The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-08
BANK ROBBERS FLEE ON BIKES
THEY KILL TWO MEN AND GET
AWAY WITH 81, 900 IN CASH.

Their First Victim the Assistant
Cashier of the Bank and Is sup
posed to Have Attempted TO Pre-
vent the Escape of the Robbers.
Their second Victim Travelling
Salesman Rushing to the Rescue
of the Bankers.
Sherburne Mimi, Oct. 7.--Bicycle bandits
THIS AFTERNOON held up" the Bank of Sher-
burne, killed Assistant Cashier George
Thorburne and Olaf Oestern, secured 81, 900
in cash, and at late hour tonight had
successfully eluded a posse sent out in
pursuit. -
About noon to-day two men, one OF whom
looked like a mere boy, rode along the
Main street on bicycles. They were both
well dressed, but were unshaved and trav-
el-stained. No particular attention was
paid to them. Sherbume is a town of but
800 people, most of them workingmen, and
at that hour they were hurrying home to
dinner. The strangers hung around the
outskirts until shortly after 1 o'clock, APP
parently sizing up the situation. At that
time they sauntered lazily down the street
and stopped Immediately in front of the
Bank of Sherburne. After a moments talk
they went into the bank and the elder man
engaged Assistant Cashier George Thor
burn in conversation.
Precisely what occurred inside the bank
is not known, as nobody was on the street
in that immediate vicinity at that time
One of the desperadoes, however, got
hold of a roll of bills containing about
81, 900. Thorburn probably tried to prevent
the men from getting away with the mon
ey and they whipped out their reVolvers
and began firing, and, at the same time,
retreating. One of the bullets struck
Thorburn in the neck, and another cut the
aorta, causing almost instant death from
internal hemQrrhage.
The shooting in the bank aroused the
town, and people began running in that
direction. The first man to reach the
place was Olaf Oestern of Luverne, a
travelling salesman, from the Wood Har-
vester Company of St. Paul. The desper-
ADDE'S evidently feared that they would
be captured, as they quickly turned their
firearms upon Oestern. He made a dash
to grapple with them, but was not quick
enough, as he was struck in the head and
fell dead at their feet. They ran down
the street, firing at random, while peo-
pie scurried to places of safety.
The fleeing robbers ran about three
blocks to a clump of bushes where they
had cached their wheels, mounted them
and rode rapidly away toward the Iowa
line six miles to the south.
Mayor c. Il. Everett at once sent dis
patch to Gov. Clough at st, Paul telling
his of the tragedy and asking his assist
ance. The governor answered immediate
ly: "Wire all points and send out posses
surrounding Sherburne."
The governor also wired w. P. Hill,
sheriff of Martin county, to send out
posses.
Sheriff HIll organized a large posse.
which moved southwark ON horseback
late in the afternoon. AS the roads are in
fine condition the desperadoes could have
gone forty or fifty miles before the posse
started.
At 10 o'clock tonight the pursuing par
ty returned, having found no trace of the
desperadoes. Another possee will leave
at daylight.
Gov. Clough has offered reward OF
| $500. 'F"~
Lincoln, Neb., Oct TAT Claytonia, a
village in Gage county, the vault of the
Claytonia Depository was blown open al
o'clock this morning, and about $3.50
stolen.
William Steinmeyer, president of the
bank, came to Lincoln this morning, anc
while he was reporting the ROBBERY to
| the Lincoln police, Albert Anderson ar
| rived to report that the Bank of Shelby
Polk county, had been robbed of $500
about 2 o'clock. The safe was blown
| open with dynamite.
The postoffice at Chenille, twelve miles
from Hastings, had its safe blown oper
Sunday night and $3.50, besides stamps
were taken. All the work is that OF ex-
perts.