
Pile, who would have made short
work of them had not the officers
used every ruse TO get them away.
Shaefer was a member Of the town
council, a highly respected citizen,
and leaves a wife and four small
children. The wife is almost crazpd
with grief.
The two men who we're caught
give their names as Chares Sprague
aud William Ryan. Atthe eoroner's
inquest many facts came to light
which implicated DR.. G S Wyckuf,
u resident Of Ieechburg, at whose
house il was shown that at least one
of the robbers had stayed the night
before The attempt was made, and il
is believed that all were harbored
there. The evidence adduced was So
strong against Wyck"f that he was
gu the following day arrested in Al.
legbeuy, whittier he had gone, as said,
To correct sumo misstatements in the
Ptisburg Times connecting his name
with the affair. The feeling over the
discovery Of such strong evidence Of
the Doctors implication was SO great
that the officers thought it unsafe To
bring him back to Leechburg, and
therefore conveyed him direct to Kit.
tanning and lodged him in jail.
Great crowds had gathered at the de.
pot to give the DR.. q warm reception
on his arrival and one man had ST..
cured a rupe with moose aud ell ar.
ranged. even to sOapiug il, which il
vas intended to throw over his head,
aud then cast the loose end into the
crowd. This would have been
enough. But the officers of the law
averted this by their %precaution in
taking him direct to KIttaUniDg
The third party seen coming out OF
the bank has not been caught. DR..
Wyck"f is said to be a card sharp,
and il seems has been running a sort
of poker joint at his house for some
time. He is quite we'll known in
Bradford and other oil region towns
Of Pennsylvania.
He explains his connection with
the other meu by saying that DO