The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-07

Relatives and friends who were here
to attend the funeral included A. Z.
Kerns and wife of Hill City, Harry
Kerns of Plainville, Mr.. and Mrs. n. F.
Shaw and Miss Ethel Shaw of Plain
Vile. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Seagondol-
lar of Denver, Colo, Mr.. and Mrs. John
Middaugh of Kansas City and Mr.. and
Mrs. John Middaugh, Jr., of Kansas
City.
Mrs. ]. c. Goodman. a sister of Col
Cody, who lived at the Irma hotel at
Cody, WyO., where the tragedy occur
red, and who was also an eye witness
of the affair. is in Topeka. She came
here with Mrs. Middaugh for the
funeral.
Mrs Goodman told a reporter for
the state Journal the story of the
tragedy. She was in her room across
the street from the bank when it &C
while one of the bandits stood
guard at one of the doors of the
bank" she said, that other entered
the bank through the front door. He
counter ajar and as he stepped
through he leveled his gun and Shout
ed for those there to throw UP their
hands. The assistant cashier complied
with the order. but Mr.. Middaugh
sprang towards the bandit and grasp
ed his arm and drew the arm down SO
that the gun pointed to the floor. The
bandit was a large man and they had
broke loose and as he moved away he
struck Mr.. Middaugh in the face with
the revolver and bruised him. AS he
backed of he shot Mr.. Middaugh
through the breast.
Mr.. Middaugh was not killed by
this shot but he started to run TO the
telegraph pole outside the bank,
where the robbers horses were tied.
His object was to unite the horses and
scare them away so that the men
would have no means of escape. The
robbers were right upon his heels,
however, and as he was going towards
the pole a second shot in the back
killed him. From my window I saw
him fall in an irrigation ditch face
downward in the water. l did not
know who it was when 1 saw him fall,
but as 1 got outside upon q balcony 1
heard some one call out that it was
Mr.. Middaugh. and I Immediately
went to tell Mrs Middaugh. suppose
inside of three minutes there were
twenty shots exchanged between the
robbers and the citizens who came
running up, but it seems that none
took effect.
MY son, F. A. Goodman, and three
others, John Thompson, Charles Blaine.
and JEFF Chapman, at once mounted
horses and gave chase
Mr.. Middaugh was SO years of age
He had lived at Cody since July of
this year when he had started the
bank at that place. The town is at
the terminal of the Burlington railway
and has a population of 700. 1t is
believed that the robbers are the same
men who made two robberies in the
town on former occasions. and it is
believed that they find protection in
the rough and mountainous country
TO the west of Cody.
Buffalo Bill Cody was at Omaha
when the tragedy occurred. and he
telegraphed to spare no expense nor
horses to take the despera does.
Mrs. Goodman will visit with her
ia Of Tnh
williams. as Oskaloosa, and will re-
turn to Cody in week or ten DAYS
with Mrs. Middaugh. Mrs. Middaugh
will return to Cody to attend to the
closing up of her house and her bust
ness affairs and will then return to
Topeka to live with her sister, Mrs
Jones, and her children. three little
girls. are to attend Bethany college.