The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-08-02
SHOT BANDIT DEAD.

SHU! BANDIT DEAD.
Harlem Constable Gets Quick Action
On Bank Robber.
Further particulars regarding the
holdup OF the First National bank Of
Harlem, give credit to Constable
Richard Laswell for quick action that
frustr ated the attempt to loot the
bank, and which resulted in the death
of one Of the bandits.
The attempt TO rob the bank was
made about 11:25 Monday morning,
when three men on horseback rode
into Harlem, and dismounted at q
place close to the scene of their in.
tended holdup. One of the men re-
mained with the horses, while the
other two entered the bank. APP.
preaching the cashiers window, one
OF the intruders pulled his gun and
ordered Cashier J. A. Hatch and his
assistant to throw up their hands and
stand back to the wall, while his part
ner passed through door to the inner
portion of the room.
Having gained access to the inside
OF the counter, the bandit produced q
sack and raked in all the money that
lay near the cashiers window and
then went to the vault, but he suddenly
remembered that he had left his gun
on the counter and returned to get It..
In picking up the weapon, however,
something caused it to explode, and
the noise led &c unexpected develop
ments.
Attorney John A. Collins has an
office in the rear portion of the
bank building, and the noise caused
Mr.. Collins and Fred Brockway to
peep through the back door to ascer.
tain what a the matter. They were
promptly covered with q gun and
ordered into the room to take a posi-
ton against the wall with hands up.
In the meantime c Constable Laswell
had been watching things from q dis.
lance, although be did not suspect q
bank robbery, and the eound of q
pistol shot convinced him that some.
thing val going IN that required in.
vestig alton. He made quick time to
the real of the bank building, passed
through the back door in a STOPPING
position and saw the four men lined
up against the wall. At about the
same time the bandit came out of the
vault with his sack stuffed with cur
rency, and without asking any ques.
tions the constable fred a shot that
brought him to the floor. The robber
was fatally wounded, but as he lay
there he fred four shots at the con.
stable, none of them hitting the mark.
The bandit at the cashiers window
lost no time in getting outside the
building and mounting his horse, but
while doing 90 fred several shots at
the bank door to discourage pursuit.
The two men rode away q fast 10
their horses could carry them, and
after considerable delay posses were
organized to take their trail.
There was nothing on the body OF
the dead bandit to betrsy his identity
and the three men r supposed to be
strangers In this part of Montana.
They had been seen in the vicinity OF
Harlem the pact week, and It is cup
posed they we're making themselves
familiar with the surrounding country
and planning the robbery. They we're
evidently also In the horse stealing
business, as the animals they rode
belonged to the Pepiu outfit.
The plumber secured by the bandi,
with the sack amounted to between
. 9 1000 and 900 in coin and cur
rency. and had it not been for the
courage and good aim of Constable
Laswell, the gang would probably
have cleaned up that amount,