Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-14
And Suicide Of Bank Rob-
Der in Chicago Suburb,
Takes Everything In Sight, but
Cannot Escape Pursuers.


Chicago, Oct, IA fashiOnably
dressed bandit, who early this after
non robbed the savings Bank OF D. NJ.
Erskine & Co. in Highland Park, Ills,
an aristocratic suburb on the lake
shore, rs miles north of Chicago. COM
mitted suicide by shooting himself 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 Immediately
after the robbery, forcing the principal
"f the daylight crime to flee on foot.
He was engaged in running duel
with Town Marshal John Shehan, who
was the target for many bullets from
the fugitive bandits revolver, one of
which went through the sleeve of his
coat.
After running several blocks and
failing to drive back his pursuers the
rObber ran into a shed. closely follow
ed by Shehan. When he saw Shehan
enter the shed with his revolver level
ed at him the man held the muzzle of
his own revolver in his mouth and fired
a shot which resulted in his death al
most Immediately
Neither he nor his companion is
known. The man arrested who APP
peared In the guise of a chauffeur, pos
ltively refused after his arrest to dis
cuss anything concerning his or his
companions identity.
The robbery was conducted in a de-
1iberate and sensationaly monner. The
bandit stole about $500 in gold coin and
,nft Hn hoI T@l D,,f
fly. cashier Of the bank; Miss Nellie
Fitzgerald the bookkeeper, and Joseph
F. Richards, the receiving teller into
the cashiers cage just after business
closed ,fOr the day.
In the morning the automobile bear
ing the robber and his chauffeur drove
up to the bank. The man who is dead,
entered the bank and inquired of the
cashier if "Mr. Williams" was in
the bank. Duffy said he knew of Mr..
Williams at Libertyville, Ills. some
miles west of Highland Park. The
visitor thanked him and left He drove
away and returned little after 2
o'clock in the afternoon. He entered
the bank while his companion remain
ed outside in the automobile
ibid you find Williams" asked
Rlffy when his visitor re-entered
No, he wasn't there" the stranger
replied. Duffy then became suspicious
and his visitor went to the street and
talked with the chauffeur, returning
again to the bank and standing in a
far corner of the room while Duffy
closed the front doors. The side door
he left open for the stranger to de-
i'm I,
Duffy hurriedly took an amount of
money and locked it in the vault. Sew
eral hundred dollars were still in the
cage AS he entered the cage Duffy
was confronted by the robber who
" Covered him with revolver.
Call everyone in here into that
cage. said the bandit. cor I'll blow
your head off. Hurry uo"
Duffy. unarined complied with the
demand. Miss Fitzgerald and Rich
ards came into the cage while the in
truder 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 / will kill you" He started
for the door and Duffy immediately
telephoned the marshars office across
the street. BY the time the robber
reached the automobile Marshal Shee-
nan was running toward the bank At
Sight of MIN. the robber broke into q
run and citizens held the chauffeur
me chase after the fugitive was a
thrilling one. but ended in his suicide
within few minutes. All the money
taken from the bank was found in his
clothing.