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LAYING OUT THE WORK.
LAYING OUT THE WORK.
Between the 23rd of August and the 5th of September a company of strangers made their appearance at different localities in the State of Minnesota attracting attention by their peculiar bearing, remarkable physique, and decidedly southern phraseology. They would appear sometimes in pairs, and at other times there would be as many as four or five in company. At one time they would be cattle dealers from Texas, and again they were gentlemen in search of unimproved lands for speculative purposes, a
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A MURDER PLANNED.
A MURDER PLANNED.
It appears that an old man named Gallager, living in a log cabin on the skirts of the woods surrounding Vernon, was supposed to have in his possession a considerable sum of money. The old gentleman lived alone, was known for his parsimony, and thought to be “a penurious niggard of his wealth.” The plan of these young villians was to go to the house of the supposed miser, disguised, pretend to be “lost chicken hunters in the woods,” and induce the old man to come out and show the way. Getting him
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JESSE JAMES RECOGNIZED.
JESSE JAMES RECOGNIZED.
Returning to the five strange men in Mankato, they are next seen on the streets on Monday morning when a young man, Chas. Robinson who was acquainted with the notorious Jesse James, went up to one of them and remarked, “How do you do, Jesse, what brings you up this way.” When the man addressed eyeing the speaker keenly from head to foot, replied, “I guess you have mistaken your man” and vaulting into the saddle, galloped away. With this incident, the five men who had attracted so much notice, ex
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NORTHFIELD
NORTHFIELD
is a thriving, pretty, little village, situated pleasantly upon both banks of the Cannon river just thirty-nine miles from St. Paul, in Rice county, on the St. Paul and Milwaukee railroad. A neat iron bridge unites the northwest and the southeast sides of the town, and just above the bridge is one of the finest mill races in the State, the water in its incessant flow roaring like the ocean and appearing like a minature Niagara. There is a large flouring mill on either side of the river belonging
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THIS EVENTFUL DAY.
THIS EVENTFUL DAY.
Mr. J. B. Hide, however, succeeded in getting a shot gun with which he blazed away at the marauding scoundrels, or escaped lunatics, for it was not at first exactly understood what the fellows were. Mr. Manning, armed with a breech loading rifle, came coolly upon the field of action, backed by Mr. L. Stacey and Mr. Phillips, while Dr. Wheeler armed himself with an old breech loading carbine and placing himself in a room (No. 8) in the third story of the Dampier House, delivered two very effectiv
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THE BATTLE
THE BATTLE
was now at its height, and firing was raging in downright earnest. Manning, from the front of the Scriver block, Bates from the clothing store of Mr. Hanauer, and Wheeler from the window directly over the clothing store, and unobserved by the daring scoundrels, made it lively for the desperate gang, and kept them from passing into Mill Square. One of the gang was about mounting his horse and while stooping over the pommel of his saddle with his back toward Wheeler, that gentleman took deliberate
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THE BRAVE GIRL
THE BRAVE GIRL
“and there will be one the less to fight” and Wheeler fired. Instantly the villain dropped his hand upon his thigh, and the girl cried out, “Oh, you aimed too low,” thinking the shot had taken effect in the middle third of the right thigh. Wheeler at once left the room in search of another cartridge which unluckily he was unable to find. The wounded man who had changed his pistol to the left hand and discharged several shots at Manning, now turned about, and seeing Bates inside his store with a
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APPALLING, SICKENING, TRAGEDY
APPALLING, SICKENING, TRAGEDY
could not be imagined than the one which was in progress in the bank while the street fight already described was going on. Just a few moments before the raiders commenced their wild career on the streets, three men rushed into the bank, holding in their hands large pistols, the glittering barrels of which they directed toward the three gentlemen, Messrs. Heywood, Bunker and Wilcox, who occupied the desks behind the counter. Springing over the counter these desperadoes shouted out...
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“THROW UP YOUR HANDS,”
“THROW UP YOUR HANDS,”
“we intend to rob the bank.” “Which is the Cashier?” one demanded, and instantly approaching Heywood, commanded him to open the safe. “I am not the cashier,” was the reply. The man then turned to Bunker, and made the same demand, but he also denied that he held that important post. The fellow next addressed the bewildered and fear-stricken Wilcox, whose terror prevented him from answering. The baffled man again turned to Heywood, and with oaths and threats endeavored to make him open the safe. H
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VILLIANS WILL BE BAFFLED,
VILLIANS WILL BE BAFFLED,
“and my integrity saved from suspicion.” It was a supreme moment of dreadful anxiety to him, and such the intense excitement of his feelings, that when he rushed upon the door to close it, his strength was unequal to the task, and before he could recover himself to renew the effort, a powerful hand seized him by the throat, and threw him back from the vault, at the same time a ruthless arm struck him to the ground with the butt end of a pistol. Taking advantage of this struggle between Heywood a
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HIS LIFE BLOOD STAINING THE DESK
HIS LIFE BLOOD STAINING THE DESK
and seat with its crimson stream. In the street the baffled and retreating murderers sought their horses and vaulting into their saddles they were soon rushing with frantic haste out of town westward. It was some few moments before the citizens could sufficiently recover themselves to take in thoroughly the entire situation. There lay in the open street a few paces from the bank entrance a bandit in all the hideous ghastliness of a bloody death. A few feet from him was stretched the lifeless bod
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RED HANDED MURDERERS.
RED HANDED MURDERERS.
Some overcome with indignation, impetuously prepared for the chase, but others, perhaps more determined men, who were willing to follow on to the very death, were not so hasty in their departure, but as time proved were prepared to pertinaciously follow up the trial with the tenacity of the bloodhound. Two of the former, Davis and Hayes, immediately sought for horses and none being so ready as those of the two dead robbers, seized them, sprang into the saddles, and were soon in hot pursuit. Both
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THE DEAD BANDITS.
THE DEAD BANDITS.
The police were at once led by the sheriff to an empty store where were lying the inanimate and ghastly forms of the two bandits who had been shot down by the intrepid Northfield citizens. One was found to be six feet four and a half inches in height; his body exhibited a splendid physical development, with arms and limbs of thewy muscles and skin as fair and soft as a lady's; his face was of rather an elongated oval with sharply cut features; high cheek bones, well arched brow and deep-set blue
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IDENTIFICATION.
IDENTIFICATION.
There were two men from Cannon Falls, who came to view the bodies before the interment, with the expectation of identifying one of the latter as a brother-in-law of one of the two. He said if it was his relative, a bullet scar would be found under the left arm. The scar was there, but the man would not say whether the fellow was his relation or not. The man whom the big fellow was thought to be, is a former resident of Minneapolis, who has a brother-in-law still living there. This Styles left fo
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CLELL MILLER.
CLELL MILLER.
The other man was five feet eight inches in height, but much stouter built than the taller, with hair of the exact color, and like his inclined to curl. His face was rounder and covered with about two weeks growth of beard; the eyes, like the other's were blue. The clothing was quite new, even to the shirt, which appeared to have been put on that day. He also wore a white linen collar (new) and a white linen handkerchief round his neck. On his feet were striped half hose and good boots, but of d
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SCENE OF THE BLOODY ENCOUNTER
SCENE OF THE BLOODY ENCOUNTER
The empty store in which the two corpses lay, is on Mill Square, which is immediately over on the south side of the handsome iron bridge which spans the Cannon river just below the mill race. On the north side of the square is the flouring mill of Ames & Co. On the west is Scriver's block and two or three small stores, among them that in which the bodies lay. On the east side is the office of the Rice County Journal and a wagon shop, and on the south is the Dampier House, under which are
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LIVELY FUSILADE
LIVELY FUSILADE
between this fellow and Manning, the scoundrel keeping himself well under cover, but a ball from Wheeler's musket struck the fellow in the leg, half way above the knee. He at once changed his pistol to the left hand and grasped the wounded limb with the right, still trying to get at Manning. Finding himself getting weak, he turned and limped off up the street, but, seeing Bates with a pistol in his hand, he sent a ball whizzing toward that gentleman, grazing the side of his cheek and the bridge
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MR. F. WILCOX'S STATEMENT.
MR. F. WILCOX'S STATEMENT.
Mr. Wilcox, the teller of the bank, stated that he, in company with Mr. Heywood and A. E. Bunker, were in the bank at about 2 o'clock, when three well dressed, powerful looking men entered by the door, which was open. They held large revolvers in their hands, and one of them cried out: “Throw up your hands, for we intend to rob the bank, and if you halloo, we will”...
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BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT.
BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT.
They then asked which was the cashier, to which Mr. Heywood replied, “He is not in.” They then sprang over the counter and demanded the safe to be opened. Addressing each in turn they said: “You are the cashier,” which each denied. Seeing Heywood seated at the cashier's desk, one of the ruffians went up to him with his long, narrow-barrelled pistol and said: “You are the cashier; now open the safe, you —— —— son of a ——.” Mr. Heywood said: “It is a time-lock and cannot be opened now.” One of the
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SACRIFICE HIS LIFE
SACRIFICE HIS LIFE
than betray his trust. Some few moments—it seemed ages to the bewildered and terror-stricken lookers-on—were spent in Heywood's struggling to break from the murderous villain and gain his liberty. At length he broke away, and regaining his feet, ran toward the door crying...
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“MURDER!”
“MURDER!”
The man at once struck him with a pistol and knocked him down, and, dragging him to the safe door, commanded him to open it. But the intrepid clerk stolidly refused, when the villain shot at him, but did not hit him. Evidently the shot was intended rather to intimidate him than injure, but the scoundrel had reckoned without his host, for the effect was lost upon Heywood. But upon the discharge of the pistol Bunker made a start for the back door and ran for dear life, one of the robbers pursuing
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“THE GAME'S UP.”
“THE GAME'S UP.”
he said, “and we are beaten.” The three men in the bank then sprang over the counter and rushed to the door, and Heywood staggered to the chair, but, as the last one was getting over the counter, with one hand on the cashier's desk, he turned round and deliberately fired. Heywood fell senseless to the floor! The man then sprang on the rail and out at the front door, and he (Wilcox) cleared out of the back door into Manning's hardware store. Wilcox was not sure whether the ruffian struck Heywood
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SAVAGE BLOODTHIRSTY PROPENSITY
SAVAGE BLOODTHIRSTY PROPENSITY
of their nature, and wherever a face showed itself, whether it was man, woman or child, the robbers fired murderously at it, crashing in windows in a lively style. Early Friday morning it was reported in Northfield that Brissette and Hoy had joined their forces at Morristown and had a hot encounter with the gang, which had been reinforced by three others. The police succeeded in killing one man and capturing the wounded man carried from Northfield. The robbers then took to the woods and the poli
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THE BANK,
THE BANK,
It is in a small apartment, about 20 by 50 feet, situate in the Scriver block, folding doors in the center of the front opening into Division street. It has a counter three feet high, running across to within three feet of the west wall, and going back the whole length of the building. This counter is mounted by a thirty inch glazed rail, leaving a space of two feet in front, where the men jumped over, scratching the counter with their boots. Inside of the center is the safe vault fitted with th
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HEYWOOD'S DEATH WOUND.
HEYWOOD'S DEATH WOUND.
Poor Heywood was shot through the head, the ball entering at the right temple and passing downward and inward, scattering his brains all about, and doubtless depriving him instantaneously of consciousness, and putting him completely beyond all suffering, although he breathed for about twenty minutes, but did not speak. In addition to the bullet wound, there was a slight scratch in the right side of the neck as from a knife. Mr. E. E. Bunker was not considered dangerously wounded, the ball passin
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MR. E. E. BUNKER'S STORY.
MR. E. E. BUNKER'S STORY.
Mr. Bunker said that himself, Mr. Heywood and Mr. Wilcox were sitting at their respective desks, when they heard a heavy rush from the bank door to the counter. They turned round and saw three men climbing over the counter and with their knees on it and revolvers pointed directly at the three bank officers. A man presumed to be Jesse James, and who acted as leader, called out, “Throw up your hands, we are going to rob the bank.” James then ran across the room and passed Heywood into the vault, w
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NICHOLAS GUSTAVSON.
NICHOLAS GUSTAVSON.
Several citizens of Northfield narrowly escaped with their lives during the encounter. A Norwegian, Nicholas Gustavson by name, was struck with a bullet at the right side of the head, just at the ear, the ball running under the scalp and out at the top of his head. He says when he was struck, and for several minutes after, his whole left side was paralyzed. But after a few minutes of unconsciousness, he was able to reach his boarding house, but the next day he was unable to rise from his bed. It
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THE INQUEST.
THE INQUEST.
Friday afternoon the coroner, Dr. Waugh, from Faribault, held an inquest upon the bodies of the two scoundrels who met with such a richly deserved end, and the following gentlemen were sworn as a jury: A. H. Rawson, S. L. Bushnell, R. Silk, J. L. McFee, R. Plummer and C. W. Gross. The jury were not long in arriving at the following verdict: “That the two unknown men came to their deaths by the discharge of firearms in the hands of our citizens in self-defense and in protecting the property of th
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THE ROBBER HUNT.
THE ROBBER HUNT.
borrowed a saddle. This took place at 4½ o'clock, and a half hour before, the landlord of Cushman's Hotel in Millersburg saw the other four pass his house on a gallop. He says that three of them stopped at his hostelry the night before. He saw the other two pass some time later, but did not recognize among the six, the man that made up four whom he had entertained. Mr. Cushman says the men were extremely well-behaved, using no liquor, and indulging in no profanity or vulgarity. They retired earl
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A NEW DEPARTURE.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
A large number of hunters were soon on the scene of the affair and efforts were made to follow the trail with lanterns, but nothing was accomplished except to establish the identity of the robbers by the impress of a boot leaving a and which had been the guiding mark wherever the trail had been struck. At daylight the trail was found by the impatient hunters, and it was rapidly followed to the Seymour farm about four miles away across the fields. Here the fleeing villains had unceremoniously hel
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THE CAPTURE.
THE CAPTURE.
Exhausted and out of breath from his long and rapid ride, it was some few moments ere he could sufficiently recover himself to tell an intelligent story. To Col. Vought, the landlord of the Flanders Hotel, the boy gave his statement. The following is condensed from the sworn statement of the captors, and was published in the “ Madelia Times: ” Early on Thursday morning, September 21st, a Norwegian boy named Oscar O. Suborn, while out milking, saw two men pass his father's house. This boy lives e
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COL. THOMAS L. VOUGHT,
COL. THOMAS L. VOUGHT,
is a man of forty-five or forty-eight years of age; large, well built man, of fine, imposing personal appearance, and if he looks cross at any one, especially a robber, it would indicate that he meant “business.” In fact he is noted as being extremely kind hearted and pleasant in his way and manner, but of great reserve force and determination when necessity requires. Years ago he fought the Indians in that county and weathered many bitter storms, long distances, night and days alone as stage ow
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GEORGE BRADFORD,
GEORGE BRADFORD,
is a young man about twenty-five years of age, son of Morris Bradford, many years a county officer and old resident. He is a partner of J. N. Cheney, merchant, a quiet, handsome gentleman, of splendid business qualifications, of high integrity, regular and attentive to duty, and is highly respected by the community; he is well educated, and formerly was a school teacher in the county. He is very firm and unyielding when pushed....
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BENJAMIN M. RICE
BENJAMIN M. RICE
resides in St. James, is a young man, son of Hon. W. D. Rice, ex-Senator representing that county and district several terms in both branches of the legislature at St. Paul. Young Mr. Rice was engrossing clerk in the senate some years ago. He was born in the extreme south, and a resident there for several years, and possesses in a remarkable degree the fiery ardor, daring and impetuous power, characteristic of many southern men—even bordering on recklessness. No more lithe, wiry, or difficult ma
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JAMES SEVERSON,
JAMES SEVERSON,
is a young Norwegian, about eighteen or nineteen years of age, who came from Iowa to be a clerk two years ago in the large store of G. B. Yates. The jolliest and most popular young man, with everybody, especially his customers. He speaks several languages well. To his wit and gond nature everybody will bear witness, especially the ladies; he is a good salesman, industrious, correct, and to be depended upon; he is short, stout, and a little “daredevil” if any trouble is on hand....
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CHARLES POMEROY
CHARLES POMEROY
is the second son of C. M. Pomeroy, justice of the peace, and who is one of the oldest and most respected residents of the county. The young man is short, compact, powerfully built, and is strong, very quiet and unobtrusive, yet immovable and tenacious when danger threatens; he is a hardworking, industrious farmer boy, and anything that needs coolness, courage and determination to make successful, he would be chosen for it. is American born, of Scandinavian parents, and bears a fine reputation f
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THE YOUNGER FAMILY.
THE YOUNGER FAMILY.
[The principal points in the following sketch were furnished by the Younger boys and must be received as in a degree partial.—ED.] Henry W. Younger, the head of this branch of the Younger family was a native of Kentucky, but early in life he removed to Jackson county, Missouri, in company with his father's family. The family were thoroughly respectable, of more than ordinary intelligence, and comfortably provided with wealth. H. W. Younger proved to be a young man of superior ability, acquiring
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THE CHILDREN.
THE CHILDREN.
The oldest son Richard had died in 1860 at the early age of 23, after having acquired a liberal education, and became an esteemed member of the Masonic order. Of the eight sisters six grew up, four being well married, one of the others dying within a few years, and another still living in maidenhood, being the one spoken of herein. The sons that lived to suffer from the aggressions of the enemies of their father were Thomas Coleman, James Henry, John and Robert Ewing, three of whom are now in th
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THOMAS COLEMAN YOUNGER.
THOMAS COLEMAN YOUNGER.
Cole appears to have early cultivated a taste for the wildest of adventures, and with a ferocity and cruelly almost fiendish, the taking of human life, when it interfered with his plans appears to have been no more to him than the use of hard words among ordinary men. During his connection with the Quantrell gang he was the boldest and bloodiest of the outlaws, and was guilty of many terrible deeds when his passions got the better of his judgment, while at other times he would treat his defeated
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WHOLESALE KILLING.
WHOLESALE KILLING.
It is related that at one time Quantrell's company, after an encounter with a party of jayhawkers, found fifteen prisoners on their hands. As was the custom, arrangements were speedily made to put them to death. Among the arms captured was an Enfield rifle, and as none of the guerillas had ever seen one before, it was decided to test its merits, as they had heard that its force was terrible. The poor prisoners were placed in a row one behind the other, and Cole Younger, claiming that the weapon
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AS A FOOT-PAD AND ROBBER
AS A FOOT-PAD AND ROBBER
Cole Younger is charged with having been connected with a great number of wild adventures where stages, railroad trains, banks and stores have been robbed, and his connection with them is not doubted by many, although he has proved by respectable parties that he had nothing to do with some of them. A series of desperate crimes commenced to be committed as early as 1868, and it was evident that a regularly organized band existed. It was, and is, believed that the Younger brothers and the James br
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JAMES H. YOUNGER.
JAMES H. YOUNGER.
This is the youngest of the boys, being now nearly 23 years of age. He is quite prepossessing in appearance, and excited the sympathy of the ladies especially in his captivity. His career of crime extends over about three years, commencing when he was charged with horse stealing in connection with his brother John. Until that time he had remained quietly at home, being the only protector his mother had until her death, and his sister since. Bob was one of the men in the bank at Northfield and wa
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CHARLES PITTS.
CHARLES PITTS.
This bandit who was killed at Madelia, is known throughout the south as Wells. He is presumed to be the man that shot the brave cashier. He is reputed to have been one of the most daring of southern horse thieves, and possessed a great knowledge of horses. His nature was brutal, and he was as bold and tenacious as a bull dog. The gang always engaged him when particularly dirty work was on hand, and when on a long tramp, as his horse education made him valuable in the care of stock. His body has
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THE JAMES BROTHERS.
THE JAMES BROTHERS.
It is supposed that the two robbers that succeeded in escaping, leaving six of the gang in Minnesota, three captives and three dead, were the notorious James boys, Frank and Jesse. These bandits claim, as do the Younger brothers, that they were forced to a course of crime by the aggressions of their enemies. From the close of the war down to the present time these men have been outlaws, and a long list of crimes are laid at their door. Among others may be named the robbing of the bank at Russell
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