by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"He came in on the morning Santa Fe train from the west, got breakfast at the Octagon Hotel, registered as D. Smith, Leoti, Kansas. He carried a little bundle," reported the Valley Falls New Era, Saturday, March 6, 1890.
"About 11 o'clock he hired a horse at Harman's Stable to use a couple of hours saying he had some cattle he wanted to see, but in 10 minutes he tied the horse in front of Crosby's Bank while he perambulated up and down the sidewalk, undoubtedly waiting for an opportune moment to make a move on it.
"Mr. Harman noticed the man was not using the horse and told him he would return it to the stable if he was through with it, which he did. About 4 o'clock a man, apparently a farmer, wearing an old cap, a ducking coat, overalls, with a red handkerchief tied over his face entered Hicks, Gephart & Co.'s Bank, took a chair by the stove and said he wished to sit there a few minutes, that he had a bad neuralgia in his face.
"It was a busy day at the bank and cashier John Coen was alone. Several people came in while the farmer (?) was warming, but paid no attention to him.
"Near six o'clock, Mr. Coen was uneasy and told the fellow to go to a hotel if he was sick. The man said he would leave soon. Mr. Coen was putting money in the vault when the 'sick man' appeared at the vault door with two ugly looking revolvers pointed at Mr. Coen's head and told him to put about $10,000 in the bag he carried.
"Coen told the fellow he did not have that much, but he could take what he had. The robber told the cashier to put what currency he had in the bag. Coen dropped $2,803 into the sack, then the thief told Coen he would lock him in the vault for safety, but Coen pled with the fellow telling him he could not live until morning in the vault.
"The robber then told Coen he would lock him in the bank, but he must not sound an alarm or he'd be shot. He then backed out the bank door, covering Coen with his revolvers and still wearing the handkerchief over his face. As soon as he was gone, Coen rushed to the front door and sounded an alarm.
"Within three minutes, a hundred people were at the bank. The block was surrounded, barn and houses were searched, but in vain.
"Nearby towns were alerted of the robbery by telegraph and by search parties. About 11:30 p.m. a telegram was received from Meriden stating that the supposed robber was there. Harry Shire and Joseph Summerville were deputized to go to Meriden.
"The suspect dressed as the robber's description entered the Meriden depot telling the operator he wanted to get the first train, but was told the first train was not until 5 a.m. The suspect then went to a hotel repeatedly telling the clerk he must be awakened in time to catch the 5 a.m. train.
"The officers arrived at the hotel and concluded to wait for their man to come down. At 5 o'clock the landlord awakened the man and the two deputies and a constable were prepared. Shire and Summerfield had shotguns. When the suspect entered the door, he was twice asked to hold up his hands, but he kept going toward the front door and with a daredevil grin thrust a hand in each coat pocket for his guns.
"The officers fired simultaneously and the man fell dead in his tracks. News reached Valley Falls at once and the coroner was notified but failed to appear.
"Judge Frazier held an inquest on Sunday. The town of Meriden was full of people anxious to view the deperado, but none could identify him. The dead man was dressed as he was when he arrived in Valley Falls not as he was when he robbed the bank. $2,812.18 was found on the robber's body, a carpenter's rule with the initials 'S.R.,' a silver watch with 'R' on the case, and receipt for a registered letter sent by 'S. Robertson, Burlington, Kansas, to D. Smith, Ottawa, Ks.'
"He was about 30 years old with light brown hair, a red mustache, two weeks' beard, blue eyes, weighed 180 lbs., and was 5 feet, 11 inches tall.
"Later, three men from Ottawa arrived in Meriden and identified the man. His name was Shannon Robinson from Homewood near Ottawa. He kept a small store, was postmaster, had an 18-year-old wife and one child."
From the editor of the New Era, "Our photographer, Mason, has some dandy photographs of the robber for sale. He took six different negatives."
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday in Valley Falls.
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