Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-03-15
ALL FOUR IDENTIFIED.
Officials Take Amherst Bank Rob-
berry Suspects to Ste
VenS Point.

Wausau Wis. March 49, Special. /
The Amherst bank robbers, four in num-
Der, left here today for Stevens Point in
charge of Sheriff John Leahy of Portage
county. and three assistants. The Off
Gals do not now entertain Il doubt as to
the identity Of the prisoners. The men
have all been identified by Amherst par
ties as the gang Of four which appeared
there last month, stayed a few days with
gut any apparent business, departed to re-
turn Thursday last. staying 4 few hours,
leaving for Stevens Point and again re-
turning to Amherst the same night to
commit the alleged burglary.
Since that night their movements have
nearly all been accounted for. They pur-
chased tickets at Junction City Friday
night, TWO for Wausau and two for Pine
River, Il small station about eight miles
north of here. The Wausau passengers
were the men who evaded the officers
Saturday morning, but were surrounded
and taken late in the afternoon. The
Pine River passengers came to this city
ut IL Il. m. on Saturday and they were
arrested by Sheriff Malone shortly after
noon.
The story of the capture of two Of
the suspects reads like border romance.
After an officer had permitted the two
ueSperadoS to escape, Sheriff Malone and
Chief of Police Anderson traced them al
most to the southern limits of the city.
They lost track Of them here and re-
turning to town sent Deputy Sheriffs
Jerry Bradley and Jack Malone in search
of them. After long hunt, the two Off
GERS came upon their men suddenly III Il
little grove, south of town. The despera-
does drew their guns and covered the
deputies, who retired lin good order" AS
they reached the road they met the sher-
if and the chief of police coming to their
fOnr returned
ly surrounding the grove, demanded that
the robbers come forth. The answer was
the ring of q pistol and the singing Of a
bullet past the head of Bradley. The
men were not 200 feet from each other
and at once a fusillade Of bullets began
cutting through The brush. Each man
took tree and at any movement from
the enemy opened UP fire. The despera-
does appeared to be the best shots and
jerry Bradley seemed to be their mark
The tree behind which he stood cut short
the course of several bullets. The shoot
ing slowed up and finally stopped alto
gether. The officers had run out Of am
munition. They withdrew and sent to the
city for Winchesters. The robbers seeing
their advantage, made Il break from the
grove and succeeded III escaping down the
bank of the Eau Claire river and along
the ice toward the village Of Schoheld
The ice and the bank was covered with
y
shower of rain had begun to fall. the Off
GERS knew that it would be easy to track
their men, at least along the river and
through the woods. The sheriff finally
succeeded in borrowing gun from
farmer and the officers took up the trail,
about forty minutes behind the gang
Several SleighloadS of volunteer deputies
left this city, all of the men being armed
with WinchesterS. One of these parties
comprised Messrs. Dan Hcaly. Humane
Officer Chattur, Joe Lucie and William
McCrossen. AS these lncn were driving
along the Kelly road to head off the
fugitives, they saw TWO figures skuIking
behind the trees on one side Of the road.
Healy. who was driving, pulled mp the
horses and Chattur covered the men with
rifle and ordered them to come forth.
They obeyed, holding up both hands.
They We're quite exhausted from their
long run through the woods.
The captiveS We're searched and $3.50,
some burglar tools and two revolyers
found on their persons.
1t is thought that the men have Sc
creted some of their booty One of them
fine-loOlling man. about fee. tall and
200 pounds IN weight, is thought TO be
the leader of the gang and some Of the
officers say that he is Clark. the bank
ropber who has recently served term
in Joliet. The total amount of money re-
covered so far is S215O