The Valley Falls Register, Friday,
March 7, 1890
 |
From The Valley Falls New Era,
March 8, 1890 |
Just before
six o’clock last Saturday afternoon John Coen, cashier in the bank of Hicks,
Gephart & Co., pale and trembling rushed out of the front door of the bank
and told passers by, as best he could, that the bank had been robbed of a large
sum of money a few moments before. He first saw A. Harmon and L.M. Tutt. The
startling news spread rapidly; guns and revolvers were in hand, and everybody
soon on the lookout. But the fleeing robber escaped from sight by dodging three
blocks east passing out at the stock yards. Darkness came on. Telegrams and
telephone messages were sent in various directions giving notice of the
robbery. Armed men were detailed to scour the country and board every out-going
train. The hours wore on. Finally at midnight a dispatch from Meriden 15 miles
distant, gave the information that a stranger, answering the description of the
robber had stopped there and gone to bed in the hotel. He had told the night
operator that he was a “slicker.” Suspicion was fastened upon the stranger. How
to capture him was the question. The officials at Meriden asked for help from
Valley Falls, and Joe Summerville and Hal Shire volunteered to do the work and
left in a buggy at 1:30 p.m. They arrived at Meriden between four and five
o’clock and consulting constable Garber and landlord Garber, of the American
hotel, laid their plans to capture the bold bad man. And they planned wisely
and safely. But would they get the right man! The robber had left word with the
clerk to call him at 5 a.m. as he wished to go to Atchison on the morning
train. He slept up stairs. At the appointed hour he was called by the clerk,
arose promptly, dressed himself and walked down stairs into the office, where
the brave deputies were stationed, armed with double barreled shot-guns,
heavily loaded. The robber cheerily bade the clerk good morning closing the
door behind him. At the same time he was ordered to throw up his hands and he
saw, doubtless to his complete surprise, that he was covered by two
sudden-death-dealing weapons. He haulted not nor held up his hands, coolly and
silently walked toward the stove, crossing his arms and reaching to his side
coat pockets for his pistols. Again he was ordered to throw up his hands and
again he refused, hoping, perhaps, to un-nerve the deputies, or by a skillful
maneuver draw his double action revolvers and stand an equal chance with his
captors. To him it must have been an awful moment. To surrender would be to
expose his guilt — not to do so he might escape. His time had come; the
triggers were pulled, simultaneously, and the heavy report from two shot guns
sounded the knell of his departure into eternity. The daring robber fell backwards,
dead, his feet near the stove. He raised his head and shoulders slightly from
the floor and sank back stilled in death. One full charge entered just above
his heart and the other in part, his right shoulder. The body lay there until
noon, when county attorney Gephart, and witnesses from here, arrived to attend a
coroner’s inquest and examine the effects of the dead man. $2,812 was found on
his person, all in his boots except $24, one package of $500 in bills, having
the bank wrapper on it, endorsed 2-27-1890 – Coen; that is on Feb. 2nd [27th?] 1890, Coen counted that package.
The other packages were recognized. The robber had $1,000 less than it was
supposed he had, Coen in his excitement having over looked the package in the
safe.
 |
From The Valley Falls
New Era, March 8, 1890 |
A coroner’s
inquest was held before Justice Fraser, and the following verdict was rendered.
State of Kansas, Jefferson county. An inquisition holden at Meriden in
Jefferson county, on the body of an unknown person there lying dead, by the
jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed. The said jurors upon their oath, do
say that the dead man is to us identified as that of the robber of the Hicks,
Gephart & Co. bank at Valley Falls, Kan., on March 1, and killed by a
gunshot wound while attempting to escape arrest at Meriden, Kan., in
apprehending him as said robber.
We find that
said killing was lawful and justifiable in every respect.
We further
find that said death was not felonious.
In testimony
whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands, the day and year here
below written. March 2, 1890. Abraham Mosier, foreman; Robert Smith, George W. Potts,
Nathan Glenn, George A. Smith and D.H. Fraser, justice of the peace, acting
coroner.
The man was
identified as the robber beyond all question.
The above is a
diagram of the room in the hotel where the robber was shot.
Dark lines indicate the doors, dotted lines the windows.
D, door where he entered from stairway;
Os, where he fell;
S, the stove;
G, constable Garber;
B, Summerville’s position;
A, Shire’s, though on north porch, door open;
dash lines to the right, stairway.
The room is about 11x13 ft.
The robber had
on a new short leather coat, lined with red flannel, dark checkered pants, knit
jacket, wore boots and rubbers, and a felt hat. He was seen here Saturday
morning wearing the same suit. When he committed the robbery he wore a black
turban cap, brown denim coat and slate colored overalls, covering his face with
a red handkerchief.
HOW IT WAS
DONE
The “slicker”
did his first work well; but fell down at last. He took breakfast Saturday
morning at the Octagon hotel and afterwards he played checkers with young
Smith. He gave his name as D. Smith. He wore then, the same suit he died in.
Shortly after 10 a.m. he went to Coy, Hutchins & Co’s., clothing store and
bought a 10 cent red Martha Washington pocket hand kerchief, displaying a small
roll of bills and getting change for a $5. bill. He then visited each bank and
took observations. He then visited several stores in town, his face covered
with the red handkerchief. People who noticed him supposed he had the
tooth-ache or mumps. About noon he hired a saddle horse at Harman’s livery stable,
still disguised, saying he wished to ride to the country two miles to look at
some cattle. He rode all about town and studied the surroundings, no doubt.
About one o’clock he hitched the horse to a telephone pole in front of the
Crosby’s bank, where it is presumed that he first intended to make a haul; but
owing to the large number of farmers in town and a special meeting of a horse
company in lawyer Hamble’s office, in the rear of the bank, he gave that up
after waiting two hours for an opportunity, and returned the horse at Harmon’s
suggestion. He probably intended to escape on the horse if he could rob that
bank.
He tried another plan, and entering Hicks, Gephart & Co’s. bank between
four and five o’clock, called for and secured a $2.00 draft on New York. John
Coen, the cashier, was alone, Dr. Gephart, being absent at Oklahoma. Claiming
to be chilly and suffering with neuralgia he entreatingly asked permission to
sit by the stove in the office and warm. This was granted, and he soon
complained of growing very sick and enquired when the doctor might arrive. The
cashier did not suspect his intentions though the robber lingered by the stove;
but however told him he’d better go to some restaurant or other place to warm.
The stranger pleaded to remain. Several parties saw him sitting in the rear
office, but suspected nothing. Closing up time came on and the cashier proceeded
to cast his balances and place the books, money, etc., in the vault. He closed
the front door and had entered the vault to close the time safe, about this
time growing rather nervous about the presence of the “sick” man. What could he
mean? Suddenly his visitor appeared at the vault door with a revolver in each
hand remarking, “That is a nice place you are in; a very secure place;” and
John saw two pistols in his face. He was powerless to resist. The robber said, “please
hand out $10,000.” John replied that he did not have that much. “Then,” said
the robber, “give me what you have and put it in this sack.” John proceeded to
do so. The robber then proposed to lock John in the vault, but relented and
locked him in the bank telling him he would leave the back door key by a tree
and warned him not to give the alarm until he got away. But the alarm was given
all the same, soon as possible, after unbolting the front door. The robber fled
south one block and dodged eastward three blocks to the stock yards where, it
was learned afterwards, he lay hiding for some time, under the chute of the
A.T&S.FE stock yards. There he removed his disguise, and left a black cap,
denim coat, overalls and red handkerchief in the white cotton bag, where they
were found by Jim Falls, Tuesday morning. The draft, also, was found there,
torn and twisted. Who he is and whence he came has not yet been ascertained.
NOTES
- It is the
boldest bank robbery on record.
- The $2.00
draft was in favor of S. Robertson, Ottawa, Ks.
- It was a lucky
thing that Coen was not locked up in the vault.
 |
From The Valley Falls Register,
March 7, 1890 |
- Art Mason went
to Meriden Tuesday and got two or three negatives of the unknown man and made some
good photos of him.
- Chief Gardner
viewed the dead man Sunday to see if he was among his list of crooks.
- Among the
robber’s effects was a silver watch bearing the initial R; a two-foot rule
marked S.R.; a registered letter receipt with the names D. Smith and S.
Robertson, Ottawa, Kans., to Burlington. He wore a home made shirt lined with
part of a flour sack, branded Starre & Co., San Francisco.
- When people
from abroad heard of the robbery many remarked, “The robber will be in great
luck if he escapes. Valley Falls will shoot.”
- Charley
Williams went to Meriden on a freight train, stopped off awhile and went to
Topeka on the passenger, and the operator there was well prepared to suspicion
the “slicker,” when he stopped in half an hour afterwards.
- Constable
Stockwell went to Leavenworth via. the N.W. freight at midnight. He was at
Police headquarters Sunday morning and learned by telephone of the death of the
robber.
- Hal Butts and
Dr. Swallow drove to Boyle and Winchester. They noticed a horse hitched at a
farm house, knocked and inquired if a stranger was there. The four young
gentlemen, playing “high five” were badly frightened.
- Deputy Fred
Diehl was to go to Atchison on the morning train but the work was done before
the time for the train.
- Will Posey drove
to Oskaloosa and back by one a.m. and brought over attorney Gephart. They had a
cold ride.
- “You won’t,
will you” was the signal for the deputies to shoot, if the robber refused to hold
up his hands and surrender.
- We understand
that certain parties, at Meriden, are talking to the effect that the robber
could have been taken alive. They should have tried the job and not allowed
help to come from Valley Falls.
- The latest is
that the body of the robber of the Valley Falls bank has been identified as
that of *Sharon Robertson, a farmer living near Ottawa. He was one time P.M. at
Homewood.
SECOND INQUEST
Monday and Tuesday
it was reported that the robber had shown a large roll of bills in making purchases
during the day before entering the bank, and as the bank had not shown
conclusively how much they had lost, they had become owners of money not
belonging to them. Also that the shooting had been done with unjustifiable
haste, without warning, that the parties doing it had said they had come to
kill him and had done it.
These ideas
were set forth to the coroner in a petition, and he decided to hold a second
inquest to decide firstly if the bank had returned to them more than they had
lost, and secondly if the pursuers had given sufficient warning before
shooting.
The jury at
the second inquest consisted of four of the former jury with two new men.
The second
inquest was held Thursday much to the annoyance and inconvenience of the Valley
Falls people. Attorney Myers appeared in behalf of the Bank, and Coroner Balsly
began examining the witnesses, E.M. Hutchins, J.W. Falls, ’Squire Frazier, John
Coen, Constable Garber, Summerville and Shire. The examination of the two
latter is said to have been quite severe causing some excitement. Their testimony
is substantially given in these columns.
Mr. Sharrard
of the Meriden State bank was next called as an expert to examine the balance
book of the Valley Falls as to the amount as to amount of balance on hand March
1st and 3rd.
His report
satisfied the jury that the bank was not in possession of any money not
belonging to them.
The other
personal effects were returned to the keeping of the coroner.
The jury after
two hours deliberation brought in a verdict to the effect that the deceased
came to his death by the hands of said Shire and Summerville, and that the
killing was not felonious.
This story
appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 2014.
*Shanon Robison
was identified as a resident of Franklin County.
From The Ottawa Daily Republic, Saturday, March
8, 1890
The news was at
first incredible but a Republican
representative instituted a search which terminated in proving that it must be
none other than Shanon Robison of this neighborhood. Because of the seriousness
of the charge, pending further investigation, but little was said publicly
about the unfortunate circumstances.
Shanon Robison
is well known here, his father being an old resident of Homewood. About three
years ago the old man bought Mr Guy’s stock and afterwards his son Shanon
became postmaster. Since then they went to California but the son came back
last August and went to live with his father-in-law, Mr Shaw on Sac Creek west
and south of Princeton.
During the
winter he made various excursions through the state ostensibly to purchase a
farm. Very recently he negotiated with Mr Haigler of Harrison township, but had
not completed the bargain Friday morning, 7th instant. He said then
he was going away for a day or two, and was expecting some money, after which
he would make a final deal.
On Monday of
last week, Feb 24, he and his wife, quite a young woman, probably eighteen
years old, were in the city and made numerous calls on our merchants. Mr Forbes
had sold him various bills of goods, which he always paid, but he acted so
strangely that he did not care to trust him longer.
The sad events
have astonished everybody, for all the parties connected are people of good
standing. The surviving widow and child, as well as the other relatives, have
the sympathy of a large number of friends.
