Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1878 — Hank Bobbery in Colorado. [ARTICLE]

Hank Bobbery in Colorado.

The Pueblo (Col.) Chieftain relates how the banking house of the Messrs. Banks, in that town, was robbed : Mr. H. N. Banks slept alone in the building. He retired to bed at about 10:30 o’clock, and was awakened between 1 and 2 o’clock, and, on opening his eyes, saw, from the light of a dark lantern, two disguised men on either side of his bed. Both had white cloth over their faces. One held a cocked six-shooter at Mr. Banks’ head, and the other pointed a formidable bowie-knife at his heart. The large man said, “ Make no noise,” and then the two gagged Mr. Banks. They jammed a knotted handkerchief saturated with ether into his mouth, nearly strangling him, and bound it in plaie with another handkerchief. The small man then went into the front room and pulled down the window curtains. On the return of the small man from the front room he said, looking at Mr. Banks, “He’s asleep.” This the other denied, and, shaking the prisoner roughly by the right shoulder, said, “Be quiet. Don’t speak a word. If you do I’ll kill you.” The two then took Mr. Banks between them and marched him to the safe, ordering him to open it. The safe is locked with three combination locks, all locked on different combinations. He opened two of them, and, when he came to the cash chest, he hesitated whether to open it or take the chances of being shot. The big man said, “ Open that money-chest.” Mr. Banks took another look at the cocked revolver and then obeyed. The robbers helped themselves to all the bank-notes in the cash-box, and then examined the large pocket-books containing valuable papers. In a small box in the safe they found a gold watch and chain, but they deemed it prudent not to take it. They stole, altogether, about $5,000 in money. After their examination of the safe, they escorted Mr. Banks back to his bed and tied him hand and foot. They crossed his hands behind his back and securely bound them with a leather strap half an inch wide, and then tied his feet together and to the bedstead with a stout cord. On their departure one said, “ Don’t utter a noise ; if you do I’ll come back and kill you.”