The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-07
And a Merchant Who Was
Unfortunately a Spec
tatOr.
WILD FLIGHT WITH PLUMBER.
One Robber Captured and the Other
Killed After Running Battle
With PurSuerS.


partly successful attempt was made to rob
the Abel 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 attracting any
particular attention they stepped into the
bank. The cashier, NJ. Leach, had Just
taken from the vault currency for the days
business. c. D. Bailey. a leading mer-
chant, 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 window and said he wanted to
deposit some money. Almost Immediately
the second robber, who was behind, lev
eled shotgun at Leach and fired, 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 $1,000
in gold and currency, and, staggering to
the vault, he pitched the money in and
shut and locked the door. Weakened
from loss of blood he fell to the floor. One
of the robbers then sprang.ov the counter
and began shoveling the money in sight into
q sack, and the one with the gun turned 70
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 col
lected outside, and the robbers one carry
ing the money and the other with leveled
gun, made 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
a running fight of several miles ensued
About four miles south of town the buggy
driven by the robbers struck tree and
broke wheel. The robbers, still closely
pursued, abandoned their rig. One hid
behind a bank, where he was soon cap
tured, and the other, with the gun, ran
iuto 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 to do so, and said he
would never be taken alive. After par
ley 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 he still refused
to surrender and the crowd of citizens fired
a volley 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 gath
cred at the jail when the Sheriff reached
here with his prisoner. There were loud
cries of "Shoot himI" "Hang him!" but
the officer managed to elude the mob and
landed his trembling prisoner safely be-
hind the bars.
The captured man, or rather boy, who is
only 10 years Of age, has made a complete
confession. He says his name is Charles
w. Crawford, and his home is near Patter
son, Madison County. The dead robber is
o. Wilkins, and was released only a few
weeks ago from the Minnesota peniten-
tiary at Saltwater, where he served three
years for robbery. Crawford SAYS their
only weapon was repeating Winchester
shot gun, carried by Wilkins, and the tes-
timony 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 after reach
ing the town and the job was abandoned.
They stayed last night with a farmer liv-
ing few miles south of here and drove to
town this morning. Their team was stolen
from the prisoners uncle, w. w. Craw-
ford of Madison County.
They secured only about $500 from the
ha rl- nd ba oil
their buggy broke down. 1t is not believed
that either Bailey or Leachis fatally hurt.
The latter received full charge of shot in
the shoulder making bad but not dan
gerous wound. Bailey was shot in the
neck, the flesh and skin being torn away
almost to the windpipe. He will recover
unless Inflammation sets in. Several citi-
zens were hurt by the robbers on the way
to the buggy. Postmaster Barr stepped
out OF the postoffice just as the retreating
robbers passed. The latter ordered him in
side, but before he could comply fired at
him, one shot striking his forearm and an
other piercing his hat and grazing his
forehead. ]. NJ. Byers, J. NJ. Simcoe and
a boy named Charles Decker were also
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 of the
robbery to aid in the capture of the rob-
bers. There is still considerable talk of
lynching Crawford, but the Sheriff and
leading citizens are trying to pacify the
crowd and will probably succeed, though
if anybody made start there would be
plenty of followers to make the bandit
stretch hemp.