Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-07
PAID FOR IT WITH HIS LIFE.
One of the Abel Bank Robbers Shot
by Citizens.

One of the Abel Bank Robbers Shot
by Citizens.
Fuller details than those printed In yes
terday's Star have been received Of the
daring bank robbery at Abel, Iowa, yes
terday morning. 1t seems that few min
untes before 0 o'clock two strangers drove
into town and tied their team near the
public square They got out, and. without
attracting any particular attention, step
ped into the bank.
The cashier, 8. NJ. Leach, had just taken
from the vault the currency for the days
business c. D. Bailey, 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 in
slant the second robber, who was behind,
leveled q shotgun at Leach and ired, 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 drawer containing about
$1,000 in gold and currency and. staggering
to the vault be pitched the money in and
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 shot at
him, wounding him in the neck. He fell
to the floor and the robber shot at his pros
trate form, but missed him.
By this time a crowd had gathered out
side, and the two robbers, one carrying the
money and the other welding the gun,
made a rush for their buggy. Fully fifty
shots were fired at them, but none appar-
emily 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
running fight of several miles ensued.
Robbers Rum Down.
About four miles south of town the buggy
driven by the robbers struck tree and
broke Wheel 9The robbers. still closely
pursued, abandoned their rig, and one hid
behind bank;y where he was soon cap
tured, and the other, with the gun. ran
into a barn near by. The barn was sur
rounded, 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 a 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
of citizens fired "a volfey at him. He fell
dead, pierced by three. bullets. Two took
effect in the head and one in the side, and
either would baye BEEN fatal:
angry crowd was prevented from wreaking
vengeance on the robber that was alive,
but Sheriff Payne hustled him into buggy
and drove rapidly back to town. A crowd
Of several 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 officer man
aged to elude the mob and land his trem-
bling prisoner safely behind the bars.
The captured man. or rather boy, for he
is only nineteen years old, has made
complete confession. He says his name is
Charles W. Crawford and his home near
Patterson, in Madison county. The dead
robber is o. P. Wilkins, and he was re-
leased only a few weeks ago from the
Minnesota penitentiary at Stllwater,where
he served three years for robbery. Craw-
ing Winchester shotgun carried by wilkins,
and the testimony of witnesses bears out
this statement.
He claims to have been coerced into as
sisting Wilkins. and says they went to
Indianola last Monday morning for the