The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-07

Abel, Ia, March 6,-A desperate and
partly successful attempt was made to
rob the Abel State bank this morning.
A few minutes before o'clock two
strangers drove into town and tied
their team near the public square
Without attracting any particular at
tention they stepped into the bank
The cashier, NJ. Leach, had just taken
from the vault currency for the days
business. c. D. Bailey. leading mer-
chant, 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 Immediately the second robber.
who was behind him, levelled a shot
gun at Leach and fred the charge
taking effect in his shoulder. He then
ordered the cashier to hand over the
money. The latter handed over a
small sack of silver, and then, though
badly wounded, seized drawer con-
tanning $4,000 in gold and currency.
and, staggering 10 the vault, he pitched
the money in and shut and locked the
door. Weakened from loss Of blood he
fell to the floor
ShoVeIed Up the Cash.
One of the robbers then sprang oyer
the counter and began shoveling 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. Bailey fell to the floor and
the robber shot at his PROSTATE form,
but missed. BY this time a crowd had
collected outside, and the robbers, one
carrying the money and the other with
leVelled gun, made a rush for their
team.
Fully fifty shots were fired at them.
but none apparently took any effect,
They quickly got into their buggy, and,
still keeping the crowd at bay, drove
rapidly away. Several men sprang
upon horses and followed and rum
ming fight of several miles ensued
About four miles south of town the
buggy driven by the robbers struck a
tree ana broke wheel. The robbers,
still closely pursued, abandoned their
rig. One hid behind a bank, where he
was soon captured, and the other, 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 re-
fused to do so, 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,
He Stood Pat.
The advancing flames finally forced
the robber to come out, but ne still re-
fused to surrender, and the crowd of
citizens fired Yolley at him. He
fell dead, pierced by three bullets.
Two took effect in the head and one
in the side and either would have been
fatal
1t was With the utmost difficulty that
the angry crowd was prevented from
Wreaking vengeance on the robber that
was alive. But Sheriff Payne hustled
him into a buggy and drove rapidly
out of the way to town A crowd of
several hundred gathered at the jail
when the sheriff reached there with his
prisoner. There were loud cries of
"Shoot him." Hang him." but the
officer managed to elude the mob and
landed his trembling prisoner safely
behind the bars.
The captured man, or rather boy,
who is only IS years Of age, has made
a complete confession He says his
names is Charles w Crawford. and his
home is near Patterson, in Madison
kins. and he was released only a few
weeks ago from the Minnesota peni-
Tertiary at saltwater. where he served
three years for robbery. Crawford
SAYS their only weapon was a repeat
ing Winchester shotgun. carried by
Wilkins, and the testimony of witness
ses 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
purpose OF robbing the bank there. but
he refused at the last moment after
reaching the town, and the job was
abandoned. They stayed last night
With a farmer living few miles south
of here and drove TO town this morn
ing. Their team was stolen from the
prisoners uncle, ". ". Crawford, of
Madison county.
May Stretch Hemp.
They secured about 5000 from the
hank and the money was all found
where their buggy broke down. 1t IS
not believed either Bailey or Leach is
fatally hurt. The latter received full
change of shot in the shoulder, max
ing a bad but not dangerous wound.
Bailey was shot in the neck, the flesh
and skin being torn away almost to
the Wfndpipe. He viii recover unless
Inflammation sSts in. Several citizens
we're hurt by scattering shots hred by
the robbers on the way to the buggy.
POSTMASTER Barr stepped Qua of the
postofice Just as the retreating rob-
hers passed. The latter ordered him
| inside, but before he could comply,
fred at him, one shot striking his fore
arm and another piercing his hat and
grazing his forehead. ]. NJ. Byers, ].
nj. Simcoe and boy named Charles
Decker, were also slightly injured. The
daring robbery has caused great ex-
citement. The town is full Of armed
men, most Of whom had turned out
from nefghboring towns on the first re-
port of the robbery, to aid in the cap
ture of the robbers. There is still CON
siderable talk of lynching Crawford
but the sheriff and leading citizens are
trying to pacify the crowd and will
probably succeed. though if anybody
made q start, there would be plenty
of followers to make the bandit stretch
hemp.
ROCKS ON AMERICANS,