The Butler weekly times., 1895-03-14
SHOT THE BANK CASHIER.
Two Robbens Make u Raid on Adei
iowa, State Bank.

this morning. A few minutes be-
fore o'clock this morning strang-
ers drove into town and tied their
team near the public 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
currency for the days business. c.
d. Bailey, leading merchant, 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. Al
most the same instant the second
robber, who was behind, leveled a
shotgun at Leach and fired, the
charge taking effect in his shoul-
der. He then ordered the cashier
to hand over the money. The lat
ter handed over a small sack Of sill
YER, and then, though badly wound
ed, seized drawer containing about
$4,000 in gold and currency and,
staggering to the vault, he pitched
the money in and shut and locked
the door. Weak from loss of blood
he then fell to the floor.
One of the robbers now sprang
over the counter and began shovel
ing al the money in sight into a
sack, and the one with the gun turn
ed to Mr.. Bailey, who was still
standing at the desk, fired shot
ut him, wounding him in the neck.
He fell to the floor and the robber
fred at his PROSTATE form, but miss
ed him. BY this time crowd had
gathered outside and the two rob.
bers, one carrying the money and
She other welding the gun, made a
yush for their buggy. Fully fifty
shots we're fired at them, but none
apparently took effect. They quick.
ly got into their buggy and still
keeping the crowd at bay drove rap-
idly away. Several men sprang up.
on horses and followed and run.
ming fight of several miles ensued.
About four miles south of town
she buggy driven by the robbers
struck tree and broke a wheel.
The robbers, still closely pursued,
abandoned the rig and one hid be-
hind a bank, where he was soon cap.
tured, and the other, with the gun
ran into barn near by. The barn
Was surrounded but the bandit held
She crowd at bay. He was called
apon to surrender, but resolutely
refused and said he would never be
taken alive. After a parley the
crowd partially united the captured
robber and compelled him to
set fire to the barn. The advancing
flames finally forced him to come
out, but he still refused to surrender
and the crowd of citizens fred vol.
ley at him. He fell dead, pierce
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
taat the angry crowd was prevented
from wreaking vengeance on the
robber that was alive. But Sheriff
Payne hustled him into buggy and
drove rapidly back to town. A
crowd of several hundred had gath
cred at the Jail when the sheriff
reached there with his prisoner.
There were loud cries of 'shoot
him" chang him." but the officer
managed to elude the mob and land
his trembling prisoner safely be
hind the bars. The captured man,
or rather boy, for he is only 10 years
old, has made a complete confes.
sion. He says his name is Charles
W. Crawford and his home is near
Patterson, iu Madison county. The
dead robber is o. P. Wilkins and
was released only few weeks age
from the Minnesota penitentiary al
Saltwater, where he served three
years for robbery. Crawford says
their only weapon was Winchester
shotgun. carried by wilkins and the
testimony Of witnesses bears ou
this statement. He claims to have