Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-09-23
Brave OLD man.
Western Farmer Fights Burglar
10 the Death.
AGED CASHIER WILL Die.
somersworth Tragedy Recalled by
Tragic Event in Palatine Bank
Assailant's Story Not Believed
Heavy Balance in Banks Vaults
Possible Murderer's Identity I'm.
known.

Chicago, Sept. 2l.-Frederick ]. Fill
bert, the aged cashier OF the Pa'atihe
bank in Palatine, rs miles north OF Chi
cago, Is lying close to death as the re-
suit Of an attack made upon him by
young man who gives the name or wal
ter l.awton. The latter, who Is
stranger in Palatine. and apparently OF
good education, Is in Jail suffering from
probab bly, fatal bullet wound In the
abdomen. Henry Plaggo. 20 years old,
a farmer, whose intervention prevented
the outright murder of the cashier, is
at his home, cut, bruised and disabled
as a result Of his struggle with Lawton'
who declares his motive for the assault
was not robbery. LawtOn attacked Fill
bert with a tack hammer and the
cashier was struck at least dozen times
before Plaggo interfered.
The attack occurred at O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. Many persons were
thrown into tumult by the report OF
revolver and the noise of a fierce strug.
gle in the bank rooms. William CAIRNS
was among the first to reach the bank
As he entered he almost stumbled over
the form of Cashier Filbert, who, with
torn clothing and bleeding head, was en-
deavoring to crawl through the door.
Garms ran into the street shouting
Murder" and then returned to the
bank. Sounds Of struggling still came
from the rear room and CAIRNS hurried
to that apartment, where he found
Plaggo bleeding from a number OF
wounds fighting vigorously with stall
wart young man, who lay on the floor
with Plaggo en- top Of him. A bloody
tack hammer and a revolver with a
broken butt lay on either side Of the
struggling men. The young mans
clothing was stained with blood in the
region of the abdomen. The crowd
which had gathered separated the two
men and took Lawton to the lookup.
He was too severely wounded to offer
resistance, and this fact was all that
saved him from violence at the hands OF
the excited crowd.
Cashier Filbert was alone in the bank
when Lawton, whom he recognized as
visitor of last Friday, who had sought
loan on a supposed farm. enter ed.
Lawton called Filbert into the outer
office to consult map which hung on
the wall and started quarrel. Filbert
Is small and feeble, and could offer little
resistance to Lawton, who pounded him
savagely on the head with tack ham,
mer.
Repeated blows from the hammer sent
he old man to the floor, but his cries
attracted Farmer Plaggo. AS the latter
entered Lawton said: "Filbert is in
the back room and guess there is some-
thing the matter with him.
Plaggo pushed open the door, and as
he stopped over the PROSTATE cashier
Lawton struck him three times on the
back Of the head with the hammer. The
Did farmer fell on his knees and grasped
his assaiIant about the legs. Both fell
| 20 the floor and struggled for possession
If the hammer. Each in turn received
| 1 blow with 1t until Lawton drew his re-
volver. The men then fought for that
weapon, and in the scuffie 1t was dis
charged, the ball striking Lawton in the
abdomen. Plaggo says he has no idea
how the revolver was discharged. The
wound weakened I.awton so much that
although he still fought, Plaggo easily
threw him to the floor and held him unit
assistance arrived.
| Lawton's confessed motive for the as.
sault was revenge on Filbert, who hi
| Ill oha H. ne h