Adel Bank Robbery by Wilkin & Crawford - (1895)

CRAWFORD, LEACH, STITH, WILKIN

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 1/7/2007 at 11:06:00

Winterset Madisonian, 08 March 1895, page 6

BANK ROBBERY AT ADEL

Two Madison County Young Men, Orlando Wilkin and C. W. Crawford, Of Patterson, Engage in Bank Robbery in a Daring but Bungling Way.

The State Bank of Adel Invaded and Robbed—Fortunately of a Small Sum—at the Muzzle of a Gun, Which was Used with Fearful Effect.

CASHIER S. M. LEACH SHOT DOWN.

Four Others, one in the Bank and Three on the Street, are Shot and Severely Wounded—Desperate Attempt to Escape—Quickly Followed by the Sheriff and a Large Body of Excited and Indignant Citizens.

The Robbers Captured only Five Miles South of Adel—Crawford takes Refuge Under a Brush Heap, but Surrenders on Demand—Wilkin Hides in a Barn, and Comes out when it is Fired.

BUT VENGEANCE IS SWIFT FOR ONCE

Wilkin, Refusing to Surrender, is Shot Down in his Tracks like a Venomous Dog—Crawford is Lodged in Jail and Makes a Statement of his Brief but Frightful Career In Crime—Some of the Particulars.

Two young men, born and brought up near Patterson, in this county, were the cause of one of the most sensational excitement, and the perpetrators of one of the most dastardly crimes, that southwestern Iowa has known for many a day. As a result, one of them is dead, shot down while attempting to avoid arrest, and the other is in jail, awaiting trial, which is practically sure to end in a long sentence in the penitentiary. The crime was the robbery of the Adel State Bank, committed last Wednesday morning. The young men are Orlando Wilkin and Charles W. Crawford, who was sometimes familiarly nicknamed “Jess” Crawford. They are related to each other in some degree.

It appears that on Sunday Wilkin borrowed a team and buggy from his uncle, W. W. Crawford, of Crawford township, saying that he wanted to go over towards Wick to visit a young woman. He promised to have the buggy back Monday morning. At all events he betrayed him and started out on an expedition of highway robbery. On Wednesday morning they committed the robbery of the Adel Bank.

HOW IT WAS DONE

Notes of the Commission of the Robbery and Attempted Murder

From the best accounts attainable it appears that between eight and nine o’clock in the morning,--accounts differ as to the exact time—just as the cashier, Mr. S. M. Leech, had opened the vault and got the money and books out ready for business, Wilkin and Crawford entered. Only one person beside the cashier, was in the bank at the time. This was Mr. C. D. Bailey, a merchant. The robbers made some show of being on business, but soon opened fire with repeating shot guns. Some accounts say that they first demanded the money in sight, others that they fired first.

Leech was shot in the neck and shoulder, the wound being at first thought to be mortal, but later it was believed he would recover. It was said that was Wilkin who shot him. Crawford fired at once and hit Bailey, severely, though not so seriously wounding him. They secured a bag of silver coin, said, according to different reports, to contain anywhere from $75 to $200. Cashier Leech though seriously wounded got the gold and paper money in the safe and locked it up. The robbers then started out, shooting at every one in sight, until they reached their team. They got into the buggy and drove it at break neck speed (remaining two lines illegible)…in the start they wounded postmaster R. S. Barr, Messrs. J. M. Byers and J. L. Simpoke, and a boy named Cecil Decker.

PURSUIT AND CAPTURE

A large force was immediately organized, almost every man and boy in town who could do so, engaging in the work. Telegraph and telephone messages were sent out, and in a few minutes Dexter, Earlham and Des Moines were enlisted in the pursuit of the robbers. But they did not get far away. At O’Neal’s crossing on South Coon, about five miles from Adel, they were overhauled by the pursuers from Adel. They had however traveled a considerable distance further in a roundabout route. The pursuers shot at them frequently, shooting the horses several times, so that they had to be abandoned. Crawford took refuge under a brush heap, while Wilkin concealed himself in a barn.

The pursuing party quickly captured Crawford, and compelled him to go and set fire to the barn in which Wilkin had hid. This brought Wilkin out, but still refusing to surrender, he was shot down and was dead in a few seconds. The crowd would probably have made short work of Crawford, but for the fact that in their excitement about killing Wilkin, Sheriff Payne put him in his buggy, and started back to town, where he quickly lodged him in jail. There was at first strong talk of lynching him, but this gradually subsided.

Wilkin, the one who was killed, was the son of the late Matthew Wilkin. His mother and several brothers and sisters lived near Patterson. He is past thirty years of age. He spent several years in the northwest, and served a term in the Minnesota penitentiary for larceny, being released only a short time ago. Crawford is a son of Robert Crawford, who abandoned him and his mother when he was an infant. His mother was a Stith. She afterwards went west, and remarried, and is now, we understand, living in Montana. His uncles, W. W. Crawford and C. S. Crawford, are excellent citizens, men of good character and repute. The Crawford family, during their long residence in that neighborhood, have been regarded as among the best people of the community. The Wilkins, also, are with this one exception, most excellent people. Several families of the relationship lived in and helped to build up the county in the early days, and have always stood well. The occurrence is a sad blow to these respected people.

Mr. Leach, the cashier, who was the victim of the murderous fire from the robbers, is a cousin of Mr. J. H. Leach, of this city, formerly of Douglas township.

Crawford’s Statement

After C. W. Crawford had been lodged in jail, he made a details statement of the affair, which was printed in Thursday morning’s Register. It is quite long and circumstantial. It did not differ materially from what is given above, but adds a few particulars, viz:

He says that on Sunday Wilkin, who was traveling with a team, while he was on horseback, Wilkin asked him to go with him. When asked what for, he said he would tell him later. They staid over night near Indianola. Wilkin wanted to go through a bank in Indianola Monday. Crawford objected, saying he had an aunt living there. They then left Indianola and went to Summerset, and stopped at a boarding house Monday afternoon and night. Wilkin wanted to go through a grocery store, but Crawford again defeated the project. Tuesday morning they went to Norwalk, where Crawford left his horse and got into the buggy with Wilkin. On leaving there for Cumming, Wilkin said they might have got $5000 at Norwalk, there being a small bank there. From Cumming they drove toward Adel, and staid over night at a farm house about six miles from town. Wednesday morning the(y) drove into town. Wilkin’s plan was to get into town about the time the bank opened. He drove around the square, and passed the bank, which he pointed out to Crawford, with the remark: “That is our bank.” He told Crawford he must go with him, or he would shoot him. When they hitched the team he asked Crawford, “How’s your nerve?” He answered that it was not very good. Wilkin planned and commanded the work, and Crawford did his bidding.

Crawford’s statement of the doings at the bank and in the flight and capture does not differ materially from what has been already given, but a little fuller in detail.

It may be noted that Crawford’s statement, and the fact that he is a mere youth, evidently a mere tool in Wilkin’s hands, and the assurances of parties fro Winterset and Patterson, are what, in all probability saved him from lynching on Wednesday night.

Wilkin spent a few days in Winterset only a week or two ago, it is now recalled, he was observed to stand in front of the citizen’s bank, and look in the window, as if “sizing up” the place and taking bearings.