The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-10-21
BANDIT COMMITS SUICIDE
FASHIONABLY DRESSED ROBBER
CHEATS HIS PURSUERS.
F4ees With Funds of Highland Park
Un.) Institution and Kills
Himself at Bay.

Chicago, Oct. ia fashionably
dressed bandit who early this after
noon robbed the savings bank of D.
M. Erskine & Co., in Highland Park,
ILL.,, an aristocratic suburb on the
lake shore 25 miles North of Chicago,
committed suicide by shooting him.
self in the mouth when driven to bay,
by the Highland park Marshal and
posse of citizens.
A companion of the robber who
had driven him to the bank In an
automobile, was captured Immediate
ly following the robbery, forcing the
principal perpetrator of the daring
daylight crime to flee on foot. He
was engaged in running duel with
town Marshal John Sheean, who was
the target for many bullets from the
fugitive's revolver, one Of which went
through the sleeve Of his coat. After
running 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 lev
eled at his head. the fugitive put the
muzzle of his own revolver IN his
mouth and fired shot which resulted
in his death almost Immediately.
The identity of the dead man and
his companion Is unknown.
The robbery was conducted in
deliberate and spectacular manner,
the bandit securing about $500 in
gold coin and bills after he had forced
John C. Duffy, cashier Of the bank,
into the cashiers cage just after the
closing of business for the day.
"Call everyone in here into that
cage or I'll blow your head of: Hurry
up said the robber as he covered
the cashier with a revolver.
Duffy, unarmed, complied with the
demand. The bookkeeper and the
receiving teller 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: III
any of you attempt to follow me l
will kill you
He started for the door and Duffy
Immediately telephoned the marshals
office across the street. BY the time
the robber reached the automobile
Sheehan was running towards the
bank. At sight of him the roDber
broke into run, and citizens held
the chaffeur. The chase after the
fugitive was thrilling one, but end
ed in his suicide within few min
utes. All the money taken from the
bank was found in his clothing.
The robber had called at the bank
earlier in the day.
It was learned tonight that the
dead bank robber had registered at
the Avenue House in Evanston, ILL.,,
Wednesday night as J. c. Wilson,
Milwaukee, Wis, and that the auto
mobile which took him to the High
land park bank had been loaned him
by j. E. Keelyn, wealthy mining
man of Goldfeld, New, who lives in
Evanston part of the year.
The man under arrest, believed by
the police to have been confederate
of the robber, is Keelyn's chafeur.
His name is Fred Schwab, and ne
has been a trusted employe OF Keel
yn's in the West and in Chicago for
several years.
Schwab declared that he knew
nothing about the character OF his
passenger to-day and that he had
suspected nothing until he saw him
take to his heels after leaving the
bank. Keelyn told the authorities
how Wilson had gained his conf
dence in a talk at the hotel Wednes-
day night relating to him incidents
of life, in the West with which he
was familiar. To-day when he sought
to hire an automobile Keelyn sug-
gested that he take his. Keelyn also
loaned him his fur auto coat which
the robber was wearing when he
shot himself.