The record-union., 1895-03-23
Few People Realize the Enormity
Of His Many Crimes.
CONFESSED TO HAVING KILLED FIVE
PERSONS
Abatement That Lieutenant- Governor
Mrlard Is at the Point of Death
Denied-It is Expected That "1thin
Few Days He VIII Be Able to
Resume His Usual Avocations.
Snncinl 10 the RECnRD-UNTON,

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
SEATTLE. March 22.-Few if any of the
thousands of people who gazed upon the
dead body Of Thomas Blanck as it lay
upon the slab at the undertaking rooms
to-day realized the enormity of his
crimes. BY his own confession he has
killed five people within the last four
years, and wounded at least twenty. he
was a stage robber, highwayman, burglar
and bank robber. his operations extend
ing from British Columbia through Mon
tana and Washington, even to California.
Following is his record of crimes:
An unknown stagedriver, shot down
near Lake kootenai, in British Columbia,
in 1891, for resisting a hOld-up.
Steve Crosse, bartender, killed at
Meaderville, Mont, in September, 1894.
a Deputy Sheriff, killed about the same
time in the same vicinity while chasing
Blanck.
Constable William Jeffrey, shot through
the heart at Puyallup, Septem ber 30, 1894.
Charles II. Bridwell, shot through the
heart at the Mug Saloon in this city, Oc-
tOber 8, 1894.
Supposed murder, but not included in
his confession: James Skinner, station
agent al Great Belgrade, Mont; Police
man John Flynn, at Helena, Mont.
The confession relates events dating
back to 1891.
Blauck's home was in Schenectady,
\. y. He came West year ago, and his
first crime was committed at Nelson,
B. g., when, with a partner, he held up
stage coach containing two Cinnamon.
The driver showed fight, was killed, and
Blanck and his pal got 81, 300 in gold and
silver. The silver was too heavy, and
was buried, and Blauck said that so far
as he knew 1t was still in the ground.
They escaped, and BlaDck went back
East, only TO return to the coast in a
short time to take part In several high
way rObDeries, and get caught while
committing a burglary at kalama, this
State. He broke jail in February, 1891,
entered Bingham Holbrook's bank at
WoOley, WASH, but as he had no tools,
got nothing except revolver. Then he
wentto Fairhaveu, committed burglary,
shot Policeman Peter i5rughn twice, and
escaped mob which pursued him.
Port Townsend saw him next, where
he was arrested, taken back 10 kairhaven.
but broke jail and went TO California,
where he figured in several hold-ups. He
then went TO Texas, and then East again,
but in 1894 came West, and on August
18th of that year, while partner guarded
the outside entrance. Blanck entered the
barrOom in the Broadway Hotel, at He
lena, held the bartender up, took $50 out
OF the cash drawer, and alter driving out
of the saloon several persons who had
entered while he was taking out the
money. escaped.
lie was followed, a fight ensued, but
the lucky Blauck finally got away lie
had lost most OF his clothing in the fight,
and while on the road he met an old man
whom be compelled to turn over his
clothes. Later he robbed a bartender at
Marysville, Mont, OF about Sl50. At
MeaderviIle, Mont, he held up a bar
tender. failed TO get any money, and
killed him. He was chased, and had TO
Kill Deputy Sheriff in order 10 get away,
and then, coming to this State, he muir
dered Constable Jeffreys at PuyaIlup, and
later killed bartender BridwelI in this
city. for which he pleaded guilty and re-
Ceived a death sentence. He was await
ing hearing on an appeal in this case
when he broke Jail last Sunday.