New-York tribune., 1909-10-14
AUTO H0LD-UP FATAL
CORNERED BANK ROBBER
TAKES HIS LIFE.
Remarkable Daylight Crime IN Fash
ionable Chicago Suburb by Vel
Dressed Stranger.
IBy Telegraph to The tribune. ]


private bank of David NJ. Erskne & Co. at
Highland Park, the fashionable Chicago suburb.
this afternoon, just the doors were being
closed for the day.
With powerful $4,000 automobile waiting
TO whsk him away from pursuers, a young man.
yet unknown, but dressed in the height of
fashion, attempted to strip the bank of its $15,-
coo or more of deposits and reserve.
He succeeded in obtaining a little over $500
and got out of the bank safely. With much
calmness as if he were about to start out on a
pleasure trip. he jumped into the front seat of
the machine saying to the chauffeur: ''AH right
Fred, go ahead
Here chance intervenec; the cold weather had
affected the motor of the m; hine and the
chauffeur could not start it. While the chauf-
feur tugged at the crank the alarm was spread
crowd gathered and the hold-up man re-
treated to the cover OF shed. Five minutes
later he was dead. Driven from one place of
concealment to another, he finally came out of
cover and crossed the tracks of the Chicago &
Milwaukee Electric Railroad. which by
the side of the bank. After receiving a wound
in his left side he leaned up against a fence.
faced his pursuers who poured a vOlley in his
direction. and, placing the barrel of his revolver
in his mouth, ended his life.
THE HOLD-UP SPECTACULAR.
The robbery was conducted in deliberate
and spectacular manner the bandit obtaining
about $500 in gold coin and bills after he had
forced John c. Duffy, cashier of the bank; Miss
Nellie Fitzgerald, the bookkeeper. and Joseph
F. Richards the receiving teller. into the cash
ier's cage. He entered the bank 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 now dead entered the bank
in the bank. Duffy said he knew of a Mr. Will
Jams at Libertyvile, ILL.,. some miles west of
Highland Park who not in the bank how
ever The visitor thanked the cashier and left
the place He returned little after o'clock
in the afternoon, entering the bank, while mis-
companion remained outside in the automobile.
Did you find Williams" asked Duffy 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 conversed with the chauf-
feur. returning again to the bank and standing
in a remote corner of the room while Duffy
closed the front doors The side door he left
open for the stranger to depart. Fearing some
thing wrong. Duffy hurriedly took a large
amount iii money and locked it in the vault.
Several hundred dollars still in his cage.
AS he entered the cage Duffy was confronted by
the robber, who covered him with revolver.
Call every one in here into that cage" said
the bandit, "or I'll blow your head off Hurry
up"
Duffy, who 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
claimed:
"If any of you attempt to follow me will kill
you"'
He started for the door and Duffy Immediately
telephoned the marshaTs Office across the street.
By the time the Tobber reached the automobile
Marshal Sheehan was running toward the bank.
At sight of him the robber broke into and
citizens held the chauffeur. The chase after the
fugitive thrilling while it lasted. All
the money taken from the bank was found in the
dead robbers clothing
WASHINGTON HOTEL BILL FOUND.
Who the man was remained mystery at a
late hour tonight. With the exception of two
hotel bills one from the Lasale Hotel and
other from the Raleigh Hotel, Washington.
which were made out to L. Harrison and Nc
Blair Harrison. respectively. found in the pock-
cts of a sealskin lined borrowed overcoat, moth
ing was discovered to identiy him.
His description is as follows: Height six feet.
weight 1SO pounds, complexion blond, small scar
on left cheek and one two inches long on left
side of the neck; hair straight soft, and parted
the extreme left side; features regular. nose
curved slightly downward ears large and set
close to the head eyes blue and large hands
small and soft, finger nails manicured; feet
snail and arched.
The man had broad shoulders. was perfectly
proportioneds and was dressed in expensive
clothes In many ways he looked like we'll
bred man. From the trade marks N his clothes
and the two hotel bills it evident that he
had travelled considerably. His suit bore the
mark Of G. N. Vincent New York and his hat
that of James Y. Davis. No. 1901 Pennsylvania
avenue, Washington. D. c. In suitcase, un-
labeled found at the Avenue House, Evanston
from which he started earlier in the day in the
machine were found hose purchased in Los
Angeles. All his clothes were new 1t appeared
that within the lifetime of his clothes he had
been from coast to coast.
From other sources it was found that he knew
much of Nevada and something of Goldheld, and
had more than a passing acquaintance with
politics in certain of the mountain states.
on Monday night J. z. Keelyn said to be a
mining promoter. was sitting in the lobby of the
Avenue House. Evanston. when he noticed the
man who afterward robbed the bank Accord
ing to Mr.. Keelyn, who is suspected Of know
ing something about the case than he ad-
mits tonight, the man did not engage in con-
versation with any Last night however,
when Mr.. Keelyn and Fred Schwab. the chauf-
feur in the case, who says he has been en-
ployed by Mr. Keelyn since a year ago last
May were sitting in the hotel discussing min
ing topics and article in a publication re-
ferring 10 Senator Dixon the unknown entered
into the conversation.
He had been humping away at the piano in
an adjoining room and came back and sat down
beside the two At the reference to Senator
Dixon the man broke into the conversation in
defence of the Senator. Subsequently an