The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-01-28
One KILLED BY AGED MAN
IN ATTEMPTED STICK-UP
German Lewis, of Pierce, Shot in
Attempt to Rob Aged Resi-
dent of Leadmine, w. Va.
BROTHERS IN PACT TO ROB

German Lewis is dead, and his
brother, Lincoln Lewis, is in the Tuck
er county Jail at Parsons, w. Va,
as the result of an alleged attempt
to hold up and rob John Alexander
Evans, an 85-year-old citizen of Lead
mine, a small hamlet about 18 miles
south of Oakland, on Saturday night.
The two Lewis brothers, formerly
living at Crellin, sons of Mr.. and Mrs.
Philip Lewis, but more recently living
on a farm near Elliottsville, Pa, ac-
cording to confession given to the
State Police by the surviving brother,
left their home about $3.50 o'clock Sat
urday afternoon, and went direct to
the Evans home at Leadmine, arriv-
ing there about 700 p. m. 1t is under
stood that the report was current that
Mr.. Evans had lost confidence in the
banks and kept considerable money
about his person and the brothers, ac-
cording to the story told by Lincoln
Lewis, said they needed one hundred
dollars and thought they would take
this amount from the old man.
According to the alleged confession
the two brothers went to the house
and knocked at the door of the home
and when Mr.. Evans opened it the one
brother, powerful man weighing 200
pounds, grappled with him, and the
other brother stepped inside and blew
out the kerosene light, leaving the
room in utter darkness. During the
struggle which ensued after Evans
had been attacked, he was forced into
a corner where, unknown to the
would-be robbers, loaded shotgun
was standing, and Mr.. Evans seized
the firearm, pushed it against the side
of his assailant and pulled the trig-
ger, killing him almost instantly.
The other man, Lincoln Lewis, hear
ing the shot, threw his fiashlight on
the scene, and seeing his brother dead
or dying, jerked the gun from the
hands of Mr.. Lewis, threw it to the
floor, and leaving his car in front of
the door, walked to the home Of an
other brother, Dewey Lewis, at the
mining town of Pierce, about ten miles
distant.
Mr.. Evans, as soon as possible after
the struggle, went to the outside OF
the house and fired revolver several
times to attract the attention of his
neighbors and to summon assistance.
A number of neighbors responded, the
authorities were notified and Sheriff
Cooper, States Attorney Bolton and
State Police Ancell went to the scene
of the tragedy. The two brothers were
recognized by Mr.. Evans, in spite Of
their masks made of bandana hand
kerchiefs which they had slipped over
their faces while yet on the porch of
the home. After getting the details,
the officers went to the Dewey Lewis
home at Pierce and demanded Lincoln
Lewis surrender. He Immediately
gave himself up and was taken to the
Parsons Jail for the action of the next
grand jury.
1t is not thought that the Lewis
brothers anticipated tragic ending
to their escapade and seemed to think
it would be a very simple matter to
overpower their intended victim, Mr..
Evans, take what money they needed
and make their getaway.
The surviving brother seemed COM
pletely upset at the turn matters took
and is reported to have made clear
confession of the entire affair.
A son of Mr.. Evans was killed dur
ing the World War and his insurance
was paid to his father. In some way
the report was spread through the
countryside that he always kept a
large sum of money at his home.