The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-09-05

stand. as everything else in the room
-keyholcs. cracks and windows
were carefully covered
Mrs. Francis peeped inside. No
one was In sight. She could see the
blocks of marbls, but no one was
hammering on them. The sound was
very distinct and she wondered what
II meant. She could hear voices, too.
When her eyes lit on the open fire
place and she saw piece OF stone ny
from 1t into the room she fell OFF the
ladder. The noise I'm the room stop
ped. Mrs Francis picked herself up
and hurried away as rapidly as pos
sible. She peeped over tho banister
and saw some one open the studio
door.
In n moment the hammcrIng was
resumed, and Mrs. Francis hurried to
police headquarters. was in charge,
as Chief Edward S. McWilliams was
in Philadelphia. Mrs. Francis told me
her story. knew at once that gang
OF burglars had planted the bank.
From the time that they had been al
work | knew they must be close to
the money. rang for Detective Mike
Bowie, and we went together down to
Exchange place. where We could pipe
the bank
Mrs. Francis told me that four
men were in the gang. and after
long wait we saw two of them come
out OF the boarding house. In few
moments the two other fellows came
out, and they all crossed the ferry TO
New York. | knew one OF them. lie
was the best looking one in the gang
| had played several games OF bill.
lizards with him at Taylors hotel, ana
was beaten every time. found out
afterward that he was Cummings.
Bowie and crossed over TO
Nafews saloon, and got a small col
ored boy who worked there. We
took him into the boarding house and
pushed him through the open fan
light into the studio. The kid jumped
into the hole in the fireplace, saw the
condition OF things there and camo
BACK scared half to death.
Then | waited at the house until
three Of the gang came back. They
seemed to be In hurry, and went to
work I'm the vault late in tho after
noon. Cummings did not return.
knew the trick was about to come on,
and he had been left outside TO watch
Il sent Bowie to the station house
for the men. and when they returned,
after making sure that Cummings was
not on the lookout anywhere sent
two mon to the roof OF the house, sta
toned three others In the bank, and
the rest ! placed on the stairs Bowie
and /, with -four big ncrvy men. made
for the room. The sound OF the ham
mcring was very distinct, but could
not tell whether the three men wero
in the hole or not
u stood fiat against the studio door,
and placed lowie and two policemen
behind me. II was a ticklish moment,
and I'll admit felt little uneasy, AS
men OF the kind We were going up
against are very handy with guns.
gave the signal in a low voice. and
we threw ourselves against the door.
II was important that the locks and
bolts should be broken at the first
efiort, so that the gang would not
have warning
The door flew open, and | landed
on my hands and knees in the middle
of the room. The place was empty.
and / jumped for the fireplace with
my revolver in my hand
Bowie, one Of the stoutcsthoartcd
boys | ever knew, got there ahead OF
me and shouted to the gang to throw
up their hands. In the hole were
three men on their hands and knees
ana | heard them whisper to each
other. but could not tell what they
said / knew that they would not
give up without battle and felt re-
loved when one OF the policemen
shouted: Here are their guns, Cap
They were unarmeu aud | knew /
had them all safe The three fellows
climbed out of the hole with as ugly
expressions on their mugs as ever
saw one OF them kept swearing alt
the time They kept their hands
above their heads, hut | could see that
they were sizing up the game as they
Crawlcd into the room Before We
had chance to grab them, one fel-
low gave me vicious kick In tho
| abdomen, and started for the window
My men would have killed him II
| | had not called them of. Another OF
| the thieves made for tho door. He
| was n black.looking devil and had the
| courage of a lion. Why he was not
| killed never could understand, but /
suppose we got little careless when
we found out they had nothing to
shoot with and gave them more OF a
chance But we got the handouts on
them and landed them in the station
| house.
There was sequel TO this cap.
ture which created even greater eX-
| Citcmcnt than the attempted bank
robbery The thieves 'squealcd at
their trial and said that Captain Me
Williams and Detective Doyle, who
was McWilliams' confidential man.
we're in the scheme to rob the bank
and were to be rewarded with n share