The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-27
Entire Gang of Five Either
Slain or Captured.
Attempted To Rob Bank at Eu-
reka Springs, Ark.
CASHIER GAVE AN ALARM
Held Up Hands But Pressed
Button With His Foot.
Loot of $4,000 in Cash and
Bonds Is Recovered.

Eureka Springs Ark, Sept. 81
Three of five bandits who attempted
to rob the First National bank here
at 1880 o'clock this morning. were
killed and the other two wounded and
captured in a street fight with citizens
which followed the sounding of the
burglar alarm by e. B. Smith, cashier.
The dead:
ST Wilson, 40 years old, Cookston,
Okla
George Price. 40, Cookston.
Charles Price, 25. brother of George
Price, also of Cookston.
The wounded:
Mark Hendricks, As. of Park Hin.
Okla.
A man named Cowan, driver of one
of the two bandit cars. His residence
is unknown.
None of the half dozen citizens who
engaged the bandits in the battle were
wounded.
Loot Is Recovered I'm Liberty Bonds.
All of the $4,000 in cash and ssO,-
600 with which the bandits ran from
the bank at the opening of the battle
was recovered.
The bandits drove into town over
the mountains in two cars, one a small
! car bearing an Oklahoma license and
the other a larger touring car Going
directly to the bank eau with the ex-
ception of Cowan. who was driving the
small car, went into the bank. Nome
was masked.
| They aimed pistols at Smith and
| ordered that Re hold up his hands. He
| complied but at the same time placed
his foot on 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
/, and in the Basin Park hotel
Passed Up the Vault
| Wilson then herded Smith, three
| other bank employees and four Gus
toners into a. rear room, where he
stood guard over them while his three
| accomp1ices gathered together the
$4,000 in cash and $4,000 in liberty
bonds lying in the banking room.
They did not enter the vault, where
within reach. ...
| Citizens in the meantime began
hurryfng to the vicinity of the bank
and taking up vantage points in doors
| and windows, from which. they COM
! manded the bank entrance.
! Becoming alarmed, Cowan started
to drive away. A shot was fired
at his car by G. L. Burson, cashier
of the Bank of Eureka. The shot did
/! not take effect however. Burson not
| firing directly at the driver because
he was not certain it was a bandit car.
Made Dash for Cars.
t. Almost at the same moment the
| bandits broke into the open and
dashed for the cars. Their appear
ance was signal for concerted firing
by the citizens.
| Wilson dropped. instantly killed by
the first shot, said to have been fired
| by Ernest Jordan a jewe1er. who
stood in the open in the street with
j Constable Homer E. Britain.
The other four were wounded in
hn Igr4fa h.,
1 dying in the Huntington hospital
! where the four were taken, They
each lived more than an hour after
being shot
4 Before dying Wilson fired at Jordan
at such close range that the jewelers. s
4 face was powder burned.
Bandit Poor Shot
Il George Price was shot down BY Brit.
tain. who engaged Hendricks in a
short ranged duel. The latter empsied
4 a AS automatic pistol. but failed to
hit the officer. Britain then shot the
in the stomach.
Charles Price is said to haven fallen
victim to shots fired by Joe Mckinney.
Ian attorney.
Cowan got farther from the scene of
the robbery than any of the other ban
ldits. He was wounded in front of
lJess Iittrelrs store. nearly block
from the bank. LittreIl stepped from
his store and fired shotgun into
Cowans body. Almost at the same
Itime Sam Harmon. taxicab driver. shot
Cowan with a revolver Both charges
struck him in the neck and shoulders.
Battle Was Short.
The battle lasted less than five min
utes, and with the exception of Cowan
none of the bandits got farther than
across the street.
Bob Bowman, clerk at the hotel
.
All the bandits were dressed in
loyeralls, and none was masked.
It is said that George Price Is sur.
vived by wife and two children. Will
son. 1t is said. is survived by his
nother. Both the wounded bandits
= tara exnected IN