The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-03-14
Story of the Exploit as Gathered
From Rudolph and Collins
at St. Louis.
BAD ROADS BALKeD A FIRST EFFORT.
They Declare that the killing of
Schumacher was Done in Self-De-
Tense, After the Lattcr's Posse
Had Fired on Them and Wound
ed Collins.

since their arrival here Tuesday even
ing, the following account of the rob
berry Of the Union bank and subse-
quent movements of the bandits has
been gathered:
Rudolph had known Collins for
more than year before they laid
plans for the robbery Of the bank,
which were perfected here.
On the night of December % they
made the first attempt. Rudolph and
Collins met at 81. Clair and drove to
within three miles of Union.
Owing to the extremely bad con
dition of the roads it was decided to
postpone the attempt until more
suitable time.
Convenient Cold Snap.
a cold snap followed close on this
first expedition and two days later
Rudolph sent Collins wcrd to meet
him at st. Clair. The men met az
eording TO agreement and once more
drove to Union.
They succeeded in getting into the
bank without attracting attention.
but owing to the presence of light
In window across the street were
loath to commence operations on the
safe.
Finally. growing drawer, they once
more entered the bank building. but
this time they were noticed by the
man living in the house with the
lighted lamp. a shot was fred at the
building, causing 4 sudden extin-
gushing of the light.
Would Have Wrecked the House.
Had the man raised an alarm, Ru-
dolph said il was their intention To
hurl the bottle of nitrOglycerin
against the house as warning to
other people in the town to mind
their own business.
As there was nothing further heard
from the house with the lighted win
dow Collins and Rudolph both en-
tered the bank. Rudolph then took
charge of the proceedings and or
dercd Collins outside as lookout.
Rudolph then made funnel out of
soap and attached il to the vault di-
rectly over the center Of the door. He
then poured in a charge Of nitro
glycerin and placed tn" percussion
cap,
After fixing the fuse Rudolph re-
tired about twenty feet and waited
g., Ia, ,Ng,I,.i,p IL Fall4,,,l al r,tlt
instantly, and he Immediately Sc
cured the booty ana joined Collins,
who was engaged in shooting up
the town in order to keep the curious
indoors.
Escaped In Their BUGGY.
The men hurricdly entered their
buggy and drove to st, Clair, where
the vehicle was returned to the livery
stable. They walked down the track
10 sharp grade, where they boarded
freight and made their way to Hot
Springs by easy stages, where they
engaged apartments at the Dewey
house and lived in luxury for nearly
three weeks. II was then determined
TO return to Stanton and get Ru-
dolph's relatives to Join them in start
ing up new establishment in loca-
ton where they were not known
Collins was away from home when
Schumacher first visited the Rudolph
house, He returned that night, and
the family were making preparations
for n quick Aight Nhen Schumacher
returned with his deputies.
with Guns In Their Hands.
Tho bandits. Collins win gun in
c,ch bond and Rudolph with only one
-. - -.
Ia maoI ,be denuties Thov claim
,b,, yi,hcu, warning the man stand.
IN, n, the further end Of ,hc hons,
onenrd fire. ono If ,he shot. hitting
collin, IN m, fnrehood hack of the
Ief, owe
mis- thcv cIoim thcv t,,l, os ,he
croning If n gcrrruI rn,iIodc and 20.
turrcd tho Are of the denutic, Roth
Schmuocbcr md NoJdr, ro,urrcl
,ho 6ro ,bey stint, ol,houch mi. l.,
nnt oLmi,t,i ~, citbcr ycdIcr ar tho
nther ,,yo mon win him
Nr,or Sch,,npch,r Coll prd,Inh mud
cain. l,r, ,nl ,nrch,ying ,yn
hnr.o, Nod ,rhn, o,nor,cJ ~ roach
INA \u..n,,j roriec ,,ool,. ,,or suI.
I,yor Inn, onc,ur,orrd No,rrsi,,l
"nJ Ncihri.cr an IN, rcnd ,o Ston,on
a, ho Gr,t 0rc C,Ilin. h,r., 'shirL