The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-16

MEEKER BANK ROBBERY
DETAILS OF THE DEADLY FIGHT
BETWEEN BANDITS AND CITIZENS.
How the Building Was Surrounded
and the DesperadOes Shot Down
as They Came Out.

DENVER, Col, Oct 15.--According to the
latest advices from Meeker, Col, which is
ninety miles from the nearest telegraph
office, the three men who were
killed there after robbing the bank
have not been identified. The one
who lived two hours after baing
shot gave names which are believed to be
fictitious. 1t Is believed that one of the
robbers is Thomas Mccarthy, who aided in
robbing banks at Telluride and Delta
Those killed and wounded in the battle be-
tween the citizens and tbs robbers are
;, Dead-Charles Jones' leader of the
lungs and chest; WiInam Smith, robbar,
aged twenty-one. riddled through the lungs
and chest, shot through the heart and a
number OF other wounds, any of which
would have been mortal; George Harris,
robber. aged thirty-fve, shot through the
Wounded--Game Warden w. H. Clark,
bullet In the right breast, but not fatal ;
Victor Dikeman, shot through the arm; c.
A. Booth, scalp wound; w. =. Herrick, fin
ger shot off.
The robbery was one of the most daring
ever perpetrated in the West occurring as
1t did in broad daylight and at time when
there were twenty or more people in plain
sight George Rooney clerk of the Meeker
Hotel, had stepped into the bank, which is
located in the general mecantile store of
j. w. Hagas, TO make a deposit and stood
talking to Assistant Cashier David Smith
AS he turned to leave he felt heavy hand
on his shoulder, and. glancing up, was look
ing into the muzzle of a revolver. The man
with the revolver commanded Hands up"
AT the same instant two shots rang out
and two bullets whizZed by the head of the
up his hands. In the meantime the two
other robbers had covered the crowd in the
store, compelling them to assemble in the
OIL a m a
ways. Cashier Moulton was called and one
of the men said to him: open the safe
gun he was conducted to the safe which he
opened and the contents of the drawer,
500, was emptied into sack the robbers
had brought with them.
Not word spoken, the robbers GO
ing about their business with deliberation
that was astounding under the circum-
stances. After getting the money in the
till they quietly gathered in all of the fire.
arms in the place, helped themselves to the
cartridges, and then the leader addressed
the crowd, bank officials, employees of the
store and customers who happened to be
standing hitched outside the rear door,
which opens on side street, and that for
their own sake they would request all to
go outside with them. The crowd filed
through the doorway, followed by the rob-
bers. The robbers We're not aware that the
place was surrounded until all were out
The crowd they had driven from the store
broke and ran for cover.
The citizens of the town had been warned
arming themselves to the teeth surrounded
the bank and quietly awaited the appear
ance of the robbers. Deputy Game Warden
w. II. Clark noticed that three horses were
fastened at the rear door, and, surmising
that the robbers would leave by that route
took up his station short distance from
the back door and stationed more men at
that place than any other, not neglecting
however, to keep the front door just as we'll
watched. When the robbers they were
cornered Charles Jones raised rifle he had
taken from the store and fired at Clark
The bandits We're commanded to hold up
their hands. but answered with a fusillade
of shots. Then the citizens acted. Jones
and Smith fell to the ground literally rid
died with bullets. They had been killed in
the act of firing. Harris, mortally wounded
held his revolver and still staggering, con-
tinued the battle until he fell.
1t is believed here that the robbers were
members of the Mccarthy gang that COM
mitted several daring train and bank rob-
berries in Montana, Oregon, Washington and
Colorado. 1t is also supposed that the man
who robbed David II. Moffatt, president of
the First National Bank in this city of
S21 900 in 1889. was a member of this gang
The McCarthys formerly lived in an out
of-the-way place in oregon, where they
were regarded as wealthy ranchmen. In an
attempt to rob the bank at Delta, Col.
about year ago, John Mccarthy and his
son were killed. but Tom Mccarthy
escaped.