Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-14
'@ANDIT PREFERS
REATH TO PRISON
DesPerado Fires Bullet Into Mouth
When Driven to Bay by Posse
of Citizens.
SINGLE SHOT DEFEAl e LAW
Daring Robber Held Up B . Chi
cagO Suburb and Was z
MANS COMPANION Ca = D
Automobile Brought Into p
Bandits in Plot to Rob Vaults.
MARSHAL TARGET FOR BULLETS
Deed Conducted I'm Deliberate and
spectacuIar NIanner-Five Hun
Gred Secured by Thief RecOv-
cred from Hts Corpse.
TARGET FOR BULLETS

CHICAGO, oct. 13--A fashionabiy-
dressed bandit, who early this afternoon
robbed the savings bank OF d. M. Erskine
& Co.. In Highland Park, Ill. an arIsto-
cratic village ON the lake shore, twenty
five miles north of Chicago, committed sui
eide by shooting himself In the mouth
when driven TO bay by the Highland Park
marshal and a posse OF citizens
A companion OF the robber, who had
driven him TO the bank in an automobile.
was captured Immediately following the
robbery Of the bank. forcing the principal
perpetrator in the daring daylight crime to
flee on foot. He engaged in running duel
with Town Marshal John sheehan who
was the target for many bullets from the
fugitEes revolver, one of which went
throfSh the sleeve Of his coat After run
ming several blocks and failing to drive
back his pursuer, the robber ran into
shed, closely followed by Sheehan. When
he saw Sheehan enter the shed with his
revolver levelled at his head, the fugitive
put the muzzie of his own revolver in his
mouth and fired shot which resulted in
his DEATH almost Immediately.
Mystery in Identities.
Neither he nor his companion is known
Aib 4AldA Nuo dpptdItQ III tnt
guise Of a chauffeur, positively refused
after his arrest to discuss the robbery with
the authorities or to disclose anything con-
cerning his own or his companion's iden-
tity.
The robbery was conducted In a deliberate
and spectacular manner, the bandit OBJ
tanning about $500 in gold coin and bills
after he had forced John c. Duffy cashier
- 81.
the bookkeeper. and Joseph F. Richards,
the receiving teller. into the cashiers cage
Just after the closing OF business for the
day
In the morning the automobile bearing
the robber and his chauffeur drove up to
the bank. The man, who is tApw dead. en-
tered the bank ana inquired OF Cashier
Duffy whether "Mr. williams" was in
the bank. Duffy said he Knew of Mr.
Williams at IibertyviiIe Ill, some miles
west Of Highland Park. The visitor thanked
him and left the bank. He drove away
and returned a little after p. m. He en-
tered the bank while his companion re-
mained outside In the automobile.
did you find Willams?" asked Duffy
when his visitor re-emered.
mo, he was not there" the stranger re-
piled.
Cashier Becomes Suspicious.
Cashier Duffy then became suspicious and
his visitor went to the street and con-
versed with the chauffeur. Returning again
to the bank he stood in remote corner
Of the room while Duffy closed the front
doors. The side door he left open for the
stranger TO depart. Fearing something
wrong Duffy hurriedly took a large amount
of money and locked It In the vault
Several hundred dollars still remained in
his cage. AS he entered the cage Duffy
was confronted by the robber. who COW
cred him with a revolver.
eau everyone In here into that cage"
sai the bandit. "or I II blow your head
Off Hurry up"
Duffy. unarmed. complied with the de-
mand. Miss Fitzgerald and Richards came
into The cage, while the intruder helped
himself to all the money in sight, He care
fully tucked the gold and bills into his
pockets and then exclaimed;
"lf any OF you attempt TO follow me
will kill you"
Hs started for the door and Duffy i'm
mI Idiately telephoned the marshars office
actoss the street. BY the time the robber
reached the automobile Marshal sheehan
was running toward the bank. AT the
sisht OF him the robber broke into a run
ana citizens held the chauffeur.
The chase after the fugitive was a thrill
ing one. but ended in his suicide within a
few minutes. All the money taken from
the bank was found in his clothing