River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-03-14
BANDITS IN ApEI
Many Citizens Are Injured and One OF the
Robhers Killed.

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DIS MONIES, Ia, March s.-Adcl, Ia.
the county seat of Dallas county, 81
miles northwest of here. was the scene
of bold hank robbesy 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 aud threatened to have the life
of the living robber. TIE funds of the
bank were saved by the presence of
mind of the cashier whb, after receiv-
ing load of shot in his body, swung
shut the door to the vault and turned
the combination. AS . 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:
DEAD-Orlando r. wilkins o robber from
Patterson. Madison county, "a, aged 80. shot
by pursuerS
INJuRED-S. n. Leach cashier OF the Bank
OF Abel. seriously shot in eft shoulder and
neck; c. ID. Bailey, leading rserchant of Abel,
shot In left shoulder: J. NJ Byers, prominent
citizen OF Abel, shot in the hand and arm; X.
5. Barr, postmaster at Abel shot in left arm;
Dexter. boy OF Abel slightly wounded
OThe robbers were @. H.Wilkinsand c.
w. Crawford, farmers living in Patter-
son. little after so'cloclS Wednesday
morning they drove ihto Abel in
buggy Leaving the, zig block
away they went % the bank
wilkins carried a rpeatiug shot
gun with six loads. They entered the
bank just as Cashier Leach was taking
The money from the vault. c. ID.
Bailey was in the bank at the time.
Crawford remarked that they wished
30 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, whb Immediately
fired.
Cashier Leach staggered and fell,
but, rousing himself flung the curren-
cy and gold on the counter into the
vault and closed the door. Wilkins
fired again, woundipg Mr.. Bailey.
Then Crawford kicked in the door
leading behind the counter and he
and wilkins scooped he loose silver
into a sack. IT announced to s2s7. by
tins time Sheriff Payse, who was on
the 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
bers started to drive southwest across
the country. They were holly pur-
sued, the hastily collected posse being
often within 200 or 100 yards Of the
fugitives. Many shots were fired some
of which took effect in the horses
driven by Crawford AMI Wilkins.
After chase of neatly IL 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 v as soon sur
rounded and surrendered. Wilkins
took refuge in barn, which was sur
rounded. To repeated'orders to come
out he made no reply. Then Crawford
was forced at the point of a Winches-
ter rifle to carry a can of kerosene, sat
urate straw stack near the barn and
start fire. Wilkins did not shoot at
his comrade, and when the flames
closed about him made a break across
the open space for the timber
He had proceeded but a few yards
when he fell pierced by bullet from
rife held, it is said. by a prominent
farmer named Pritchard. Then the
mob lost control of itself, and the body
was riddled by bullets, The corpse of
the dead robber and his living com
panion were later taken back To Abel,
where Crawford made'a full confession.
He claimed that he sad been forced
into the job by Wilk ms, who threat
ened to kill him if his nerve weakened.
The two left Patterson Tuesday and
spent the night with farmer ) miles
from Abel.