Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-15
FLEAGLE, BANDIT,
DIES OF WOUND
Notorious Murderer, Shot by
Posse When Captured,
Pleads for Mother.
BY the Associated Press.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, october 49,
Jake F1eagle, notorious bank robber and
murderer, shot yesterday at Branson,
Mo-, when captured by posse Of Of
ficers, died In q hospital here today at
9:55 am.
Fleagle, shot through the abdomen
when he was surprised by the posse
of officers as he boarded a train at
Branson, was brought to the hospital
here at 4:30 pm. yesterday.
Conscious, but weak from his wound
and the trip from Branson to Spring
field in a private automobile, Fleagle
grew steadily weaker through the night
and physicians early today said he had
no chance to live. A blood vessel had
been ruptured by the bullet.
Pleads for his Mother.
Oficers sought to question him about
but, due to his condition, little informa-
ton was obtained.
Fleagle, dying, pleaded for his mother
but no word from her had come this
morning when he died.
The bandit last night had reporters
send a wire to his mothers home at
Holcomb, Kans., asking her to come to
his bedside. Oficers said she could not
possibly arrive until late today and they
doubted one message would bring her,
expressing belief she probably would
fear ruse by officers.
Fleagle, rallying briefly, early today
told officers in the guard about his hos
pital bed that he wished they would
urge his mother to come to see him,
saying, I'm afraid I'm going to die"
To one officer he said: II don't know
who shot me and it don't make no
difference, but wish they had made q
good job of it."
The wounded outlaw found suficient
strength TO plead with H. D. Harper,
chief of police of Colorado Springs, to
do something for Fred" his brother,
on trial for Larned, Kans., bank rob-
berry. Fred, he said, was innocent.
Traced Through Letters.
Postal inspectors. searching relent-
lessly for the desperate in the belief
he had a hand in the robbery of a
Southern Pacific mail train at Pitts
burgh, Calf, traced him to the Ozark
country through letters he had mailed
on trains in that section.
An impressive array Of officers as
sembled in the region and secretly
combed the countryside for the outlaw
Although a trap had been set for
Fleagle, the meeting yesterday was by
chance.
Reached for Revolver.
Five officers noticed him on the
platform at BranSon, although they
had expected to encounter him farther
South. AS Fleagle boarded the train
he was covered by the officers. Instead
of obeying a command to raise his
hands, the bandit reached for his re-
volver One of the officers fired, wound
ing him. After a tigerish fight, Fleagle
was subdued and admitted his identity.
A telegram to Los Angeles detective
headquarters indicated Lieut. Harry
Wilde of that department fired the shot
which ended the bandits life; ON
GERS, however, refused to say who shot
Fleagle.
In the holdup of the Lamar bank.
A. N. Parrish, president of the bank,
and his son John, cashier, were slain.
E. E Kessinger, a teller, was kidnapped,
used as a shield by the bandits and later
slain. DR.. William Wineinger of Digh-
ton, Kans., who treated one of the
wounded robbers, was shot down, to
prevent identification Of members of the
gang.
Ralph F1esgle, brother Of Jake;
George j. Abshier and Howard Royston
were executed at the Colorado Peni-
Tertiary after confessing participation
in the robbery.
Joe Miller, one of the Fleagle gang
and close associate of the dead outlaw,
was captured at Las Vegas, N. Mex,
yesterday, Federal officers here revealed
today.
Miller was taken by officers at Las
Vegas a short time after F1eagle. was
shot at Branson. Miller had been under
close surveillance for some time, the
officers said, and Fleagle's capture was
the signal for his arrest.