Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-10-15
MURDER AND ROB.
Minnesota Bandits Kill Two Men
and Make Their Escape.
The Town of Sherburne the Scene of the
Tragedy-The Assistant Cashier and
a Travelling Man Are the
Nietims.


sherburne. Mimi. Oct. s.-This town
is in the widest state of excitement
over the most thrilling tragedy that
ever occurred IN southern Minnesota.
The Bank of Sherburne was robbed of
a large sum of money and two men
were almost instantly killed at about
1920 p. m. Wednesday. About noon two
men, one of whom looked like mere
boy, rode along the main street on BIZ
cycles. They were both well dressed.
but were unshaved and travel-stained.
The strangers hung around the out
skirts until shortly after one o'clock,
apparently sizing up the situation. AT
that time they sauntered lazily down
the street and stopped Immediately
in front of the Bank of Sherburne.
After q moments talk they went into
the bank, and the elder of the two men
engaged Assistant Cashier George Thor
burn In conversation.
Got One Thousand Dollars.
Precisely what occurred inside the
bank is not known, as nobody was on
the street in the immediate vicinity at
that time. One Of the desperadoes,
however. evidently got hold of roll
of bills containing about $1,000. Thor
burn probably tried to prevent the men
from getting away with the money,
and they whipped out their revolvers
and began firing, and at the same time
retreating.
Escaped on Bicycles.
One of the bullets struck Thorburn
in the neck and another cut the aorta,
causing almost instant death from in
ternal hemorrhage. 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, travelling sales
man for the Wood Harvester company,
of St. Paul. The desperadoes evidently
feared that they would be captured, as
they quickly turned their firearms upon
Oestern. He made dash to grapple
with them, but was not quick enough,
as he was struck on the head and fell
dead at their feet. They ran down the
street, firing at random, while people
in the street scurried to places Of safety.
The fleeing robbers ran about three
blocks to a clump of bushes, where they
had coached their wheels, mounted
them and rode rapidly away toward
the Iowa line. six miles to the south.
Mayor c. f. Everett at once did all in
his power together with the town
marshal to run down the bandits. He
also sent a dispatch to Gov. Clough at
st. Paul, telling him of the awful
tragedy and asking advice
The Leader Shot.
Wells, Mimi, Oct. 1o.--John d. Sair,
who no doubt engineered the robbery
at Sherburne Wednesday afternoon, is
dead, as is also Marshal Gallien, of Ban
croft, la. This bloody seo"el to the
Martin county tragedy came few min.
utes after nine o'clock yesterday morn
! ing in a bloody battle on the state line
road near Gilmore, MINI. a posse of l0C
men in command of Deputy Sheriff
| Ward, of Martin county. got on the trail
Of Sair shortly after day light and
tracked him to farmhouse, when Sair
began firing at the officers. He fireu
seven times In quick succession, one oil
the bullets striking Marshal Gallien in
the forehead and killing him instantly
The desperate then quickly ran out
of the house by way of the back door,
mounted his bicycle and dashed off to-
ward the east. The posse caught sight
of him and followed close behind. This
chase was kept up for four miles, when
Sair broh a pedal on his wheel aud
seeing hat escape was impossible, shot
himself in the head. Upon examining
the body the officers found a portion
of the money stolen from Sherburne
in an inside pocket of his shirt, the
amount being about 5000.
Second Desperate Captured.
Albert Lea. Mimi, Oct. IL. Fred
Pratt, the companion of John ID. Sair
in the bank robbery and double MUIR
der at Sherburne, this state, last
Wednesday, is in Jail here, having been
taken into custody Saturday morning
while attempting to escape from the
woods where he was surrounded Pratt
was captured near Lake Mills, Winnie
bago county, Ia, about IL miles from
the place where Sair killed himself.
----z-
Kite Flying Record Broken.
Pncfnp naf . 4 b.,I 4.