Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1893 — BANDITS BOLD. [ARTICLE]

BANDITS BOLD.

Thomas Prunty was shot and killed by burglars at his homo on W, Thirteenth street, in Chicago, Wednesday night, and two otlier members of the family, Sadie and Peter Prunty, were wounded by the burglars’ bullets. The thieves escaped. Burglars entered the People’s Bank at Lexington, 111., Wednesday night, and tried to dynamite the vault, but failed to secure any booty. They fled leaving their tools behind. A gambler named Sheedy, of Iron Mountain, Mich., Tuesday night, cracked the safe of a saloon at Waucedah and secured ?5,753. He escaped. J. O. Drake, treasurer of the Indiana, Illinois & lowa railroad, was assaulted in his oilice, at Chicago, Wednesday, and robbed of many thousands of dollars, which he had packed in a valise, preparatory to going out upon the road to pay the employes. A mail-carrier in passing Mr. Drake’s office heard groans within, and upon entering found the officer lying upon the floor, bruised, and in a semiconscious condition. “I’ve been robbed by two men,” said Mr. Drake, feebly, and the open safe, overturned valise and scattered papers confirmed his statement. Mr. Drake had evidently received rough treatment. Big welts on his head bore evidence of savage blows. He had but little to say, but the sum of $23,003 was mentioned as missing, and it was soon understood that the robbers had made away with that amount. Soon the news of the robbery had spread through the big office building and all kinds of wild tales were circulated. The police are investigating, but refused to make public any statement.