Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-03
Bold Bank Holdup.

ing last, as reported by an eve witness
to the affair, appears In the Rapid City
Journal of the Goth ult:
"At about ten o'clock yesterday morn
ing three men heavily armed walked
into the bank and ordered everyone ir-
side to throw up their hands. Cashier
Arthur Marble drew revolver and
made an attempt to open up fire on the
robbers, but his weapon was no good
There were six or seven people In the
bank at tie time, but it seems everyone
had forgotten to bring their guns with
them. Mr.. Giles. a hardware merchant
whose place Of business was on the
opposite side of the street, noticed the
men in the bank holding up their hands
and ran across the street. He no soon
er arrived at the bank than he was
ordered to hold up his hands, but in
stead of complying lost no time in MAX
ing his escape, giving the alarm at the
same time. That the bank was not
more effectively looted is without doubt
due to this occurrence as the robbers
then had no time to get at the money.
As it was they could only grab up some
bills, amounting in all to only between
$40 and $50.
"In an incredibly short time help
commenced arriving and fusilade was
opened up between the robbers, who
had by that time come out Of the bank
and citizens. The robbers kept working
their way toward their horses, which
had been left in charge of one Of their
band and were stationed about fifty
yards to the rear of the bank. During
all the shooting, strange as it may seem,
no one was even wounded. A hard
ware merchant by the name Of Gay had
narrow escape, however, ono shot
grazing his ear. Four of the robbers
finally reached their horses and made
their escape. One man was left behind,
however, and was captured. lie was
seen just as he was going into an out
house and was surrounded and taken.
His revolver was afterward found In
the vault where he had thrown it when
he found his escape impossible. He is
described as being an exceedingly tough
look ing individual, but had between
5000 and $500 on his person. He was
afterward identified by parties who
were in the bank at the time of the
holdup as one of the robbers. He was
taken to Deadwood last evening for safe
keeping on account Of the Jail at Belle
Fourche having been lately burned.
"A rather serious accident occurred
while the robbers were escaping. Joseph
Miller, blacksmith, had ran to his resi-.
dence, secured his Winchester, mounted
his horse and was riding rapidly TO the
scene of the conflict when ho was fired
upon by the citizens, they supposing he
was one Of the robbers. His horse was
shot from under dim ands instantly
killed. Miller had n narrow escape
from losing his life. BY this time the
robbers had got out of town and posse
Of citizens were soon mounted and il
pursuit. When next heard from the
robbers had passed the V V
ranch They had but three horses, tive
of them being mounted on one horse
The latest word was from Clay's rancl
where it was stated that the citizens
posse had overtaken them and hat
them at bay and to send on more help
1t is now thought thst the whole ban,
has been captured.
"a rather amusing incident occurred
in the bank at the time Of the hold III
in which the well known divine, Rev
Il. f. Clough, was one of the princlpa
actors. The reverend gentleman wa
one of the people in the bank at tn
time and when the order to hold u
your hands" was given he thought tina
he might as we'll defer the time for do
ing business at the bank and accordingl
started to make his exit through tn
door. He was, however. perceived b
one of the robbers and ordered to haI
and throw up his hand. Rev. Cloug
wanted to explain matters and said t
the desperate, II am preacher; yo
don't want me-" Preacher be id
hold up your hands ~ And his hand
went up"
The Pioneer Times of Thursda
morning says: There was no news {
importance from the Belle Fourche ban
robbers and their pursuers, yesterday
Ex-Sherif Geo. Fuller, who went OF
with the party in pursuit of the robber
returned to Eelle Fourche Tuesda
evening, having left them that afte
noon on the trail beyond the head {
Oak creek. He confirms the stor
published by the Pioneer Times yeste
day regarding finding the horse, saddl
and Winchester rifle. lie says tn
robbers are well armed with the yer
best Winchester rifles and that the
fred on their pursuers whenever the
got within close quarters.
Deputy Sheriff Arnold brought O'Da
back to Deadwood yesterday afternoo
and has him safely behind the bars {
the Lawrence county Jail for his az
pearance before the nsxt grand jury &
Belle Fourche. O'Day was given
preliminary hearing before Justice Jacl
son, at Belle Fourche, Tuesday aftel
noon and was bound over in bonds i
the sum of $4,000. O'Day has r.
tanned w. o. Temple of this city
defend him and was attended by hi
counsel at the hearing.
There was a bitter feeling in tn
town against O'Day, who was kept ur
der guard over night and had they 60
ten him there would doubtless hav
been neck tie party.
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Won't Yield Much Revenue.