The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-03-09
FILLED WITH LEAD.
A Would-Be Iowa Bank Robber
Killed by a Posse.
His Companion Capfured--rhey Had shot
tho Cashier aud rive Other citixens
La Raid ON the Bank
mt Adoi

DIS MONIES, Ia. March 7.-Adel, Ia.
the county seat of Dallas county, %
miles northwest OF here, was the scene
of bold hank robbery Wednesday
morning, followed by the pursuit OF
the amateur bandits, the killing OF
one OF them and the formation
Of an angry mob which surged
about the county jail Wednesday
night and threatened 10 have the life
OF the living robber The funds OF the
bank were saved by the presence OF
mind OF the cashier who. after receiv-
ing load OF shot ia his body, swung
shut the door 10 the vault and turned
the combination. As n result OF the
battle which followed the attack on
the bank. the flight and pursuit of the
robbers, the following list of casualties
is recorded
DEAp-Orlando r. Wilkins. q robber from
Patterson Madison county, Ia. aged 80. shot
by pursuers
IHJuRrD-s ~ Leach. cashier OF tho Bank
OF Abel seriously shot in left shoulder and
neck; c. ID Bailey leading merchant OF Abel,
shot IN left shoulder; J. NJ Byers prominent
citizen OF Abel, shot in the hand and arm; r.
y.
G T.. simpson q vcll-klown citizen, andCecil
Dexter. boy OF AdoL slightly wounded.
The robbers were O. .Wilkinsand c.
w Crawford, farmers living in Patter-
son. A little after So'cloclS Wednesday
morning they drove into Abel in
buggy Leaving the rig block
away they went 70 the bank.
Wilkins carried repeating shot
gun with six loads. They entered the
bank just as Cashier Leach was taking
the money from the vault G. ID.
Bailey was i'm the bank at the time.
Crawford remarked that they wished
20 make deposit. Cashier Leach was
busy at the time, but turned with the
inquiry: What is it?" As he did so he
looked into the barrel OF the shotgun
held by Wilkins, who Immediately
nred.
Cashier Leach staggered and fell,
but. rousing himself, flung the curren-
cy and gold ON the counter into the
vuult and closed the door. wilkins
fired again, wounding Mr.. Bailey.
Then Crawford kicked in the door
leading behind the counter and he
and Wilkins scooped the loose silver
into a sack II amounted % SeS7. by
this time Sheriff Payne, who was on
thc street, had his attention attracted
and opened fire on the bandits.
They made rush for their buggy,
Wilkins firing as he ran and wounding
the other citizens mentioned. The rob
beers started to drive southwest across
the country. They were holly pur-
sued. the hastily collected posse being
often within 200 or 300 yards OF the
fugitives Many shots were fired, some
Of which took effect in the horses
driven 10y Crawford and wilkins.
After chase OF nearly ls miles the
wounded horses could go no further
and were abandoned by the bandits,
who separated at what is known as
Meals Crossing There Craw-
ford secreted himself in clump
OF timber, but was soon sur
rounded and surrendered. wilkins
took refuge in barn. which was sur
rounded. To repeated orders TO come
out he nude no reply. Then Crawford
was forced ut the point of a Winches-
ter rifle 20 carry "A can OF kerosene, sat
urate straw stack near the barn and
start fire. Wilkins did not shoot at
his comradc and when the flames
closed about him made "A break across
the open space for the timber.
lie had proceeded but a few yards
when nc fell pierced by a bullet from
rifle held, il Is said by a prominent
farmer named Pritchard Then the
mob lost control of itself, and the body
was riddled 10y bullets. The corpse of
the dead robbcr and his living com
panion were later taken back to Abel,
where Crawford made full confession.
He claimed that he had been forced
into the job by Wilkins, who threat
encd 20 kill him if his nerve weakened.
The two left Patterson Tuesday and
spent the night with a farmer 3 miles
from Adcl.
At night the biggest crowd ever seen
there was upon the streets OF AdeL
Every man carried a rifle, shotgun,
pistol or club sheriff Payne had the
Jail protected by a large and we'll
armed posse. IL is believed that Craw-
ford has been spirited away to place
OF safety. All the wounded are doing
I