The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, May 7, 1884, Page 1

BANK ROBBERY. 4 Desperate Attempt of Four Men to Kob a Kansas Bank. The President and Cashier Killed _-Robbers Lynched. Maxwell Marders his Broth- er-in-law in Cass County. Jas. CHEA GALLOWS THE 2D. Kansas City Times. Harper, Kan., Aprit 30.—A cour- 1er just in states that a bold, put un- successful attempt was mide this morning at 10 o’clock to rob the Medicine Valley bank of Medicine Lodge, Barber county, im which George Geppert, cashier, was in- stantly killed, and E. W. president, tatally wounded. Four men, well armed with Winchester repeating nfles and revolvers. rode up to the bank soon after it opened, two remaining with the horses while the others entered and demanded the monty. Both the president and casiner refused to comply, and were at once fred upon as above stated. ust then the city marshal appeared and taking in the situation ata glance opened fire on those imside, which soon attracted others, and seeing their game was up the robbers mounted and rode awav without the swag. Within ten minutes thirty men were inhot persuit and doubt- less ere this have captured the ban- dits and sent them to join their vic- tim. Harper, Kan., May 1.—The ter- rible tragedy at Medicine Lodge yes- terday, caused by the attempted rob- hery ot the Barber county bank, had a terrible sequal last night, when the four robbers and murder- ers were lynched by the excited pop- ulace, who followed them from the bank immediately after the killing of Mr. Geppert, the cashier, and mortal wounding of Mr. Payne, the president. There has been great excitement at this point since the news arrived by courier, and this morning a number of citizens went to Medicine Lodge to view tor them selyes the scene ot the nnfortunate and cowardly killing and to takg part in the persuit and punishment of the robbers if their assistance was needed. Long before the seat of action was reached, however, the four men who planned the attack up- onthe bank which resulted in the death of Mr. Geppert, had been tried, found guilty and executed by Judge Lynch, and the verdict of the entire section ot Ki only received their just dues. hoy, DESPERADO AND DEAD-SHOT, a cow-boy. some time on Tues but did show themselves together until jus before the attac mg Wednesday were almost deser which had been failing since early Morning. : Were alone. A third party who hac ing out as the robbers entered |, ed to throw up his hands, turned anc stantly killed by one of the men “upposed to have been Westley Mr. Pay as also shot throug the body and fell to the vor anc Promiscuous firing ensued. The ot the any one hac ronble was the report of pis strntumation ets mounte vick Instantly the citi Payne, | nsas is that thev The latest particulars of the at- tempted robbery go to show that the affair was planned several days since at Harper, or some point east or south, and it was the work ot the fourmen who so quickly paid the penalty of their crime. Their names are Henry Brown, at one time mar- shal of. Caldwell, Kan. : Ben Wheel- er, ex-assistant marshal of the same place; John Westley, a noted cow- and Wilham Smith, by occupation Thev reached Medicine Lodge not The streets dur- ed in consequence of the heavy rain Deen transacting some business. pass- ~. Mr. Geppert looked up as the robbers | came into the bank and when order- } : € to reach his revolver, but was} ar ‘pint. making it so hot that the rob- BUTLER for persuit, first ten, finally saddle. then fifty anc «a hundred or more taking the THE CHASE WAS SHORT, however, as the persued became convinced that flight was useless ana {so made a stand on the hills three miles west of the town, here they | were surrounded and a lively skirm- jish ensued until nearly 2 | when finding themselves corplete surrounded and their amunition g¢ the robbers held up their hands and surrendered. Upon being brought to town th | were heavily 1roned and placed in j:ul } under astrong guard, but the sight of | the murdered cashier and dying presi- | dent so exasperated the citizens that it was seen that nothing short of a genuine necktle party would satisfy them. <Atter waiting atew hours the crowd began to gatber at the jail and a demand was made for the men. This was refused by | ficers, but the crowd would not put off, and a sudden move v made upon the jail, the guard ove powered, the doors broken open, and a wild rush made for the holding o'clock, ev be THE TREMBLING PRISONERS, who tully realized that their lour had come. Westley had in some way concealed a revolver about his person, and ~s the mob approached the cell he opened fire hut was al- most instantly riddled with bullets, and tel!’dead with a dozen bullets in his body. It was an easy matter to torce the cell doors, and ropes being produced, the remaining three men were led out and nooses placed about their necks. They were then half dragged to a small grove a short distance from town and hanged to separate trees. Two of them died game, but the third begged — for mercy and asked that he might be shot instead ot hung. His execu- tioners had no mercy, however, and he was hung with the others. Be- fore the lynching all of the men were recognized, ana Westley was identified as a well known desperado By his resistance at the jail he met death more speedily and evaded the halter.. Before death the men ad- mitted nothing and offered no ex cuse. Geppert, the cashier, was shot in the head and breast, dying imstantly. Mr. Payne was shot im the lett breast, just above the heart, and is reported dying. He was proprietor of the Index, and one of the wealth- iest menin this section. The rob- bers had with them wire cutters and powder with which to blow up the safe had they obtained the charm. perintending the printing here of the southwestern brand book. The first and only intormation he received ot the terrible tragedy at Medicine Lodge was obtamed from the ac- count of the attempted robbery and i murder published im the Times yes- terday morning. He was horror stricken by the calamity, and de- clared the death of Mr. Payne and Mr. Geppert would cause a loss to the community which could not be replaced. Mr. jnewspaper and the bank, besides | being very largely interested in the cattle business Mr. Carruthers ! edited the Index for him, and Mr. | Geppert had charge ot the bank. >! Mr. Carruthers dectared it woulda be | n Watching their opportu- nity the four men approached the bank a few minutes past 10 o'clock | extremely difficult thing to find anv !one competent to take Mr. Geppert’s and while two of them entered the | cover. h ling two staid out side. At Mr. Carruthers related an incr the time the casher and president | dent tending to show that Mr. Gep- | ot 1! pert was a man great courage. Only a short time ago Geppert ersand Mir. pert was asked what he would do in i} case cowboys should attack the bank }demand the money. Bringing - down his fist with Mr. - | Geppert declared wit By the eternal, 1 would Although the astances of the the bank. c 1) day are not know: 1 - dicated to prov fense ot the property entrusted t eee is Care. Mr. > aS ve. and ha warning © ne any gue the of- | as | cells | and one of the best shots in the state. | Nota dollar was taken from = the bank, however. PAYNE AND GEPPERT. Mr. E. P. Carruthers, editor of | the Barber county Index, came to this city last week andhas been su- Payne owned the} place, even should Mr. Payne re- Mr. Carruth- ; were talking about bank robberies, and Mr. Gep- also described as Fe- ag MISSOURI, | . ered ex- they would have been given a hard fight. Mr. Carruthers took the first tra out vesterday mor Medic their coming, it consi tremely propable that is Jodge. sonviile Mo., May 2 people in all] excited as they rts of Cass county are | have not been over one ef the tor most hor- | nble tragedies which has occurred in | section for Vhe terrible atfair occurred last evening about 6 miles north ot West Line,Cass coun- | ty, # young inan named James Ma: | well shooting and instantly killing his | brother-in-law, Newton Latoon, | while the victim was seated with jfamily at his home. The deed was | | commit, :d without any warning be-| ing given the victim, Maxwell going | to his brother-in-! about 9 | !o’clock in the evening, and shooting | him through a window while he was | | sitting on the edge of the bed prepa j atory to retiring. The ball struck | Lafoon in the hack, ranging upward | years. his | aw’s house | and penetrating the heart, causing | ALMOST INSTANT DEATH. | The origin of the iil teeling which | | terminated in the tragedy, was said to be the opposition Lafoon strongly urged against his sister receiving the atentions of Maxwell. Although this bitterness was known to have ex— isted for some time, the extent of the f was not known until the bloody deed of last night had been committed. Itis notknown that the men had seen each other that day,and Maxwell came and went without meeting any one on the night of the tragedy. The man was lame, and the tracks were easily indentified as his. They showed that be had gone about half a mile, where he stole a horse, and rode to Somerset, in Kansas, # station some distance west of West Line, on the Holden branch of the Missouri Pacific. | Here he turned the horse loose and took the first train which came along and went to Paola, Kan. feeling feeling THE NEWS OF THE MURDER had not been spread till morning. Mrs. Lafoom and her three little children had remained in the house alone with the dead body of the hus- | band and father, and the children being small there was no one to send out to spread the terrible news. When the facts of the killing became known, excitement grew to a fierce intensity at once, and squads of men | were quickly formed to search tor | the missing murder | Latoon was a quiet, peaceable far- mer, about 30 years of age, and was} well liked by all who knew him. This fact, and the cowardly manner im which he had been killed inflamed | | public indignation to an extraordinary | degree, and it was treely threatened | | that if the murderer were overtaken he would be given RY SWIFT JUSTICE. At first it was not known who was the perpetrator ot the outrage. but | the absence of Maxwell and the tracks about the Lafoon homestead | soon pointed suspicion toward him. | The trains were watched, scouting parties remained out al! day, but no trace of Maxwell was found. This evening when the train came in from the west. Maxwell alighted at West | | Line having returned trom Paola ot | his own accord. He was at once confronted by a brother of Lafoon, whose emotions were so great as to completely over- power fim. Maxwell appeared | quite cool, and when some of the crowd to a mn, he de- manded a warrant to show the object i , of the ar A large crowd of men Maxwell, and went rest | } soon FEARS OF LYNCHING A strong guard and it were entetain was put over was hoped that it would not be at- ttemped. A brother of Maxwell ‘well known and very popular in that vicinity, and it was thought this tact might have weight with however some the is a voung man 27 vears s horrible atfair vgood reputation the county, with ai vears, 1 until . has borne and formerly ke West Line. His sister w tol shots and cow-boy yells in the! Mr. Geppert ¢ pas bank, whic was taken up by the wn fe Li roon- The Maxwells fone two outside, who yelled and fired | their revolvers Jeppert lived in Jackson county, and the Sins Promiscously. This quickly drew ai sprang for his weapon, and was dren were born and raised aa the stowd, who returned the fire with shot down while makmg a brave de —— of Lone Jack, that county. , Harrisonville Mo.. May 3-—James ! Maxwell. arrested veserday at West i: Line for rder of Newt Lafoon, f commntted surcide to-day by taking poison, wh tobacco. before succeeding. mussion of his guilt, but it is believed that he was ot prove hrs guilt. WEDNESDAY arrest MAAY goes The man was his brother-in-law, having mar- ried Maxwell's sister. foon’s sister ina love affair cashmere shawls with wool and silk avy & Co. iringes. rainy day, and by the way, they are getting very frequent of late, we will | dish up a booming TIM way into nearly every Spring Shawls. A tull line ot Summit tw’p., May rst, 18s colored wi L “Summit Racket. Epiror TimEs:—As t he had mixed with his He madea second attempt He made no ad- the guilty party, and his | preparation in securing poison to be lused in case f r ' The troub is supposed to have been Lafoon’s a | interference with Maxwell 1 4 s is to he killed 1 La- black = 7. 188-4. COUNTY PRES: The Usual Batch of Bates County News Nuggets. RAILROAD AND THE Adrian Adverts Work on the mill is progressing rapidly They will have their elevator completed in time tor the fall trade. W. H. Erwin was in town on Wednesday. He says the prospect for a wheat and flax crop ceuld not be 1 Taggart has contracted to have the corners of his building ot cut stone. It will be brought from the Butler quarry. Tom Day will do the work. Moudy & Co., have cleared off the ground and otherwise made | preparation to commence the manu- etter in his section. a few more items tor the] facture of brick just as soon as the . Which is finding its | weather will permit. this, the banner township. The vote polled on the jail prepo- | sition was very ship, but if other townships make as good a showing it will have carned | bv considerable over the requisite two thirds majority. 68 for to 14 against in this township. | largely against it in previous elections made a better showing this time, and give Deepwater, light in this town- which was household in| The vote stood | a small majority in favor of it. ble in the vote on tion to it come in, or the class of tax There was one thing very noticea- the jail. which showed where the principal objec— payers which were opposed to We tailed to find any of our heavi— est tax payers who were against it. The objections seem to be those who pay the least tax. say **enough’ it is very wet weather at sv long as keep his head above water. thinking about this time? Corn which had been planted ear- ly was doing nicely but this spell of weather will cause it all to farmers may as well prepare to plant | over, if it ever gets dry enough for that business. thinks, seed time and harvest always | to understand trom this that it is sure to be dry enough before the seed time is past come, now are Mr. B. we EB. for us to get our crops in? it Mr. H.? Wheat is looking very well, but jnota large acreage sown. looking splendid. We are having splendid Sabbath schools at the Summit and Redmoa school houses, 3 o’clock Pp. M, at the former named place, and g o’clock at the latter. : < : i leo . ositior 6 votes; man, S. C McCutchen, is engaged | Hor she) Proposnee. ip zi et hi f tet Hor ] against the proposition, 36 votes. in the Eee eding of Short liorn co ©! Total number of votes polled, 82. | and will make that a specialty inthe | put httle interest was taken in the | future. greed sto about forty head of cows and heifers | 2iso i few males, so Therc will be preaching at the Summit school Rev. Bewley rst, Rev. Brown 2nd, Rey. Walker 3rd and Rev. Fred- rick 4th Sundays in May, at 40’clock Pp. M. house as he present. | O, ¥es very, but Squire Rite says | that he vowed some years ago, when | it was very dry, that he would never rot Howe | How Oats are follows: with could Won- | der if the Squire don’t do some hard | and It Butler 1s wise, she will not hesi- | tate to raise the $40,000 asked. It | she does not there will be a thriving town built up in Hudson township and the county seat will have her trade cut off on all sides. It would just about ruin Butler. Rockvelle Globe.: The election that came off at this | place last Tuesday, to vote on the ten thousand dollar jail was a very quiet affair indeed, our farmers not deeming the matter of sufficient im- portance to turn out, consequently a light vote was cast. One hundred and ten votes were cast, and stood as follows: 104 against the jail and six in favor Rich Hill Enterprise. Uncle Johnny Ganz’s residence in Sprague was struck by lightning du ring the storm Wednesday and burn- ed. Contents sayed. No one hunt. Accompany to build the finest opera house in the west is being or- ganized, and we learn that the stock is about all taken. Look out for Rich Hill this summer. We are reliably informed that Col. Strawbridge a wealthy gentleman, capitalist of Kansas City, has pur- chased the Talmage House of this city. The majority ot those who voted against the jail levy Teusday were | men poorly versed in the affairs ot | the county. It is doubtful if they j | it. r és ever subscribe fortheir home papers. gent. A young man named Self Swan forged a note on his tather W. M. Swan living in the country, signed Chas. Wade, for $15,00, and pre- sented it at the bank yesterday. The bankers detected the forgery and he was locked up. He is sure of the pen. Rich Hill Review. The market is now full of home- grown radishes, onions, Jettuce, etc. The strawberry crop promises to be immense; also other small fruit. Buffalo fish were selling on the streets Tuesday at one cent per pound. This may seem a little : y,’’ but ’tis true. is on the jail proposition that she want- ed Butier to have the new building. No ill teeling has ever existed upon any reasonable proposition concern- ing our elder sister. Hume Star. La | vote ten thousand dollars to build 4 Our live and wide awake stock | county jail with the following result: a will sell at McC. 1s a very energetic gentleman | ; will, dou justiy departinent Variety of the present rea re so’ rle ck. He has on hands. now, } good citizen, and always isin wi stvics exhibited during on excels everything | { ' 1 He will keep the best pedi- | matter at this place. misunderstz the school electior Owing to some or urrangement, atly every rick build: uc- in the town 1 Penetrating Oil was is days two + of St. La A reading public is always intelli- | Rich Hill has shown by her vote | | | ! 1 one n favor of erecting a recommended to e apptication re- Nw J. FrrzwiLliaM. ICK COLU | April 27th. st Tuesday an election was held | in this place on the proposition to | of which he, tailed to take place. Mr. Askren Ses. aig jsavs when they catch him on the : * “Tl hoard again it will be for a good| atever he undertakes and , good large brick edifice wherein the ess, lead the country m|¢l Idren will not be crowded, and} pe > : -re they can receive a good edu— eek Be Let us have it as soon as} Fine Mhilinery. = =a PENI has bee ¥ 27, $3-—In ING OF ENING ha ; t cen = i, 83- pees it success. This branch ts [suffered the most ed the leading mulinery d could not rest in = g several well southwest. The known remedies witho effect, Merrell’s sin this column tl be fusert rate Special terms gives month or scason. Star, will make the season ot mencing April ist, and ending it the farm of E. Miller & E and a halt northeast of Altona. Co., Mo. This celebrated and reed horse is well known county Last year 4 livery s ot Geo: 1 will also stand at the ¢ and place two other good 1 jack, is 1443 jet black wito :form. Sired ov Casti!- 20d er Will sta table Alton 1¢ following ters $1oto insure a living colt; monev dv when fact is ascertained, or when mare is parted withor removed trom county. MIKE, ot Morgan stock, will also stand at same place; terms $5, conditions same above. MIKE is ists hands hiy 1 bree season at my Mo, on br t bay, of good form, Joseru Kerr DDY WARD, the fine saddle stallion will make the season of 1884 at our stable in Bates coun- ty, Mo., on the farm ot John Atkinson, four miles south ot Butler, on the roi leading to Papinville near the Miller school house, at tne low price of $8 to insure a mare in foal, payable when the tact is made known, or $10 to insure a live colt, payable when the colt comes, in all cases the servis price will be due when the mare is transferred or about to be removed from the county a lean will be retained on the colt until paid tor. We will take all care to prevent accidents but will not be responsible should any occur, the season will commence Ist, ot Apriland end fuly rst. i DeEscRIPTION AND PepiGrre:—Eddy Ward is a dark chestnut sorrel, nearly black, seven years old this spring, in the prime ot lite and vigorous health, he ie 16 nands high with good bone aud weight, of fine torm and action, with unusual heavy mane and tail, he is without doubt the finest sad- dle stallion in the county, goes all the tashionable saddle gates and size enough tormost any purpose, he was bred in Scott county, Ky. He was sired by the celebrated getter of saddle and road horses Fxpert, out of Nelly Ward, who Was one of the most celebtated premium: takersin the blue grass region of Ky-, she was by the great show horse John Dillard. Expert by Bald Stocking, he by Old Tom Hal, a Canadian pacer. This horse will be on exhibition on the streets ot Butlerevery Saturday. WesLey Waknock, Agent. BLACK JOLIN, the fine breeding Jack, will serve mares at $10 to insure a mare in toal or $12 tor a live colt payable when the colt comes. The conditions same stated in dy Ward as to payments, transters &c. Black John is black, with mealy nose and belly, full 1s hands high with good bone and weight and fine length He was sired by the noted pre- mium Jack, Peacock, dam by the premi- um Jack, Hawk class breeder as h ‘ haye four ot his colts on our place, ali extra good, We think it would be to interest of breeders of fine salable horses and mules to examine this stock their colts betere breeding elsewhere 17m2 Ww.&wW.- TO CATTI desiring pas should call on ye, he is strictly a first } and ton, 7 miles northeast of Butler. His pastures are rich; sce him atonce. 1711 Strayed or Stolen. Ou Apiil 4th, 1884, one dark bay horse, black mane and tail, about 15, hands high, rough shod with scar on left tore knee. A liberal reward will be payed for the return of horse or his whereabouts. 22-1m Joun F. HeRRet, Butler, Bates Co., Mow Strayed. From the premises ot the undersigned, 5 miles southwest of Butler, on Sunday, y One bay mare 2 years old, with white stripe in tace and 1 white hind foot. Any information regarding same will be rewarded by J. L. Statin liberallv AR of American® enn tees u 4 Associate at Washington,D.C. Spriny |Missour: Or in any part of System. Wl NOT FOIL CLOTHING nor discolor the skin. 1 use DEALERS ES RTH Z TELEGRAPHIC INSTITUTE! Shorthand thoroughly t Fein Ce i Soa 7 ‘Olive Bizess- EE: Yours. so for sale. Principal.