davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24
WOMAN CAUSES ARREST OF The GUILTY men
Divorced and Neglected Wife of Accessory tc
Deed Unearths Evidence Which Leads to
Their Punishment-How National In
stitution at Lima. O., Was Plum
dered of Over $4,000 Seven
Years Ago-Officers Long
Suspected of TAX
ing Money.

If not the work of skilled profession
al burglars, the robbery must, so 1t
was reasoned, have been done by the
bank officers, and during all these years
the cashier and vice president, Mr..
Kalb and Mr.. Michael, have been un-
der the ban of suspicion. Their names,
spotless before, were furnished unjust
ly with the crime Of theft.
Officers Suspected Of Crime.
Immediately after the robbery the
Pinkerton agency and score OF pri-
vate detectives, some Of them paid and
others Influenced by the large rewards
offered, went to work on the case. Fol-
lowing the clue that it was the bank
officers that did it, Cashier Kalb and
Vice President Michael were arrested
and indicted by the grand jury.
While the cases against them were
afterwards dismissed because of lack
of evidence, they were believed by
many to be guilty.
Finally Bowsher, the janitor, was ar.
rested. Nothing, however, could be
proven against him and he was re-
leased and the Lima bank robbery con-
tinued a mystery that bafaed solution
on the part of the best detective talent
Of the country.
Arrest Duo to Woman.
8. It remained for = woman, neglected,
divorced and scorned-refused the
money that, in part, had Quieted her
tongue-to unearth the evidence that
led to the arrest of the guilty party,
Janitor Bowsher and her husband
Thomas X. Wilkins, an accomplice in
the crime. This woman was the d.
vorced wife of Wilkins. Ten years ago
she was a society woman at Lima, the
daughter of a leading railroad Official
She was pretty and accomplished
and, until some years after her mar
riage to Wilkins, did not know what
want was. Wilkins was the son Of q
real estate dealer at Lima, q man Of
considerable wealth, and at the time OF
their marriage had but just been ad.
mitted to the practice of law and had
a promising future.
During the first few years Of their
married life the young couple lived in
luxury in one of the handsomest resi-
dences In Lima. But, as they do in
so many married lives, the days Of
neglect and abuse came and then Mrs
Wilkins sued for and obtained d.
vorce. Then. denied the payment OF
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24

the vault doors and leaving the outer
enc ajar, he had the scheme fixed tn
fasten suspicion on the bank officers.
This was the story he told, given
here in substance only. Every word
Of It, with the entire conversation be-
tween him and Wilkins and his wife.
was taken down by the stenographer
IN the garrett above and convincing evil
dence Of the guilt of the two men was
fixed.
Their arrest followed. For few
days each denied his guilt. Finally,
seeing the web so closely woven about
Linn, Bowsher confessed and, going
with the prosecuting attorney and the
sheriff to the bank. showed them JUS:
how he had committed the robbary.
He allowed himself to be lockod in
the vault, the combination locks to
10th doors and the time lock bei''g set.
and in eight minutes he had worked
himself out.
Guilty Men Sent to Jail.
On the following day he appeared in
court, pleaded guilty and received his
sentence. Wilkins held out for a few
days longer and then confessed to hav-
ing received part of the stolen money.
BY reason Of her having turned states
evidence, no action was brought
against Mrs. Wilkins.
Bowsher has some real estate, par:
If it being in his wife's name. She, 1t
seems, until his arrest, knew nothing
Of his guilt in regard to the robbery.
Not long after it occurred Bowsher In
vested in Ohio oil lands.
They proved profitable and his pros
perity and land holdings were thus ex-
rlained, diverting suspicion of his
guilt. It is believed at Lima that he
mas money hidden and that he also has
Investments in such shape as not to
he reached by law.
He was never extravagant In his
spendings and since the bank robbery
has been Industrious. He will serve his
term in prison and then be q free man
10 get what enjoyment he can, with a
guilty conscience, out Of his stolen
wealth. Possibly, long before his SEN
tence expires he will make restitution
to the bank Of the money taken.
What money wilkins received Ions
since disappeared as result OF his
Glssipated habits. He will come out OF
Prison, in i've years, poor man.
FRANK D1LD1NE.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24

possession, ana YET IL Q10 uOt OEIue
them happiness.
In q few years the money was all
gone. Finally, for neglect and cruelty,
che obtained q divorce from him, leav-
ing soon afterward to reside with al
uncle near Fort Wayne, Ind.
Within a few months Wilkins fol-
lowed, her and for a time their differ
ences were patched up and they lived
together, only to be separated again
by his dissipation.
He returned to Lima. Thither she
followed him, vainly endeavoring to
get money for her support. It was then
the blow was struck that made her re-
solve to tell all.
Plan to Secure Evidence.
The story she told Deputy Sheriff
Erect, while presenting strong case,
lacked the convincing proof necessary
to secure conviction. The deputy
sheriff reported the matter to William
Klinger, the prosecuting attorney OF
the county, and it was then the plan
vas formed to entrap Bowsher and
Wilkins and secure evidence tina.
would convict them on their own testi'
mony, and in this act Of the drama
Mrs. Wilkins was to play the star
Fart.
With the knowledge she possessed, II
was not hard matter for her to ar
range a meeting with the twoimplicat-
ed men. The meeting was held in a
house at Lima which she was temper
srily making her home. It was fixed
up previously by the officers for the
meeting and arranged so that they
could hear the entire conversation be-
tween the three without being seen.
It was a story and half house. A
hole was cut through the ceiling above
the room in which the meeting was
held, the latin and plastering being re-
moved, but leaving the paper on. This
was, however, perforated with small
holes so as to allow the sounds from
below to come through. Located in
this garnet, one could hear a CONVERSE
ton held in the room below.
In this garnet previous t." the meet
Ing of Mrs. Wilkins, with wilkins and
Bowsher three men were concealed,
Deputy Sheriff Erect, Walter M. Scott,
the court stenographer, and private
detective. Each Of them had mega
phones. They could hear distinctly the
slightest whisper, and the court stem
ographer could transcribe every word
NJ the conversation.
Immediately after the arrival OF
Wilkins and Bowsher, Mrs. Wilkins re.
newed her plea to Wilkins for his pay
ment Of the monthly alimony allowed
her by the court in the divorce pro-
ceedings. Both men were given to un-
derstand that this must be paid.
Then began discussion between
Bowsher and wilkins as to the abilt-
ties of each to pay and what they had
done with the stolen money.
How Robbery Was Executed.
At last tho payments of the alimony
seemed to be arranged by Bowsher
agreeing to fix 1t, and then Mrs. Will
kins, for the benefit Of the auditors
ia the garnet above, guided the con-
versation into q narration of how the
robbery was planned and executed.
''Tell US, Lge," she said. "how you
: afd the Job 1.-THE bank. l. have often
wanted to know And then Bowsher
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24

Seven years ago the American ma
tional bank at Lima, O., was robbed Of
1929, the money having been taken
from the vaults sometime between Sat-
urday night and Monday morning, but
just when and by whom was unknown
until the last few weeks. Now, Elijah
Bowsher, the trusted janitor Of the
bank at the time of the robbery, and
Thomas X. Wilkins, an insurance
agent at Lima, are behind prison walls
in the penitentiary at Columbus, O.,
serving out sentences Of seven and five
years respectively, for the crime, the
former as principal and the latter as
accessory, both convicted on pleas Of
guilty in open court and sentenced
without trial.
The story of the robbery and the
final detection of the guilty reads like
fiction. 1t is more interesting, because
true, than any Of the novels ever writ
ten by 'Old Sleuth,' the famous detec'
tive author. 1888
Discovery Of Robbery.
. The fact that the bank had evidently
been robbed was first made known t.
the cashier, Gus Kalb, by Janitor Bow
sher on the morning, Of Monday, De-
cember rs, 1898, then q holiday be-
cause Christmas Of that year fell or
Sunday. He went to the home Of the
cashier and informed him that he had
found the door Of the bank vault open
! An Investigation followed and the
robbery was discovered. The only sus
picious fact, however, when Cashier
Kalb entered the bank that forenoon
was that the outer vault door was
open. The inner door was bottled Sc
curely, the time, lock apparently moi
having been tempered with and the
mechanism Of all the combination
= locks working properly. How had thu
robbers secured an entrance? This
was Z mystery that it has taken sever
years to unravel
Cashier Kalb, with the vice presi
dent Of the bank, N. L. Michael, had
locked the vault doors and the safes
the Saturday night before the discov'
cry Of the robbery, setting the time
lock to run down on Monday noon, ap.
parently defying an entrance until
then.
When the cashier pulled the outel
vault door open on that Hateful Mon
day morning nothing within indicated
that the other locks had been manipu
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24

her alimony, and denied money from
Bowsher, she resolved to tell the re-
cret she had kept so many years.,
Janitor L. Accused.
Her story was told to A. L. Erect,
the deputy sheriff at Lima, who, Of her
own velition, she took into her conf
dence.. She said that tBowsher commit
ted the robbery and that Wilkins was
an accessory before and after the fact.
Her story. In substance was that Bow
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24

lated. Nothing appeared to be disturb
eu. Yet when the inner vault. was
reached and the safe opened the $751;
1872 placed there the Saturday night be-
fore was gone. g.
Who had taken It?
It seemed ridiculous to accuse Bow
sher, the janitor, Of manipulating the
burglar-proof locks ana then placing
them again in the condition they were
when found. .'s''~', zg ''''.''s'''"'
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24
Hits Minnesota.

Washington. a recent order
from the secretary Of the interior no
entries for issolated and disconnected
tracts of public lands containing less
then forty acres will hereafter be al
lowed until congress is given oppor-
tunity to enact further laws for their
disposal
Under the present law these tracts,
including many small islands In Min
nesota and Wisconsin, are becoming
very valuable and being eagerly
sought for summer residences and re-
sorts, must remain subject to home
stead entry for three years before thay
can be sold for cash to the highest bid
der.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-11-24
His EAvorite.

Fir>t Insurance Maguate-What I
your favorite theatrical production?
Second Insurance Magnate-"Othss
Peoples Money" - Baltimore Amsss
lean. =. .aasa. Y }5s5i .,s34' ..t'r ass
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13
The Gap I'm the Levnn Rock.


On the way from Lands End, the ex.
IRENE western point Of England, to the
Logan rock, just in from the cliff, after
you have passed Tol-Pedn and immedi-
ately before the road drops to Forth
gwarra, there is little valley, a big
grassy nook, with one cottage, a rec
tory and a church. This is the parish
church Of st. Levan, a fisherman saint,
of whom there are many legends. His
path is still seen by the track of green
er grass that leads out to the rocks
named after him, where he fished the
traditional "chack- cheeld' chad. There
Is his stone too, in the churchyard, one
Of those ominous stones which in Corn
wall are thought to be the dials Of time
itself, chroniclers of the hour of the
last judgment The Leyan stone is a
rock Of granite, split in two, with grass
and ferns growing in the gap between
the two halves. The end Of the world
will come, says the rhyme, when the
gap is wide enough for pack horse
with panniers to pass through. 1--WE
do nothing to hasten it," the rector said
to me reassuringly.-Lond Standard.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

NOTHING can be said by man that
would as clearly demonstrate conf
dence founded on rock for the future Of
the live stock industry as the construc-
ton Of the enormous coliseum in Chi
cago by the Stock Yard Company for the
purpose of holding annual educational
expOstions of live stock by the Inter
national Live Stock Exposition Associa-
ton. This years show will be held Dec
2 to 9. When complete this building
will be the largest of it's kind in the
world dedicated to live stock 600 by 80
feet over all, with an arena $50 by 100
feet and capacity to hold 10000 people
in the auditorium. The show comes at
time when it is convenient not only for
The father to attend, but to bring the
boys and mother and the girls to see and
learn all about the wonderful strides
being made on domestic animal produc-
ton. This year it is held from Deem
Der I'd to 9th at the Union Stock Yards,
Chicago, and possibly this years show
means more to the people at interest
than any previous event of it's character
in their history, as joining of hands
with those who show by their acts that
they are willing to strengthen your
hands in the development of the live
stock industry should be taken advant-
age of by every farmer stockman in the
country
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

THE danger of serious accidents from
corn huskers and shredders and the i'm
portance of the law passed by the last
legislature requiring that all shredders
be equipped with a safety device, are
strikingly shown by the statistics just
compiled by Professor George N. Knapp
of the Department Of Farm Engineering
of the University of Wisconsin. While
it is matter of common knowledge to
every one who is familiar with farm ma
chinery that the liability of accidents
has been greater to men operating corn
shredders than to those in the charge of
any other kind of farm machinery, hith-
erto no statistics have been collected to
show the com parative danger. In re-
spouse to a circular letter sent to one
thousand physicians in So counties of
Wisconsin in which corn is grown, 378
replies were received by Prof. Knapp.
The reports show Il accidents by shred
~ders in 1905 and Ala accidents by shred
ders in former years, against 23o acct
dents by all other kinds of farm machin-
cry in 1904, and 967 in former years.
The statistics compiled from the reports
of the physicians show that last year Is
persons lost arms in corn shredders,
while 10 persons lost arms in all other
farm machinery accidents. While 10
persons lost hands in shredders, only 9
suffered similar loss by other machines.
Two deaths resulted from shredder acct
dents and two from all other machinery.
1t is thus apparent that the shredder &C
cidents are in the majority serious, since
% per cent. were fatal; 80 per cent. re-
suited in loss of arms or hands; and %
per cent. in loss of fingers. AS under
the term 'all other kinds of farm ma
chinery" has been included, grain thresh-
ers. traction engines, gasoline engines,
wood saws, hay presses, grain and corn
harvesters, corn shelters, feed mills wind
mills, mowers and hay tedders, planters,
plows, harrows, and rollers, it is appar-
ent that the shredder is responsible for
injuries out of all proportion to the num-
Der of machines in use. The unavoid-
able inference from this is that shred
ders are more dangerous than other ma
chimes and that ordinary care in operat-
ing shredders is not adequate to prevent
injury. The state legislature passed a
law at the last session which provides
that all shredders shall be equipped with
safety device to prevent accident in
the swapping rolls. In the machines put
on the market this year the manufacture
ers are apparently making an honest at
tempt to comply with this law, but the
machines in the field which occasioned
II accidents in 1904 are no doubt still in
use and are as likely to catch victims
this wear as last Since Shredders and
huskers will continue to be used, the
only safeguard is to keep away from both
the husking and swapping rolls, and If
the rolls need attention use stick or
club and not the hands or fingers ia at
tempting to remedy the difficulty.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13
New Way to Milk Cows.

A smart man has invented a machine
which is claimed will milk cow equally
as we'll as a man, and if the cow kicks or
switches her tail it keeps right on with
out breaking any of the ten command
ments. One of these machines is now
being tried on herd of cows near Grand
Rapids. In place of squeeze the milk
is extracted by vacuum process and
you can milk as many at one time as you
have vacuums The machine is worked
by gasoline engine which also turns
cream separator and churn, and before
the poor cow realizes what is happen
ing, her days product is turned into the
yellow prints ready for market. That's
going some and eternally dislocates the
job SO long held by the milkmaid :
Marshfield News
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

CONGRESSMAN COOPER is home from
his trip to the Philippines. He says:
Zone effect of the trip will be in large
measure to take the question of immedi-
ate Philippine independence out OF pol
itics. Personal study of the situation
has, think, convinced the members of
our party, democrats and republicans
that the inha bitants of the Philippine
Islands are not now capable of free self
government. This conclusion is ad-
mitted to be true by the educated con-
sentative Filipinos themselves though
they, like majority of the other people
of the islands, hope for an independent
government when the inhabitants of the
islands shall become fitted to maintain
it."
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13
Land Was Out of Sight.

eyes," said one Of the travelling men
who were telling stories in front of the
hotel, 81 was once out Of sight Of land
on the Atlantic ocean twenty one
days"
'On the Pacific one time l didn't see
land for Twenty-Five days." said anoth-
err A little, baldheaded man tilted his
chair against a post and knocked the
ashes from his cigar.
II started across the Kaw river near
Lawrence in a skiff once when I was
a kid" he said, land was out Of sight
Of land before I reached the other
side"
CAV, come OFF, came from one of
the crowd. ''The Kaw isn't more than
300 yards wide anywhere along near
Lawrence"
Il didn't say it was" said the little
man quietly. 1.-THE skiff turned over,
and I sank twice."-Kansas City
Times
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

IT HAS been discovered from examina-
ton of expense accounts Of the number
less game wardens that these officials
are knocking down d cent mile of their
travelling expenses. While they charge
three cents mile, the actual cost by the
use of mileage is but trifle over two
cents. This is not grating simply re-
form fnanciering.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

A PARTY of determined Wild Rose
farmers bagged quartet of bank rob-
bers Saturday after a desperate fight in
which one robber lost his life and two
others wounded. The talent will COM
mence to learn that blowing country
banks and getting away with the loot is
not such an easy proposition after all.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

If SO CALLED class cane rushes are in
the belief of President Van Hise of the
University of Wisconsin mild, harmless
diversion it would be interesting to learn
what constitutes brutality in the mind
of one trained to the necessities incident
to the obtaining of higher education.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

: NEARLY seven hundred people left the
country districts of Rock county to re-
side in the cities or villages in the past
five years. 1t is no wonder farm help is
scarce
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

MAYOR FL. G. PUTNAM has done a
graceful thing for his home town, Brod-
head. He has purchased three story
building and formally presented it to
the city to be used for city purposes, fire
department, etc. One room is to be re-
served for che G. A. r., one room for a
reading room and another for library
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13
Wood Saving.

The undersigned are prepared to at
tend promptly to all orders for wood or
pole saving. Leave orders at Melon
ough's cigar store. HELLER Bros.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter
FRIDAY. OCTOBER 13, 1905.

CONGRESSMAN COOPER is now home
and ready to receive applications for
postoffices. Come running.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

House for sale Or rent. Inquire of
Fred G.. Blank.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13
Notice

DR.. Nicholson has closed his branch
offices at Mcfarland and Lima and will
hereafter devote his whole time to his
practice IN Edgerton. 44w2
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

Hereafter our offices will be open all
day Saturdays. A. P.NICHoLsoN,
44w2 J. L. HOLTON.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13

Clothes Cleaned and Pressed.
Send your clothes to be cleaned and
pressed to the Pantitorium.
julius AMUNDsoN, Prop.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-13
so Meu Wanted.

For sewer at Edgerton. S1.75 per day
45tf HARDING & NELSON.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12
Mid=Winter Sale of Furniture
Now In Progress-Is Rich With Economies Like These:
e. Dining Chairs

Solid Oak Dining Chairs, high braced
spindle back and finely woven cane
seats; value 81 so each; sale price 09c
Solid Oak Chairs as above, with
embossed leather seats: value LIS,
Sl,24
Solid Oak Chairs, high back, full
box, finely woven cane seats; French
legs; regularly S2.34; sale price Sl'S9
Solid Chartered Oak Dining Chairs,
high backs, box seats with closely
woven cane. French legs with ball
feet; regularly S3.49; sale price..SG'34
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-12

$4,000 for it, and had 1t taken down and re-
moved to a lot in Old Orchard, whore the
house was set up again each log and plank
ana ohimney-stone being put in its proper
place.
The new owner found il necessary 70
build high plank fence around the cabin,
IKE stockade, 10 keep relic hunters from
carrying away tho house piece by piece
The house was rented TO George Pelsoe
q mail carrier, who lived there with his
family.
They tell me that Cen, GIANT stood at
the front left hand corner on house raising
day and put the logs in place, said woman
who was member Of Pelsoe's household
II he did all I've got to say IL that he was
a better soldier than he was an architect.
Just look how those logs are joined.
When Mr.. Blanke bought the house
two years ago he had il taken down again
and removed 10 tho present site on the world :
fair grounds. Cen Frederick ID, Grant
visited the old house soon before the opening
OF the exposition and pointed out the room
upstairs where he and his brothers slept
when they were little boys.
"On this spot remarked Mr. Blanke,
TO the son of the builder, Il propose that
this house shall stand until II rots.