Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-06
KILLED By ROBBERS
j. B. Smith, Night Watchman at
Chelsea, Shot Down by Bank
Burglars.
Bert Compt. a Citizen Of the
Town. Bound and Thrown
Into an Alley.
Preparations Made, But Not Com.
pleted. to Rob Bank..-Three
Suspects Arrested.
special to Times-Republfcan.

Special to Times Republican.
Chelsea, Dec 6.-The bank robbers
who have been operating in Iowa vis-
tied Chelsea at an early hour this morn
ing, and while they failed to attain the
object of their visit, they did worse by
numbering the night marshal, J. B.
Smith, because he interfered with their
plans There were three men in the
party Of robbers, and they made their
appearance in town about o'cltck a.
m. Near the Chelsea bank building
they met a young man Of the town, and
supposing he was the marshall they
took forcible possession of his percon
and bound and gagged him. The robbers
were proceeding with their work Of
gaining an entrance into the bank
building when the night marshal came
upon them. Just what transpired be-
tween the burglars and the officer will
probably never be known. Smith was
shot in the head and when found by
citizens who were aroused by the shot
he was unconscious.
1t is supposed that Smith attempted
to arrest the men, as he was close to
them, his face being badly powder
burned and the indications being that
he was not more than two feet away
from the man who did the shooting. The
officer fingered until 6 o'clock this morn
ing.
Posses We're at once organized and
word was sent to all the neighboring
towns The robbers secured handcar
and started west on the Northwestern.
They were traced to Long Point, where
they abandoned the car and struck
across the country towards Gladstone.
They were tracked to this place, but
are supposed to have caught a passing
train on the Milwaukee. Every effort
is being made to effect their capture.
& The night operator at the Northwest
ern depot was the first to discover the
crime and he quickly gave the alarm
Bert Compt, the young man who was
seized, gagged and bound, was found In
an alley by the elevator. He could tell
nothing about what happened between
the marshal and the robbers, althO he
heard the shot that ended the life Of the
faithful officer. Compt has fair de-
scription of the men, but is not positive
that he could identify them. It has just
been learned that three suspects were
arrested at keystone, a station on the
Milwaukee line east of this place ana
Gladstone, to which point the murder
ers were traced. It is believed they will
f,rnyp tO the right men.
The community is terribly excited
over the murder and the anger of the
citizens, who are largely Bohemians, is
thoroughly aroused. II the murderers
are apprehended and their guilt estab-
llshed nothing less than the death PEN
atty will be accepted. Smith was good
citizen and thoroughly fearless and
there is no doubt that he met his death
while attempting to protect property
and in the active discharge Of the du-
ties of his office.
That the burglars intended to blow
open the bank there can be no doubt.
as they left complete outfit there and
then went in search Of the night watch.
Smith, the murdered man, was about "a
years old and had been married only
about a year.