Semi=weekly graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1895-1902, 1896-02-29
MAKING FOR THE TERRITORY
Arkansas Gazette Correspondence.

Arkansas Gazette Correspondence.
WARREN Feb. 27.-The attempted
robbery of the Merchants and
Planters Bank Wednesday evening,
of which You were advised by wire,
created an intense excitement.
Bodies OF armed men are hunting the
country in every direction in pursuit
of the outlaws. Theplans were well
laid for the robbery, and the time
selected suspicious, as at that hour,
just before closing, the streets are
generally quiet, and but few persons
passing into the bank. The men
concerned in the affair have been
camped about three miles from town
for severa! days, and during their
frequent visits to the place had
ample opportunity to perfect their
| plans for Il successful raid ON the
bank, Which was fortunately ffusfra-
ted by The GOODNESS and interpidity
of the cashier. Mr. Adair. He WAS
seated near the stove, behind the
desks, in conversation with two Of
the directors, Messrs. ID. W. Sutton
and phes. Goodwin, when three
men entered the bank and one ap-
preached the teller's window and
asked Mr.. Adair ii the bank paid in
| topopt ON ,IopaCife r., ,xtI,;.l, l., -,
eeived negative answer. lie asked
again: Don't you allow nothing on
deposits?' to which Mr.. Adair re-
piled, Not a cent. The fellow
thrust q pistol through the grating
with the command: Throw up
Your hands, Mr.. Adair, quick as
thought, sprang to the drawer, near
tlfe window, and seized n pistol,
but before he could fire
the outlaw fired full at his
head, in such close proximity that
the powder burnt his face-a second
shot brought him to the floor with
II ball through his shoulder. While
lying there and his assailants trying
to shoot him again, he saw the
other two coming into the Office
through the gate, and he opened fire
on them. they returning the fire. one
ball hitting Mr.. Goodwin under the
left shoulder. BY this time the
streets were alive with people and
the outlaws were forced to retire to
their horses, which were hitched q
short distance away, firing their
pistols indiscl'iminately as they left.
On the outskirts OF town they met
several persons coming in, and with
pistol shots, commanded them
to clear the way. In n few
minutes n number OF armed men
were in hot pursuit and now the
country is being secured for miles
around.
Mr. Adair kept his position at the
desk until the assistant cashier came
in, when he was taken to his resi-
dence, where he is suffering intensely
from the wound. The wound recei-
we'd by Mr. Goodwin is of IL more
serious nature, and at this writing
it is thought he cannot survive the
night. Mrs. Goodwin is in San An
Tonic, Texas, where she had gone to
recruit her health, and the news of
this tragic affair will be a severe
shock 10 her in herpresent condition
A singular circumstance leads many
to believe that there were u number
concerned In the plot. Immediately
after the occurrence an attempt was
made to wire tile particulars and
description OF the men To different
points when it WAS found that he
circuit was broken, and communi-
cation stopped. After repeated ef-
forts by the test wire it was found
that the interruption was between
Monticello and 0ermott. There was
no apparent cruise for the Interrupt
ton, us it was a still, clear day, and
but a few minutes before the line
was in perfect order; but about fiji
teen minutes before the attempt was
made on the bank the stoppage oc
cured This lends some to think
that an aecamplice was ut the spot
and at that hour, destroyed thu
} connection. Belt as it may, it was {
+. most daring attempt, and every ef
fort will be used TO bring the rascal
to Justice.
The robbers are reported to hay,
crossed The Irass Mountain rea4
south Of Malvern yesterday, making