This following is reprinted verbatim from the Friday, October 13, 1905 edition of The Wild Rose Times.

Notorious Bank Robbers Captured. 1 Killed. 2 Wounded.

Wild Rose State Bank and Post Office safes Blown and Robbed--Tools secured from E.H. Owens blacksmith shop-- Provisions for their trip across country taken from the store of Holt & Jones--Tracks discovered at an early hour and traced to within one half mile of the hiding place--Posse secured--Running fight ensued--Robbers surrounded in a ravine--Desperate fight for liberty--One breaks cover and is captured in the road--One shot through the heart dieing instantly--One with a Winchester bullet in the head and one with bullets in shoulder and leg before final surrender--Not a Wild Rose man injured--Money and stamps found--Great praise due all members of the posse--Not a coward in the crowd--Many have narrow escape--One of the robbers identified as "Rambler"  member of an old time "Lake Shore Gang" of bank and train robbers by E.J.Weise, Ass't. Supt. of Pinkerton's Detective Agency--All in jail at Wautoma--Preliminary hearing set for Oct. 19--Guards on duty day and night--Posse receive great commendation for their action.

     Wild Rose was visited by safe blowers Friday night who succeeded in completely wrecking and looting the post office safe. The outer doors of the state bank safe were blown open but two charges of nitro glycerine failed to open the inner doors of the burglar proof safe. The gang which numbered four entered the blacksmith shop of E.H. Owens and secured the necessary hammers, chisels and tongs for operation. The store of Holt & Jones was forced and provisions for the trip across the country taken. From there the gang evidently went to the post office breaking the lock on the front door and placed the charge of nitro around the safe door. The rear door of the bank building was broken and it is thought that both charges were fired simultaneously. The shock and noise of the explosion aroused the families of Frank Bogue and W. Lane although they could only see the men at work in the post office. Mr. Bogue made a hurried exit out of the back door and started across the lots to inform postmaster Clark but in a hurry he forgot a guy wire to the telephone pole into which he crashed making sufficient noise to alarm the gang as one on watch was heard to exclaim "hurry boys they are stirring across the street." Messrs. Clark and Bogue hurriedly returned to the scene but the robbers had take the alarm and were heard and seen to start north past the hotel. The alarm was quickly sounded over the entire village and the telephone central opened and word sent to all the surrounding villages to be on the watch.

     A hurried search revealed the fact that no money had been taken from the bank but the post office was completely looted. It was discovered that the safe blowers must have departed on foot.  

     The marshall John M. Protheroe, W. Hughes, James Roberts, E.H. Owens and I.R. Nash by the aid of a lantern took the trail and discovered the tracks of apparently four men which they followed on the Saxeville road until past the home of W.E. Davis. A return was then made to the village a livery team secured and preparations made for following up the clues furnished. Undersheriff John Dignan in answer to the telephone message to Wautoma had arrived and accompanied Marshall Protheroe and I.R. Nash on the search. On the arrival at the Frank Kamenski corner it was found that they had doubled the corner and traveled north. At the Bennie Evans corner the same tactics were used but a short search showed they had continued north through Idlewild. At the mail box of E.R. Humphrey they made another circle but the foot prints were again found were easily followed to the top of the hill west of the John Jensen residence where they had apparently held a brief consultation. The tracks were followed to the James Hanawalt school house beyond which no trace could be found. They boys informed all the farmers in that vicinity, driving to Crystal Lake and then returned to Wild Rose arriving home about noon.

     A posse of over thirty was quickly secured after dinner and a return made to Hanawalts where they divided into two squads, one to search the around Pine Lake the balance going to the Brooks store; then east across to the road near Wm. Hanawalts. No trace being found all met according to agreement at the Hanawalt four corners.

     The combined forces now united to search the woods directly south of Jas. Hanawalts in which the capture was made. The line was quickly formed across the entire woods and guards stationed on each corner. By happenstance Marshall Protheroe and I.R.Nash did not travel as fast as the rest and on arriving at a point where a view could be had of the remaining distance to cleared fields, stood talking and resting. A movement among the trees on the south arrested their attention and quickly dropping to the ground behind rail fence awaited developments. Men could be seen but whether friend or foe it was impossible to decide until the paper bundles carried by the four robbers could be seen. They had evidently hidden from the ones who had gone before and thinking the coast clear were attempting to escape. When they had arrived within eight rods they were called upon to halt and surrender by Marshall Protheroe. The answer was four 38 caliber bullets which we can safely say were decidedly unpleasant to the ear. In reply Mr. Protheroe sent three Winchester bullets in their direction one of which reached the head of the leader inflecting a severe wound but not stopping him from flight. The fight thus being opened a general battle ensued in which caution was thrown to the winds and the call of boys to each other and the shouts of the robbers combined with the crack of their pistols. The heavy shot guns and Winchesters of the posse, the sing of the bullets thro the air, the swish of the shot in the leaves of the trees made an impression upon the minds of all which will live in memory and cannot be described. Dodging from tree to tree, from thicket to thicket the four were finally surrounded in a ravine. Desperate, two wounded they would not throw down their guns or put up their hands. One broke away and started for the teams of the posse but was finally brought to bay by the men left in charge and roped to the back seat. In the mean time altho it seemed certain suicide the remaining three were grouped around a tree firing and swearing but they could not break the line. The first to drop fell dead with a bullet thro the heart, the next received a wound in the shoulder and leg while the remaining one had made the trip thru the woods with a piece of his skull gone falling at last in a near fainting condition from loss of blood. When it was certain that all had been captured the posse made the ground fairly tremble with shot and shout and who could blame them, they had succeeded in tracking and capturing four desperate criminals, who had broken not only the laws of the state and the United States but had fired murderous bullets at the one attempting their arrest. A special providence apparently saved many a Wild Rose boy from serious injury or death.

     The men were quickly bound and loaded into the wagons and the start for the village made, arriving here at about eight o'clock. The capture was soon noised about and the streets soon filled with a large crowd, all rejoicing over the good news of the capture. The dead man, who was called "Patsy" by the balance of the gang, was taken to the undertaking parlors of Jones & Pierce; Rambler, shot in the head, was cared for at G.A. Sage's by Dr. Wilcox; Thos. Halon, shot in the leg and shoulder was placed under the care of Drs. Fuller and Fisher; Ed Norton, uninjured, under a heavy guard was taken to the Wild Rose House for supper.

     Following supper and the care of the wounded, preparations were made for their transportation to the county jail at Wautoma. It was decided that the "Rambler was too seriously injured to make the drive, accordingly his hands and feet were tied and placed under the heavy guard of three deputies. The other two were taken in rigs to Wautoma.

     Detective Weise of the Pinkerton Agency of Chicago, accompanied by the adjuster of the Maryland Casualty Company, in which the bank is insured, arrived on the evening train. The detective promptly identified "Rambler" as one of the most notorious criminals at large. Sunday it was decided that he was not as badly injured as he was trying to make people believe and he was accordingly transported to Wautoma. "The Rambler" or Thos. James as he is identified in the Rogues Gallery is a man about 45 years of age, of heavy build and with eyes and features which of once seen seem photographed upon ones memory. He has had a long and successful career, and has never before been captured with evidence enough to convict him. He is known in detective circles as one of the slickest nitro glycerine workers among the cracksman profession. For a number of years he confined his work to Canada alone but he is also an ex-member of what is known as the "Lake Shore Gang" of safe blowers and train robbers. Murder has never been laid at his door but it has been his delight to capture the night watchman of banks, securely tie them and then work unmolested.

     He takes his capture and wound in a very philosophic manner, is well educated and in his talk is very refined. With a clean shave a hair cut and dress suit he would pass among the best.

     The remaining three Mr. Weiss was unable to place from memory but in short time their identification will be found as pictures were taken of each Monday which will be forwarded to every detective agency in the United States. That they are old and smooth workers at the business is evidenced by the work here. The detectives and adjuster both state that it was as smooth a job of nitro glycerine work as they had ever seen.

     A preliminary hearing was held Monday before justice Hubbell but all waived examination and the preliminary hearing will be held Sept. 19. This however has been changed and the prisoners have been transported to Milwaukee by the US Marshall. The postal authorities taking charge of the prisoners Wednesday and will bring them to a speedy trial. This plan to our mind is the best for no doubt at the preliminary hearing they would all plead not guilty and be bound over to the spring term of court and chances of their breaking jail would be ten to one; for to tell the truth for men of their calibre the getting out of the Waushara County jail would prove as easy as for an ordinary man to break out of a common house. We do not say this to cast a reflection on Sherriff Jones but if they were kept at all guards would have to be placed day and night for their ingenuity knows no bounds.

     On the evening of the robbery four men drifted into the village claiming to be potato diggers in search of work. They proceeded to take in the town and about eleven o'clock two called at the home of Marshall Protheroe and asked permission to sleep in his barn which was granted. They were looked up soon after the robbery and apparently had not moved since the evening before. They were given to understand not to leave town until permitted by the marshall. Their partners of the night before appeared at an early hour and after taking several drinks they purchased provisions and started out of the village. On arriving at the grove near Geo. Eatons residence they proceeded to enjoy life until a posse from the village headed by Postmaster Clark appeared on the scene and arrested them on suspicion. They at first refused to go unless a warrant could be shown but the "38" in the hands of Mr. Clark proved the fulcrum necessary to start them toward the village lockup. From remarks dropped and all appearances seemed to point to them as member of the gang. They did not take the enforced vacation with good humor making it unpleasant for the ones who had them in charge. Several threats were made about burning the town and when the gang was started on the way to Wautoma they were handcuffed and taken along. On examination by Detective Weise they gave their names as Dan Donnelly, who has served time for deeds committed in Portage and Waupaca counties, Chas, Lewis, Frank Hoffman and Frank Gordon. They certainly bear a hard appearance and while no evidence could be found to connect them with the other gang they were held at the county jail until Thursday on the charge of vagrancy when they were discharged with the strict injunction to return no more to this section of the country or a worse fate than a few days in the county bastile might be meted out to them.

     Post office Inspector Rendenbach on Tuesday notified US Attorney H.K.ButIerfield who in turn swore out a warrant before US Commissioner Bloodgood of Milwaukee and US Deputy Marshalls E. Glanz and Walter Durbin came to Wautoma Tuesday night and Wednesday morning took the prisoners into custody and accompanied by the post office inspector, F.M. Clark, J.M. Protheroe, Jas. Kelley and I.R. Nash departed on the early train for Oshkosh where they were arraigned before US Commissioner McDonald. They acted as their own lawyers and on the reading of the charges waived examination. They will now be tried in Milwaukee where they were taken by the US Marshalls.

     On the trip down all three were in good spirits and laughed and joked freely. A laughable incident occured while before the commissioner. On being asked if they had the cash to put up for their $5000 bail, "Rambler" said "No we left our money in Wild Rose, Wild West or some place up there in the sand." Some one there asked if they would not give a check on the Wild Rose State Bank.

     They expressed great appreciation for favors shown especially to the honor and decent burial given their dead comrade. The thanks of the community is due to the hardware firms of Bard & Holtz and D.O. Jones & Co. for the cheerful and enthusiastic manner in which they offered their stock of guns and ammunition.

     A coroners inquest was held over the body of the bandit "Patsy" Sunday and the customary verdict rendered in cases of that kind. The remains were prepared for burial Monday and in the afternoon were interred in the Oakhill cemetary, the catholic priest from Heffron officiatng. This was the only request asked by the trio of prisoners that a decent burial be given their fallen comrad and it is needless to say they were carried out.

     Presumably it is needless to mention that Wild Rose and her citizens gained a name and fame for swift and sure justice the length and breadth of the state of Wisconsin. Men who have made a life study of crime and the ways and means to prevent capture were summarily brought to justice by the country folk while many a city man had failed. In history of safe blowing which has come under the supervision of the Pinkerton agency the past two years nearly two hundred cases have been handled and this is the only one where the people incerested as a community have affected a capture. To be sure they have captured men but in most cases it has been days yes months before they were brought to the bar of justice but it remained for the quiet folk of a country village to run down criminals who have been wanted for 15 years.

     The following composed the posse who pursued and captured the robbers. We have tried to secure the names of all present and if any have been omitted it is not the reason that we wish to leave them out: F.M. Clark. J.V. Berens, J.M. Protheroe, I.R. Nash, D.O. Jones, Rob Stevenson, Jeff Sage, T.H. Davis, John Roberts, Albert Lowe, Lewis Protheroe, Theo. Woodward, Will Hughes, Al Fero, James Roberts, Elmer Funk, Oscar Holt, Fred Sage, Dr. Jones, Jas. Kelley, Ed Lowe, C.E. and C.H. Darling, Henry Galbrilski, A.J. Hotz, Undersheriff Dignan, Thos. Hart, Gomer Jones, R.T. Davis, Jonnie Colligan, Rob Owens, Lewis Radloft, Harry Persons, Harry Protheroe, Fred Clark, F.M. Sage, R.R. Davis, Prof. Olson, and Arthur Stoddard.

     While it is deplored that human life was lost in the capture it does not in any way reflect upon the credit or honor of any member of the posse. They had committed a crime against the great commonwealth as well as the US government. They were called upon to surrender, their answer was lead hail. The wonder that not any of the boys in pursuit were killed grows as the excitement subsides. At the final struggle when only a few rods, yes feet separated they would not throw down their arms when commanded to do so. With them it was liberty or prison and as one of them stated when questioned as to their desperate stand, "Life is a lottery but liberty is sweet."

     We do not know who the correspondents were from Wautoma that reported the capture to the Milwaukee and other daily papers but they certainly must have been misinformed as to the truth for such a mess of erroneous statements as were fired in makes any member of the posse wonder what kind of "snake bite" the writer had been using. We believe honor is due each and every member of the posse and not to any particular one. They worked together as a unit and were under the command of no one man.

     A laughable farce occured Sunday evening when a Wautoma man called up the village marshall and wanted him to find out if detective Weise had his credentials with him and if not to arrest him as a pal of the safe blowers. We will state however that this was not done by sheriff Jones or any of his force.

     It is our opinion that Dr. Fuller is the soundest sleeper in Wild Rose. We base this upon the fact that the morning of the robbery he did not awake until five a.m. altho his bed was less than twenty feet from the post office safe.

Post Office Department

     Milwaukee, Oct. 8, 1905 Post Master, Wild Rose, Wis.

     Dear Sir: Saw in last nights paper how your office had been robbed, and this mornings paper gives the good news of how your people went out and got them. They did what I have advocated for a long time and I would like to thank each one personally that assisted in getting them. While Waushara county is not in my territory now. I have been all over it on official business in years past, on post office robbing and think Inspector Rudenbach will not have much of that kind of work your vicinity for some time.

Yours very truly,

Ralph Bird

Post Office Inspector