The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-15
AnseIm R. Manning, Who Shot
Dead Bill Stiles, Bandit.
NORTHFiELD BANK ROBBERY
Incident OF the James and Younger
Brothers' Invasion Of Little City
in Rioe County.

Mortified, Mimi, Jan. 7.-Anselm r.
Manning, the hero of the Younger
James brothers raid on Northfield, over
thirty one years ago, the man who
stood in the open and fought the ban
dts until they fed before the accuracy
of his craftsmanship, dropped dead
here yesterday forenoon of heart dis
ease He had usually been in excel
lent health, and his sudden taking
off is shock to all the community.
He was seventy five years of age.
Nearly everybody in Mortified and
Rice county knew the old pioneer, not
fight with the bank raiders brought
him, but because he was for years one
of the best known business men of
the place.
In the early days, prior to and some
time after the raid of the Younger
and James gang, he was the hard
ware business. his store being in the
rear of the First National bank, which
was the object of the attack of the
desperadoes. and where Haywood, the
fated cashier, met his death at the
hands of Jesse James. Soon after re-
firing from the harware trade he be-
came the iceman of the town, and for
years, by reason of his daily deliv-
cries, has been familiar figure. His
wife died several years ago, but he is
survived by two daughters, Miss Caro-
line Manning, who is engaged in set
Element work in Philadelphia, and Mrs.
Frank r. Rogers of Annapolis, Md.
Killed Bill Stiles.
Mr.. Manning was not seaily drawn
into conversation about the Younger
raid but occasionally would relate
with becoming mOdesty the prominent
part which he took in the battle.
When the shooting began he ran for
his rifle, which stood in the window of
his store; then hurried to the street
of the band tied in front of the bank.
When the outlaws saw the determined
looking little man with the gun, they
instant Manning saw that to shoot the
animals would cripple the raiders, an
he opened fire on the nearest horse.
Had the citizens followed his lead and
killed the horses in the beginning the
whole outlaw band would very likely
have been killed or captured at once.
When Manning fired Il second time it
was at Cole Younger. who was struck
in the hip. 1t is one of the curious
facts of this battle that Cole Younger
rode and walked two weeks in the
effort to escape with the bullet in his
upper thigh. He was hit nine times
in the battle at Madelia.
After this shot Manning went to his
store to reload. Ten, returning he
saw Bill Stiles sitting on horse sew
entyfve yards away, apparently doing
sentry duty for the gang. Manning
sighted his gun at the outlaw so long
that citizens standing near by yelled
to him, "Shoot" Why don't you shoot p
The report of his gun came in an
other instant and the bullet passed
through the heart of Stiles.
Whiting Shot Clel Miller.
In the meantime Dir. Wheeler had
shot Clel Miller, another of the gang
through the body, killing him instant
ly, and had shattered the right ell.
bow of Bob Younger with another ball
The robbers, who had had two men
killed outright and two more severely
wounded, gathered their men from the
bank and made preparations for retreat
They could not cross the bridge over
which they had come and SO fled
down Division street, pursued by bull
lets and fully warned that Minnesota
was not the place for southern out
laws.
The robbers were finally overtaker
near Madelia in Wotanwan county
The James brothers had deserted and
saved themselves by stealing fresh
horses and fleeing into the Dakotas
The three Youngers and their com
panion, Pitts were chased into marsh
by the posse. Pitts was shot to death
Bob Younger was wounded in the
breast, jim Younger had five wounds
and Cole Younger eleven. None of the
attacking party was hurt.
Mr.. Manning was universally respect
ed by his townsmen. He came of New
England stock and had all the native