News: Colby (Robbery - 16 Dec 1905)

Contact:stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Reise, Kirby, Andrews, Johnson, Dwyer, Redmond

----Source: Granton News (Granton, Clark Co., Wis.)  12/22/1905

Last Saturday two young fellows from Antigo, namely Fred Reise and Fred Kirby, appeared in Colby and, buying ammunition and hiring a livery rig, drove up to Abbotsford with the intention of robbing the bank there, but it was pay day at Abbotsford and the bank having a steady run of customers, they decided their chances for success there we slim, so they drove back to Colby, and going to the barn asked if they might have the rig for another half hour, being answered in the affirmative they drove about town and watched their chance at the Colby State Bank during cashier Andrew’s absence when assistant cashier Johnson, a young man, a nephews of Mr. Andrews, was alone.  They drove up in front of the bank, and entering Mr. Johnson asked if there was anything he could do for them.  They presented arms and answered "yes, give us $5,000."  Johnson gave them all the currency at hand, some $4,000.  Then they told him to keep quiet for 15 minutes, went out and leisurely folded up their blankets, entered their rig and drove off, passing through Abbotsford before news of the holdup had reached that place, just out of Abbotsford they cut the telephone line; but they were overtaken and captured next morning in a saloon at Edgar where they aroused suspicion by exhibiting large rolls of bills.  Sheriff Dwyer and Game Warden Redmond passed through here on Monday’s 4:25 train, having them in charge enroute to Neillsville and the county jail.  They were arraigned in Circuit Court Tuesday and pleading guilty, were each sentenced to 6 years at Waupun, whither they were taken on Wednesday.  They were young farmers, aged 26 and 22 years respectively, the young man being in the employ of the older on his farm at Antigo.