Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-04-27
SWELL TURNS
BOLD ROBBER
Young Man Belonging to One Of the
Wealthiest Families Of San Jose
Comes to Bad Finish.
HOLDS UP A GAMBLING HOUSE
Being Pursued and Wounded by Mob
He Puts an End to His Own
Life With a Bullet.

San Jose, Cal, April ga mask
ed man. armed with two revolvers,
entered the rooms of the Delmonte
Social club At an early hour this
morning, and after lining up against
the walls its men who were in the
rooms at the time. took a diamond
ring valued at 5000 from one OF the
men. grabbed up $3.50 or $500 from
the table. then backed out of the
room.
After a pursuit by citizens and pO-
lice. lasting over an hour. during
which over 80 shots were exchanged.
the robber was finally killed. Upon
Investigation the dead man was
found TO be Bert Tborndyke. a prom.
inent young man OF This city.
1t was about ! O'Clock when the
d]oorkeeper answered the knock at
the door and on opening il found him
self looking into the barrel of a big
siX.shooter. He was backed into a
side OOm and the robber entered the
main reception room. where six mem
Ders of the club were sitting. The
intruder wore a long buster and over
alls and a red bandana covered his
face. The only words he uttered dur.
ing his maneuvers were, Hands up
He fiourished a pistol in each hand
and motioned all the men into a cor
ner. He then proceeded to help him.
self 10 a stack of coin on one of the
tables, and going V e. to the pro-
prietor motiOned for him to give ov-
er q large diamond ring which the
robber had noticed on his finger.
The ring was promptly handed over.
The rObbcr then backed out of the
place. keeping the men covered with
his guns. and gaining the street then
started To run. The men in the club
started in pursuit. The police and
sheriff's force were notified immedi-
ately, and a large squad of officers
were 10 on the trail. One of the
club men led the chase and fired two
shots al the fleeing robber. A police
officer took up the pursuit at Foun.
tain street and whenever he caught
sight of the fugitive he would fire al
Tim. Officer swanson gained on his
man and at the corner of Third and
San FernandinO, the robber. hard
pressed, turned on the officer and
each sen a yOlley of bullets at the
other. Swanson escaped unhurt and
apparently the robber was not hit.
He continued his flight and soon 9th.
ers Joined in the chase and several OF
the other officers fired at the fleeing
man. Finally all trace of the man
was lost and after a search of half
an hour. two pistol shots were heard.
coming from beneath a nearby resi-
dence.
Upon investigation 1t was found
that the robber was in his death
struggles beneath the house. He still
clutched both pistols In his hands.
1t was found that the man was
wounded in four places. three shots
taking effect in the head and the 9th,
er in the 1eshy par, of the left arm.
From all appearances two of the
shots had been inflicted by the Off
GERS. while the other two must have
been caused by himself after he
found that 1t would be impossible to
escape. He died sOon after At the
receiving hospital.
This morning, after the blood and
dirt had been washed from the face
of the dead man, it was found thai
nc vas Bert ~Thorndyke. a prominent
business and society man of this
place. ~Thorndyke was n of tht
best known young men in this city
he having resided here for years. H.
was we'll connected. his mother.in-lav
being Mrs. G.. 4. Bruce. a wealth,
widow residing On Stockton venue
with whom ~Thorndyke, his wife an,
little child lived. Thorndyke's moth
er is a wealthy widow of Stockton
He has a brother who is a promi
rent artist on the New York Ameri
can. and who was formerly on tn
Anaconda Standard.
Formerly Thorndyke was engage,
in business with +. II. Wemple
Co., grocers, and for the past yea
has been a partner and foreman O
the A. C.. Eaton company. a larg
printing establishment.