Shooting, Attempted Robbery and Acts of Bravery at W. B. Adams Store in 1896

Transcription

1 Having trouble viewing this ? Click here August 27th, 2014 Bedford Stories Vol. 17 Shooting, Attempted Robbery and Acts of Bravery at W. B. Adams Store in 1896 On Thursday, August 20th, 1896, Walker B. Adams was shot as four men attempted to rob his store in Bedford Station. His son, William, shot two of the burglars and was then shot in the back as one of the injured men returned fire. Walker Adams, who was also the Postmaster and Town Clerk, died from the gunshot wound and one of the burglars also died from their injuries. William Adams later received a public recommendation for his "intrepid heroism" and a water trough was erected to commemorate the bravery of both Walker and William. Adams Memorial in front of the Antioch Baptist Church at Church & Main Streets Below is the story as it appeared in the New York Times. You can read the story and see the illustrations that were published in the now defunct New York Journal in our office at The Bedford Store. Copies of the stories surrounding the robbery are on our website along with the complete commendation from the townspeople. Adams Brothers was the first shop in Bedford Station. The business was established in 1871 by Walker B. Adams and his brother T. C. Adams when they bought out the general

2 store of H. H. Fowler. The first store was torn down when they built a larger store on the same site in about In 1896 T. C. sold his interest to his nephew, William B. Adams and the store became W. B. Adams & Son. Adams store operated until about 1930 when a young Sicilian émigré, Charles Raneri moved his dry good store there from 68 Maple Avenue in Mt. Kisco. The store was known as Charles Dry Goods. In 1939, he opened a second location in Katonah where Charles Department Store still operates today. In 1941, Charles held a large sale to empty the contents of the former Adams Store which was later demolished. notation on back of photo: Adams Store after Charlie's sale 11/24/1941 Postmaster Adams of Bedford Station Fatally Shot Four Desperadoes Attempt to Break into the Store and Post Office Bedford Station, N. Y., Aug. 20, 1896 An attempt was made about 12:30 this morning to rob the general country store of Walker B. Adams & Son here, in which is the Post Office. This store has several times been entered by burglars, and as a precautionary measure a system of burglar alarms was arranged recently connecting the store with Walker B. Adams' residence, about 300 yards away. The son, William Adams, about twenty one years old, had been out all the evening at a festival at the Presbyterian Church at Bedford Centre, and as he was about to enter the house on his return he was met by his sister, who told him the burglar alarm had just sounded, and there were probably burglars in the store. The elder Adams was hastily dressing up stairs, the father taking a shotgun and a revolver and the son a rifle. He also slipped a revolver into one of his pockets. Thus armed, they went down the road toward the store, which is a large building extending alongside the New York and Harlem Railroad tracks, just beyond the station on the east side of the line. There is only a small space

3 between the tracks and the side of the building. In front of the store is a little green, inclosed with a gaspipe railing. Father and son separated as they approached the store, the father going toward the rear and the son approaching from in front. As William neared the front entrance he saw a man W. B. Adams Store with a "little green" in front standing against the railing, evidently a lookout. William aimed at him with the rifle and commanded him to come forward. The fellow protested, but obeyed. William made him walk slowly out of the shadow. In the meantime the father had passed out of the sight around the building. While William was dealing with the man he had found, there came a shot from the rear of building followed by several others. The son saw a man on the railroad tracks, and called on him to halt, but as he did not Adams swung about and fired at him. The man disappeared. Just at this juncture the man William had in custody said he had been shot in the hand. He had been hit by a bullet fired by one of the burglars behind the store at him, thinking he was one of the attacking party. Young Adams made the man walk toward the station and there they met Benjamin Schenck, the village blacksmith, and W. H. Reynolds, who had run from their houses on hearing the firing. The two men took hold of the prisoner, and William Adams started back toward the store. The prisoner showed fight, and the two men had a violent struggle with him. He did not succumb until the blacksmith choked him into submission. When William returned toward the store he saw a man come from the rear of the building and make for the road. When the man, who was a tall, powerful looking fellow, saw William, he stopped beside a telegraph pole and said: "If you are armed or come on, I'll shoot you." Adams Store behind Train Station William had been undecided whether the man was one of the burglars or some one of the villagers. The words decided him. He swung the rifle to his shoulder, and, as the man was raising a pistol, fired. The man fell on his side in the road, the exploding pistol shooting into the air. As the man fell he exclaimed, "I'm shot, Charlie." By this time the entire village was aroused. The man shot by William raised himself, and, leaning on one arm, fired at William,

4 as the young man proceeded toward the store. One of the bullets hit the young man in the back. It struck against the buckle on the back strap of his vest and a button which was beneath it on his trousers. The bullet did not penetrated the flesh, but the bruise is a bad one. The aroused resident then made the man a prisoner. He was shot in the left wrist, and the bullet had passed the wrist into his side. On going up the track a few yards Walker B. Adams was found. He was lying across the track, with his neck resting on one of the rails, the head on one side and the body on the other. On examination it was found that he had been shot in the forehead, over the left eye. He was unconscious and was carried home. It is believed he cannot live. His revolver showed he had fired but one shot. The shotgun was found beside him with the charges still in it. Dr. W. J. Carpenter of Katonah was summoned and attended the wounded merchant. In the excitement over the finding of Mr. Adams, the captors of the man first seen by William allowed him to be alone for a few minutes, and he worked himself free and escaped. At daybreak the man shot at by William as he was running up the track was found lying beside a rail fence in a meadow, to which he had crawled. He was wounded in the left lung and was bleeding internally. He and the other wounded man were sent to Mount Kisco, the nearest village having a lock up. They were placed in cells and attended by a doctor, who said that both were without a doubt fatally wounded. The "big man," the one shot in the wrist and side, is a well built fellow. He weighs about 200 pounds. He has a heavy dark brown mustache and eyebrows. He is bald, and has the appearance of having lived well. He wore dark clothes of good material, underclothing of the best quality, and nearly new congress gaiters. He stands about 5 feet 11 inches in height and was from all appearances, the leader of the gang. He does not look like a burglar, and had the appearance of being a successful tradesman or professional man. He would say nothing. He refused to give his name and would not answer any questions. His companion was in most respects the opposite of the "big man." He is of slight build, shabbily dressed in dark clothes, and does not weigh 140 pounds. He has a pale, sallow complexion, with a scanty light red mustache. He is one inch shorter than his associate. He was little more communicative than the big man. He admitted coming here on the train leaving the Grand Central Station at 9:05 last night. He would not give his name. He said he was married, lived in New York, and had a son over fourteen years of age. His family, he said, would probably never know what became of him. While he believed he was going to die, he would make no confession, except to a priest. He admitted there were four men in the party, but he would not tell the name of his wounded comrade, nor the names of those who escaped. He said he would not give his own name because of his family. Constable John Dexheimer conveyed the prisoners to Mount Kisco in his wagon. They were made as comfortable as possible on the

5 floors of their cells. At daylight search was made about the scene of the shooting, and four revolvers of fine make were found in the roadway. One of them was close to the line taken by the wounded man, who crawled to the fence. This revolver doubtless belonged to the smaller of the two prisoners. Dr. Carpenter says the size of the bullet which made the wound in Mr. Adams' forehead corresponds with the caliber of this weapon. Four of the chambers of the revolver were empty. Two satchels were found beside the telegraph pole, by which the taller of the two prisoners stood when he was shot by William Adams. In them were various burglars' tools, comprising drills, files, monkey wrench, and some small but useful wedges, there was no jimmy or keys. The District Attorney took possession of the satchels and their contents. The man who escaped after being left by William in the custody of Schenck and Reynolds, is supposed to have made his way toward Ridgefield, Conn., as a man answering his description, and who held one hand in a pocket, asked the way to Connecticut shortly after daylight this morning near the State line. David Hannan, the conductor of the 9:05 train from the Grand Central Station, said this morning that the four men came up with him last night. They got off at Bedford at 10:41. He thought they were masons or plumbers going to work at the Woman's Reformatory, a little way back in the country. Very frequently gangs of men came up on that run to work at the reformatory, as they cannot leave the city in the morning and reach the building until a quarter of a day has been lost. The conductor took the taller of the men to be the boss and other his journeymen. The Adams store is a two story frame building extending back along the railroad tracks about 300 feet. In it is the village Post Office. Walker B. Adams is the Postmaster. The Post Office has been the objective point of several burglaries there before, and it may have been the bait that attracted the burglars last night. Had they succeeded in their object, they would not have found enough to have paid them for their trip here. There are two safes in the store, one is used for the business of the store and the Post Office and the other to keep the Town Clerk's books in, Walker Adams being also the Town Clerk.

6 Owing to the many burglaries at the store and the resulting ruining of safes, until the replacing of them became a matter of considerable importance, Mr. Adams since the burglary last previous to that attempted last night, has been leaving the safes unlocked, but closed. This was for the purpose of preventing the ruining of the safes, while they still guarded the paper and valuables from fire. For a long time he had stopped placing money in them. All the money was sent to the bank at the last moment each afternoon. So regular had this become that the cashier of the bank waited if the messenger was a little late in arriving. Walker B. Adams is about fifty years old, and had grown up in the town. He is one of its most respected citizens, and the townspeople have repeatedly elected him Town Clerk, and he could at any time have had any office he wanted, but refused them all except the one he held, as they have interfered with this business. The midnight tragedy attracted the whole village and the people of Mount Kisco to the vicinity of the store during the day. The affair was about the only subject discussed in the two villages. The fourth burglar escaped without any one seeing him. He did not figure in the fight in any way. He probably took to the woods without waiting to help his comrades. As both the wounded men were seen in Mount Kisco within a day or two, it is thought possible that contemplated a visit to that village after finishing the job at the Adams store. They were seen in the vicinity of the Mount Kisco Bank Building. They were also seen drinking in Wolf's Hotel and at Brigg's Hotel in Mount Kisco. From the Bedford Historical Society archives and the New York Times. To read more about the robbery and trial, visit our website and click the link under "Historic Dates." The Bedford Historical Society maintains and adds to our archives thanks to the generosity of our members. If you'd like to become a member, renew or make a donation, please visit our website. Your support helps us preserve and share Bedford's history!

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