People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1893 — BANK ROBBERS KILLED. [ARTICLE]

BANK ROBBERS KILLED.

They First Shoot a Cashier—Daring Daylight Robbery Committed at Delta, Col., by Outlaws—One Escapes Pursued by a Posse—Stolen Money Recovered. Delta, C«l., Sept. 9.—Cashier A. T. Blachly, of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ bank, was shot dead while defending his trust Thursday morning by three robbers. Two of the robbers are dead and the third will soon be in the hands of the officers of the law, who are in hot pursuit Three men had been seen lounging about the bank for a day or two without any apparent business. About 10:45 o’clock Thursday morning, when no customers were present, they entered the bank and covered those present with their guns. The spokesman, presenting his revolver at the head of Cashier Blachly, demanding that he hand over what funds there were in the bank. Mr. Blachly refused. The robber without any further warning fired, killing him instantly. The three men then grabbed all the cash in sight, amounting to perhaps 11,000. Then they started for the outside, where their horses were hitched. W. Ray Simpson, who keeps a hard ware store near the bank, heard the shot and seizing his loaded Winchester got into the street in front of the bank just as the three robbers were rushing out He opened fire at once and with the first shot one of the robbers fell dead. He fired again and another robber dropped. The third had time to mount his horse and start down the road for the country. By this time the bank was the center of an excited multitude of citizens. As soon as they ascertained what had occurred they rushed to their homes, secured horses, guns and ammunition and set off after the fleeing robber. A portion of the posse in pursuit of the third robber returned Thursday evening and reported they had lost the trail in the mountains and that the man would probably escape, as he was well mounted. The dead men had been stopping at one of the hotels for several days -under the names of James G. Bradley and Clarence Bradley. James was recognized as a member of a gang which robbed a bank at Tellurido, Col., three or four years ago. A reward of SSOO has been offered for the missing robber. Cashier Blachly leaves a widow and several children and was an old resident of the county.