River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-22
MAYOR SHOT DEAD
BY A DESPERATE
EXECUTIVE HEAD OF THoMP-
SON, ILL.,, rs KILLED.
SLAYERS ARE HOLD-UP MEN
The Victim Meets Death While At
tempting Their Arrest-Citizens
Pursue and Capture Them
Lynching Averted.

Thompson, ILL.,, sept. l9.-MayOr w. =.
Bennett, of this city, was shot and killed
Saturday while he and Town Marshal
Matthews were endeavoring to arrest
two Chicago bandits for holding up sa-
loonkeeper at Sedgwick, ILL.,. six miles
from here. The two bandits would have
undoubtedly been lynched had not the
authorities secretly carried them to the
county Jail at Mount Carroll, where they
are considered safe from mob violence.
In the street fight during the exciting
scenes of their arrest one bandit was
shot in the leg and the other one was
dubbed into submission.
Saloon Robbed.
They began their reign of terror at
Sedgwick about noon. Driving up to the
front of Breno GeisOn's saloon in that
village they entered and ordered drinks.
When Geison turned to give them change
for bill they had placed on the coun-
ter he found himself facing two revolv
ers. He was commanded to hold up his
hands, which he did. Then while one of
the men kept the saloon man covered
with a revolver and watched the door
at the same time, the other robber ran
sacked the cash drawer, obtaining about
SIS. The two men backed out of the sa-
loon and jumped into their vehicle,
light rig drawn by two spirited horses,
and dashed away at breakneck speed.
Several men secured horses and shot
guns and started off in hot pursuit of the
robbers, but Geison thought of better
scheme to catch them, and telephoned to
Mayor Bennett, of this town, that the
bandits had driven out of SedgWick III
the direction of Thompson, and asked
him to look out for them and arrest
them if possible. The mayor was in
formed of their apparent desperate
character and was warned to obtain as
sistance and to be cautious. Taking the
advice of the Sedgwick man, Mayor Ben
nett summoned Town Marshal Mat
thews, who in turn drafted several citi-
zens of Thompson into service, and the
small army of men, all armed, awaited
the coming of the bandits.
In less than an hour after the tele-
phone message was received by Mayor
Bennett the desperadoes drove into
town, having covered the eightmiles in
about As minutes. Never dreaming that
the news of their successful hOldup had
preceded them, they calmly drove up to
a saloon, hitched their team and walked
into the place to order drinks. While
they were being served Marshal Mat
thews entered from the rear door and
Mayor Bennett from the front, their as
sistants following closely behind them.
The moment the two bandits saw the
men enter they knew what was up and
commenced shooting at Mayor Bennett
without saying word.
Killed the Mayor.
The mayor was instantly killed anG
fell at full length in the door way. In
escaping from the saloon the men were
compelled to leap over his body. Not
stopping to unhitch their team and es-
cape in it, they ran down the street pur-
sued by Marshal Matthews and the small
posse whom he had drafted as assist
ants. Aroused by the fusilade of shots
that followed, some being fired by the
fleeing men and others by their pursuers,
the townspeople poured out of doors
and joined in the chase. A young man
running from the opposite direction en-
countered one of the bandits and en-
gagged him in a hand-to-hand struggle
The bandit still had his revolver, but had
discharged it's contents at the members
of the posse and the young countryman
was fortunate in being able to wrest it
from him. Having done so he beat the
robber over the head it'll the butt of the
pistol until the man staggered in semi
consciousness. Other men coming up
grabbed the bandit and held him fast.
In the meantime the other bandit had
been shot in the leg and fell in the mid
die of the road, where he was soon sur
rounded and arrested.
AS the extent of the crime was realized
the anger of the citizens increased to
fever heat In the meantime news of the
hold-up at Sedgwick and of the flight of
the men across the country had reached
the ears of the farmers, who commenced
within an hour or sot to pour into Thomp-
son in twos and threes and small pos
ses until there were several hundred in
furiated men standing about the Jail
and commencing to talk of violent ven
geance. Realizing that lynching
would result unless something was done
Immediately, the two desperadoes, who
gave their names as John Thompson and
Will Meyers, were spirited away and
placed in the county Jail at Mount Car
roll The excitement continued all
evening. and at midnight the streets of
with angry and excited citizens.
Corn Badly Damaged.
p1oomipo tOn TIL Sent ia torri