The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-07
Desperate Work of Bandits in
an Iowa Town
BULLETS FOR THE CASHIER
One Bank R0bber Shot Down and the
Other Captured
Posse Of Citizens Pursue the Highwaymen
and Do Very Quick and Effective
Work


the Adel State Bank this morning.
A few minutes before 8 o'clock two
strangers drove into town and tied their
team near the public square. Without at
tracing any particular attention they
stepped into the bank. The cashier, M.
Leach, had just taken from the vault the
currency for the days business, and G. D.
Bailey, leading merchant, was writing
at a desk in the lobby. They were the
only occupants of the bank. One of the
strangers stepped up to the cashiers desk
and said he wanted to deposit some mon
ey. Almost Immediately the second rob-
ber, who was behind, levelled shotgun
at Leach and fired, the charge taking ef-
feet in his shoulder. He then ordered the
cashier to hand over the money. The
cashier handed over small sack of silver
and then, though badly wounded, seized
drawer containing $4,000 in gold and cur
rency, and staggering to the vault, he
pitched the money and shut and locked
the door. Weakened from loss of blood
he fell to the floor.
One of the robbers then sprang over the
counter and began shoveling the money
in sight into 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. Bailey
fell to the floor and the robber shot at the
PROSTATE form but missed. By this time
crowd had collected outside, and the
robbers, one carrying the money and the
other with levelled gun, made the rush
for their team. Fully fifty shots were
fired at them but none apparently took
effect. They quickly got in 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. About four miles
south of town the buggy driven by the
robbers struck a tree and broke wheel
The robbers, still closely pursued, aband-
oned their rig. One hid behind a bank
where he was soon captured, and the other
with the gun, ran into a barn near by.
The barn was surrounded but the bandit
held the crowd at bay. He was called
upon to surrender but resolutely refused
to do so and said he would never be taken
alive.
After parley the crowd partially un-
tied the captured robber and compelled
him to set fire to the barn. The advanc-
ing flames finally forced the robber to
come out, but he still refused to surrender
and the crowd of citizens fired volley at
him. He fell dead pierced by three bull
let's. 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 buggy and drove rapidly out of the
way to town. A crowd of several hundred
was gathered at the Jail when the Sheriff
reached here with his prisoner and there
were loud cries OF ''Shoot him." Hang
him." but the officer managed to elude
the mob and landed his trembling pris-
oner safely behind the bars.
The captured man, or rather boy, for he
is only nineteen years of age, has made a
complete confession. He says his name
is Charles W. Crawford and his home is
near Patterson in Madison county. The
dead robber was o. wilkins and was re-
leased only two weeks ago from the Min
nesota penitentiary at Saltwater where he
served three years for robbery. Crawford
said their only weapon was a repeating
shotgun, carried by wilkins and the testi-
mony of witnesses bears out this state
ment. He claims to have been coerced
into assisting 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 and the jot
was abandoned.
They stayed last night with farmer
living a few miles south of here and
drove to town this morning. Their team
was stolen from the prisoners uncle, w.
w. Crawford of Madison county. They
secured only about $4,000 from the bank.
The money was all found where the
buggy broke down.
1t is not believed that either Bailey OF
Leach is fatally hurt. The latter received
full charge of shot in the shoulder,
making bad but not dangerous wound.
Bailey was shot in the neck the flesh and
skin being torn away almost to the wind.
pipe. He will recover unless Inflammation
sets in. Several citizens were hurt by
scattering shots fired by the robbers on
the way to their buggy. Postmaster Barr
stepped out of the postoffice just as the
retreatng robbers passed They 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 ]. M.
Sincoe and boy named Charles Decker
were also slightly injured.
The daring robbery has caused great
excitement; the town is full of armed
men, most of whom had turned out from
neighboring towns on the first report O.
the robbery to aid i'll the capture of the
robbers. There is still considerable tall
of lynching Crawford, but the Sheriff anc
leading citizens are trying to pacify tn,
crowd, and will probably succeed, though
if anybody made start there would b,
plenty Of followers to make the bandi
stretch hemp.