The Wide World Magazine, Vol. 22, No. 128, November, 1908Various
History
The Wide World Magazine, Vol. 22, No. 128, November, 1908
Various
Adventure stories -- Periodicals; English periodicals; History, Modern -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Voyages and travels -- Periodicals
Conlin, with the Winchester rifle, sent big bullets screaming through
the corn-shocks (sheaves), and as the field was not an extensive one
the men were in considerable danger of being struck down unless they
surrendered, and this they finally decided to do. The desperadoes,
having thrown down their guns, were directed to approach with their
hands in the air. Thereupon they were securely tied with straps taken
from the harness.
At this moment Farmer Conlin discovered that he had fired his last
cartridge. Brooks, the negro, then stated that had he known this a
moment before he would never have been taken, as it was the fear of the
big rifle alone that had caused them to surrender.
The two robbers were driven rapidly back to Albert City, at which place
Marshal Snyder had arrived. He searched the men, and, not satisfied
with a superficial examination revealing more guns and ammunition,
ordered the men to strip. This they did with evident reluctance. Around
the negro's neck was tied a razor and a bag containing a quantity of
some liquid. As Snyder removed the latter the negro remarked:--
"Be careful of that; it's dangerous!"
Needless to say this liquid was nitroglycerine, and as there was enough
of it to have blown off at least twelve safe-doors it is not difficult
to understand the ferocious nerve of the man who carried it when
exposed to bullets and the eccentricities of bucking horses.
The examination over, the negro hastily snatched up his under-garments
and began donning them hurriedly. This aroused Snyder's suspicion
further, and realizing the calibre of the men with whom he was dealing
he searched the garments. Sewn in the seams of the shirt he found two
fine saws nearly twelve inches in length, with which he cut an iron
stove-poker as easily as a dull knife cuts cheese. This discovery was a
serious one for the negro, and his spirits fell noticeably thereafter.
The men were now turned over to the sheriff and deputies who had
arrived from Storm Lake, and by them taken to that city and lodged in
the county jail.
[Illustration: "THEY WERE DIRECTED TO APPROACH WITH THEIR HANDS IN THE
AIR."]
John Sundblad died on Sunday afternoon from the effects of the wound
received in the fight, and Marshal Lodine, after battling bravely for
eight days, also succumbed to his injuries. The robber shot by Farmer
Conlin lingered until Sunday noon, and before dying confessed that it
was he and his companions who had robbed the Greenville Bank. He stated
that his name was Dolan, although he was apparently of Italian descent.
The two surviving men, giving the names of Albert Phillips and Louis
Brooks, were tried for murder, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged.
Upon appeal to the Supreme Court errors were found, and a new trial
granted the accused. They were found guilty of manslaughter at this
trial and sentenced to life imprisonment at hard work. At the present
time they are in the Iowa State Penitentiary at Anamosa.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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