The Monett times., 1922-09-29
z BANK ROBBERS
SLAIN AT EUREKA
Three Wounded in Gun Battle. Loot
OF $4,000 in Cash and 100000
In Bonds Recovered.

Eureka Springs, Ark, Sept. 27.--
Three of five bandits who attempted
to rob the First National Bank here al
1880 o'clock this morning We're killed
and the other two wounded and cap
tured in a street fight with citizens
which followed the sounding of the
burglar alarm by r. B. Smith, cashier
The dead:
81 Wilson, 40 years old, Cookston,
Okla; George Price. 40 years old,
Cookston, Okla.
The wounded:
Charles Price, 25, brother of
George Price, also of Cookston.
Mark Henriclts, as years old, Of
Park Hill, Okla. A man named Cow
an, driver of one of the two bandit
cars. His residence is unknown.
All of the $4,000 in cash and
$4,000 in bonds with which the ban
dits ran from the bank at the open
ing of the battle was recovered.
All members Cf the bandit gang
were either killed or. captured.
e. G. Smith, cashier of the bank,
sounded the alarm by stepping on d
section Of the bank floor which was
connected with the burglar alarm.
Alarmed citizens met the bandits
with gun fire as they emerged from
the bank with their loot, carrying be-
fore them the bank teller as u shield.
The bandits returned the fire.
The bandits drove into town over
the mountains in two cars, one .
small car bearing an Oklahoma license
and the other a larger touring car
Going directly to the bank, all with
the exception of Cowan, who was
driving the small car, went into the
bank. None was masked.
They aimed pistols at Smith, order
ed that he hold up his hands. He
complied but at the same time placed
his foot on a button which set off the
banks burglar alarms on the street
in front of the bank, in the Bank of
Eureka, at the telephone exchange in
the Basin Park hotel.
Wilson then heftled Smith, three
other bank employees and four custo-
mers into rear room, where he stood
guard over them while his three ac-
completes gathered together the $l4,-
900 in cash and 100000 in bonds lying
in the banking room, They did not
enter the vault, where large amount
of money was lying within reach.
Citizens in the meantime began
hurrying to the vicinity of the bank
and taking up vantage points in doors
and windows from which they com
manded the bani, entrance.
Becoming alarmed, Cowm started
to drive away. A shot was fired at
his car by G. E. Burson, cashier of the
Bank of Eureka. The shot did NOT
take effect, however, Burson not fir
ing directly at the driver, because he
was not certain it was bandit car.
Almost at the same moment the
bandits broke into the open and dash
ed for the cars. Their appearance
was signal for concerted firing by
the citizens.
Charles Price is said to have been
wounded by shots fired by Joe Nc
Kinney, an attorney.
Cowan got farther from the scene
of the robbery than any of the Other
bandits. He was wounded in front OF
Jess Littrell's store, nearly a bloci;
from the bank. Littrell stepped from
his store and fired a shotgun into
Cowan's body. Almost at the same
time Sam Harmon, q taxicab driver
shot Cowan with revolver. Both
charges struck him in the neck and
shoulders.
The battle lasted less than five min
utes, and with the exception of Cowan
none of the bandits got farther than
across the street.
All the bandits were dressed in
overalls, and none was masked.
The wounded bandits are expected
to recover.