The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-09-18
Regular Jesse James Crime Is
Perpetrated at Valley
Springs, SD.
GOT. AWAY WITH THE CASH
Minnehaha County Bank Loses About
$1,o00-Sensational and Dramatic
Capture of a Town-The
Robbers Escape.

nelana county bank, wreCklnS the IN
terror of the building, secured between
$500 and $1,000, and escaped on a hand
car, which they took from the too
hous of the Omaha Railway company
They departed in the direction of Sioux
Falls. thirteen miles distant.
AT daybreak a posse of citizens head
ed by Editor Charles Hill left here, and
two hours later Sheriff Huston, Deputy
Charles Voelsch and Policeman Tin
Doney of Sioux Falls, who were sum-
n headed another posse which
went to the north. Up to noon today
no trace of the gang had been found.
not even the hand-car on which the
robbers escaped has been discovered.
! The affair was conducted In regular
Jesse James style. Shortly after 2
o'clock the town was aroused by heavy
explosions. nine in number. Druggist
F. L. Skillman, who resides across the
street from the bank, was the first man
on the scene. AS he hurried into the
street he saw six or eight men in and
around the bank, which was filed with
smoke. He had barely stepped out of
doors when a ask man showed q
gun in his face.
Ordered Hands Up.
up with your hands!" hi commando
ed. You can't butt in here"
Skillman obeyed. The robber whis-
tied and was soon Joined by one of the
men from the bank.
"There'n be hell to pay pretty soon"
SAID Skillman's captor. and we'd bet
ter fix this man."
Dom do it; I've got a better PLAN
the other robber said, Selling the drug
gist'S arm
The robbers with SkiIlman betweeu
them started on a run toward the rail-
road track. They hurried to a box car
and pushing open the door, picked
the druggist up bodily and hurled him
and locked the door anu returned to
the bank near which place they en-
countered Cashier NJ. S. Hetland and
his two sons. who were hurrying to the
scene The robbers Immediately -four
ished their guns and ordered the men
to fall back. The Hollands were un-
armed and obeyed.
BY this time citizens. hurriedly dress
ing, were running here and there in he
streets. Whenever they came within a
block OF the bank they were met by
teavfly armed men who ordered them
lack on the pain of death. The town
had evidently beer picketed. One citi-
zen. failing to understand the situa-
ton, attempted to break through the
line and was fired on. He retreated
hastily.
Town Was Excited.
In the meantime the news had spread
that h town was in the hands of des-
peraooes and the widest excitement
reFalie Women and children. half
ran screaming and crying
through their homes and the men
hastily got ou sue armament as they
nadard prepared for battle. Doors were
hoited and barricaded and from the
Hy-frESo--~ 80
hre was poured in the direction
Of the bank.
In the dim light of lamps which the |
roooers used IN the wrecked building.
citizens could see a half dozen men
hurrying about in the ruins, busily !
Morhlng on the safe. which had been
blown almost to pieces. The robbers
-ackled the vault, but were finally com !
oeiied to retreat owing to the approach
q party OF the nervier citizens who
cane as close as they dared to the
oank.
From behind buildings and trees the
.itizens fired volley after voliey In the
OF the bank and finally the
fled. In the confusion they es-
toward the railroad track.
FROM his place in the boxcar, where
ne had been locked a half hour before,
orussls. Sklilman heard the band as
[ ran past in the direction Of the tool :
house. There was a crash of wood as
robbers beat down the door with a
and in a ome the handcar
vent up the main track, propelled at I
| hlsh rate of speed by the robbers.
Falls.
Safe Blown to Pieces.
II was perhaps a half hour before the
dared to enter the bank. When
tashier Hetland made his way into the
'ullo1ng, he found the safe blown to
pieces and the Isl drawer containing
iearly 81 900 rifled. Papers and hool-s
strewn about in the wreelsae %
The explosions had smashed the bang
orniture and fixtures some of II
been hurled through the windows
me robbers had attempted to break
nto the vault, but had failed. There
Cashier Holland had placed the 81. 600
n the safe on orders of the National
sank association which had advised It
a gang OF desperate ~cracksmen
we're working toward Sioux Falls.
alter the excitement had abated
Skilllnan's cries for helm
we're heard and he was release from,
ooX car In which he had been q
'Flsoner for more than an hour. Skill
nan was able to give but a meager I
Of h w men who cap
"Neu nifn. only one was maSked-the
49, A4AI1 up.
AS quickly as possible a posse NJ
ltizens under the leadership of Charles
III. editor of the VaSley Springs vi
etie' was organized and heavily armed :
ett at daybreak following the Omaha
racks toward Sioux Falls. Sheriff
iuston and deputies arrived about s I
clock and headed another nosse 4
'hich went to the north. !
ihe gang Is supposed to be the one :
pegatlng in this vicinity the past i
'eey- Wednesday night tn: safe of !:
ne p%ostofflce at Tea was blown open 4
$so and q lot of stamps taken. The Z
aroused the citizens but the :
escaped Without being seen. p
thursday night the Rock Island depot !
{ sioux Falls was entered. The rob =
ers opened b safe without the use
!. explosives They overlooked a bag n
I money in the pigeon hole of a dssS 4
ear b.. - = :