The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-10-22

Chicago Especially A fashiona-
bly, dressed bandit. who robbed the
savings bank of D. NJ. Erskine &
Co.. in Highland Park, ILL.,, an aris-
tocratic suburb on the Lake shore,
25 miles north of Chicago. commit
ted suicide by shooting himself in the
mouth when driven at bay by High
land Park marshal and posse of
citizens. A companion of the rob-
Der. who had driven him to the bank
in an automobile, was captured i'm
mediately following the robbery,
forcing the principal perpetrator of
the daring daylight crime to fee on
foot. He was engaged in a run
ming duel with Town Marshal John
Sheehan, who was the target for
many bullets from the fugitive BAN
dts revolver, one of which went
through the sleeve of his coat. Aft
er running several blocks and fail
ing to drive back his pursuers, the
robber ran into q shed, closely fol-
lowed by Sheehan. When he saw
Sheehan enter the shed with his re.
volver leveled at his head the fugi-
tive put the muzzle of his own re-
volver in his mouth and fired a shot
which resulted In his death almost
Immediately.
Neither he nor his companion Is
known. The man arrested, who APP
peared in the guise of chauffeur,
positively refused after his arrest to
discuss anything concerning his or
his companions identity. The rob-
berry was conducted in deliberate
and spectacular manner, the bandit
securing about $500 in gold coin
and bills after he had forced John G.
Duffy, cashier of the bank; Miss Nell
lie Fitzgerald, the bookkeeper, and
Joseph F. Richards, the receiving
teller, into the cashiers cage just
after the closing of business for the
day.
In the mroning the automobile
bearing the robber and his chauffeur
drove up to the bank. The man who
is now dead entered the bank and
inquired of Cashier Duffy if "Mr.
Williams was in the bank Duffy
said he knew of Mr.. Williams at
Libertyville, ILL.,, some miles west
of Highland Park. The visitor thank
ed him and left. He drove away
and returned a little after o'clock
in the afternoon. He entered the
bank, while his companion remained
outside in the automobile.
ibid you find Williams?" asked
Duffy when his visitor re-entered.
mo, he wasn't there" the stran-
ger replied. Cashier Duffy then be-
came suspicious and his visitor went
to the street and conversed with the
chauffeur, returning again to the
bank and standing in remote cor
ner of the room while Duffy closed
the front doors. The side door he
left open for the stranger to depart.
Fearing something wrong Duffy hur-
riedly took large amount of mon
ey and locked it in the vault. Sew
eral hundred dollars still were in
his cage. AS he entered the cage
Duffy was confronted by the rob-
Der, who covered him with revolver.
"Call everyone in here into that
cage" said the bandit, "or I'll blow
your head off. Hurry up!"
Duffy, unarmed, complied with
the demand Miss Fitzgerald and
Richards came into the cage, while
the intruder helped himself to all
the money in sight. He carefully
tucked the gold and bills into his
pockets and then exclaimed:
''If any of you attempt to follow
me l will kill YOU"
He started for the door and Duffy
telephoned the Marshal's office across
the street. BY the time the robber
reached the automobile Marshal
Sheehan was running toward the
bank. At sight of him the robber
broke into run and citizens held
the chauffeur. The chase after the
fugitive was a thrilling one, but end
ed in his suicide within few miu-
utes. All the money taken from the