Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-07
WoaK OF DESPERATE ROBBERS.
THEY GO INTO A RANK AND SHOOT
TWO MEN.
Escape Pursuud ny II Crowd, When
one is killed and the other Cap
tured-TaII< of Lynching the Pria-
oner--A tunning Fight.


A desperate and partly successful at
tempt was made to rob the Abel State
bank this morning. A few minutes
before o'clock this morning two
strangers drove into town and tied
their teams near the Puts square.
They got out and without attracting
any particular attention stepped into
the bank. The cashier, S. NJ. Leach,
had just taken from the vault the cur
rency for the days business. c. D.
Bailey, a leading merchant. was writ
ing at a desk in the lobby. The ywere
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 at the
same instant the second robber, who
was behind, leveled a shotgun at Leach
and fired, the charge taking effect In
his shoulder. The latter handed over
a small bag of silver and then, though
badly wounded, seized draw contain
Ing about $4,000 in gold and currency,
and staggering to the vault, he pitched
the money in and shut and locked the
ddOr. Weak from the loss of blood, he
then fell to the floor one of the rob-
bers now sprang over the counter ana
began shoveling all the money in sight
into a sack and the one with the gun
turned to Mr.. Bailey, who was sim
standing at the desk, and fred a shot
at him, wounding him In the neck.
BY this time a crowd had gathered out
side and the two robbers, carrying the
money and welding gun, made a
rush for their buggy. Fully nifty shots
were fired at him, but none apparently
took effect They coolly got into their
buggy, and stlll keeping the crowd at
bay. rode rapidly awawy. Several men
sprang upon horses and followed, and
n running fight for several miles en-
sued. About four miles south Of town
the buggy driven by the robbers struck
a tree and broke a wheel. The robbers
still closely pursued, abandoned their
rig and one hid behind IA bank, where
he was 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 and resolutely
refused to surrender and said he would
nexer be taken alive. After parley
the crowd partially united the captured
robber and compelled him to set fire to
the barn. The advancing flames ilnally
forced the one inside to come out, but
he still refused to surrender ana the
crowd fired a volley at him. lie tell
dead pierced by three bullets. Two
took effect in the and one in the side
either would have been fatal. II was
with the utmost difficulty that the an
cry crowd was prevented from wreak-
ing vengeance on the robber that was
alive, but Sheriff Payne hustled him
into buggy ond drove him back TO
town
AT the jail a large crowd were gath
cred. There were loud cries OF shoot
him." hang him." but the officer elud-
ed them and landed his prisoner in
Jail
The captured robber has made a COM
plete confession. He says his name
is Charles w. Crawford and his home
is near Patterson, in Madison coun-
ty. The dead robber Is o. p wilkins,
and was released only few weeks ago
from the Minnesota penitentiary at
saltwater, where he served three years
for robbery. Crawford says their only
weapon was repeating winchester
shotgun carried by wilkins. He claims
to have been coerced into assisting In
the robbery and says they went to In
di5nola last Monday for the purpose Of
rohbing the bank there, but he refused
at the last moment. after reaching
They stayed last night with a farmer
southeast of here and drove to town
this morning, They secured only about
5000 from the bank. and all the money
was found when the buggy broke
down. il is not believe dthat either
Bailey Of Leach are 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 kind pipe. He
VIII recover unless Inflammation sets
in
Several citizens were hurt by scatter
Ing shot.
The daring robbery has caused in
tense excitement. The town is full Of
armed men, most OF whom turned out
from nelghborlng towns on the first re-
port OF the robbery. to aid in the can
ture of the robbers.
There is considerable talk OF Ivnch-
Ing Crawford. but the sheriff ana lead
Ing citizens are trying to pacifv the
crowd, and will probably succeed
though If anybody makes a start there
VIII be plenty of followers to make the
bandit stretch hemp.