The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-03-14
HANDY WITH GUNS.
IOWA BANK ROBBERY RESULTS IN
BLOODShED.

One Of tho Robbers Dead and the Bank
Cashier and . Prominent Merchant snf-
fering From Wounds-Good Work OF .
Posse.
ADEL, Ia, March ga desperate and
partly successful effort was made to rob
the Adel State bank here. A few min
utes before o'clock two strangers
drove into town aud tied their team
near the public square. They got out,
and, without attracting any particular
attention, stepped into the bank. The
cashier, S. NJ. Leach, had just taken
from the vault the currency for the
days business. G. P. Bailey, a leading
merchant, was writing at desk in the
lobby. They were the only occupants
of the bank. One of the strangers
stepped up to the cashiers window and
said he wanted to deposit some money.
Almost the same instant the second
robber. who was behind,
Leveled Shotgun at Leach
and fired, the charge taking effect in his
shoulder. He then ordered the cashier
to hand over the money. The latter
handed over small sack of silver and
then, though badly wounded, seized q
drawer containing about 50, 900 in gold
and currency, and, staggering to the
vanlt, he put the money in, shut and
locked the door. Weak from loss of
blood he then fell to the floor One of
the robbers now sprang over the counter
and began shoveling all the money in
sight into a sack and the one with the
gun turned to Mr.. Bailey, who was still
standing at the desk, and fired a shot at
him, wounding him in the neck. He
fell to the floor and the robber
Shot at His PROSTATE Form
but missed him. By this time crowd
had gathered outside, and the two rob-
bers, one carrying the money and the
other welding the gun, made a rush
for their buggy. Fully so shots were
fired at them but none apparently took
effect. They coolly got into their buggy,
and, still keeping the crowd at bay,
drove rapidly away Several men
sprang upon horses and followed, and a
running fight of several miles ensued.
About four miles south of town the
buggy driven by the robbers struck a
tree and broke a wheel. The robbers,
still closely pursued, abandoned their
rig. One hid behind bank, where he
was soon captured, and the one with the
gun ran into barn near by. The barn
was surrounded but the bandit
Held the Crowd at Bay.
He was called upon to surrender, but
resolutely refused and said he would
never be taken alive. After parley
the crowd partially united the captured
robber and compelled him to set fire to
the barn. The advancing flames finally
forced the robber to come out, but he
still refused to surrender and the crowd
of citizens fired a volley at him. He
fell dead, pierced by three bullets. Two
took effect in the head and one in the
side, and either would have proven
fatal. 1t was with the utmost difficulty
that the angry crowd was prevented
from wreaking vengeance on the robber
VIII w az DULL 041SCs DuU OuCIlA ray C
hustled him into a buggy and drove
rapidly back to town. A crowd of sew
eral hundred had
Gathered at the Jail
when the sheriff reached there with his
prisoner. There were loud cries of
"Shoot him." Hang him." but the Of
ficer managed to elude the mob and
landed his prisoner safely behind the
bars. The captured man. or rather boy,
for he is only 10 years of age, has made
complete confession. He says his name
is Charles w. Crawford and his home is
near Patterson in Madison county.
The dead robbers name is o. P. Wiki
ms, and was released only few weeks
ago from the Minnesota penitentiary at
Saltwater, where he served three years
for robbery.
The robbers secured only about $500
from the bank and the money was all
found where their buggy broke down.