From the Defiance Democrat, December 16, 1897 -
" BUNGLING ROBBERS
Did a Bold Job at an East Defiance Saloon.
JAMES FLANIGAN RAIDED.
A Bullet Grazed His Temple -
The Bandits Secured Very Little Money for Their Work.
Friday evening between 9:30 and 10 o'clock, three men entered the saloon of James Flanigan, just south of Hopkins Street, in East Defiance. They wore masks and were amply armed with revolvers.
The leader stepped in with his gun levelled at Mr. Flanigan, who was standing behind the bar, and ordered him to throw up his hands or the robber would shoot. Flanigan thought it was somebody playing a joke on him and remarked that he couldn't hurt anybody with that thing. But the robber persisted, and held the gun in his right hand resting on the counter, pointing at Flanigan in a very threatening manner. At this, Flanigan grabbed a large cheese knife and made a motion as if to carve the robber, when the bandit shot, the bullet just grazing the left side of Flanigan's head, near the temple. The shock stagger Flanigan, and he stepped back. At this, the bandit went over the bar and into the cash register, which he looted, but in doing so, dropped a part of the money on the floor. He then crawled back over the bar. It is believed by Flanigan that he secured about $2.
While the above was in progress, two of the robbers were in the rear room where there were six or eightmen, part of them playing cards and a part playing pool. When the robbers came in, some of the occupants, panic stricken, fled out the back door, and in their haste, ran against and knocked down another of the robbers' confederates, who it is presumed was standing guard. Of those who remained, Joseph Schrader arose form the table intending to hit the robbers with his chair, but at that time the revolver was being held dangerously near his face, and he changed his mind, and went down in his pocket and yielded up $1.25.
About this time, the robber who had engaged Flanigan in the front part was through with his work and the three made good their escape through the front door. It was all over and the men gone in less time than it takes to tell it.
Flanigan says the men were all of a small size and wore overcoats too large for them. But the guns they carried looked large enough for artillery duty. The men were masked with handerchiefs tied around their faces.
The people of that neighborhood were soon aroused, and a posse to go in pursuit of the robbers was organized, with Policeman Seibert in charge. Mr. Gilliam, of the city water works, was engaged with his two bloodhounds and about 11 o'clock they took the trail and started down the B&O track eastward. The party went as far as Midway, when they became discouraged and gave up the hunt ,though the hounds were trailing well and anxious to continue on, but the rain storm made the trailing very unpleasant.
A farmer named Zimmerman, about two miles farther east than where the marching party stopped, says some men staid in his woods all night. It is thought by some they might have been the robbers.
Mr. Flanigan's wound bled profusely for a time, but the injury was not at all serious, and he was not laid up with it."
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About two weeks later, Kissner's had a problem when someone refused to pay.
From the Defiance Democrat, January 6, 1898 -
"POINTED FIRE ARMS
"PUS' CONNORS GETS INTO TROUBLE AT KISSNER'S.
Wm. Connors, familiarly known as 'Pus' loaded up an unruly jag of liquer last Saturday afternoon and as a result got into a little difficulty He went into Kissner's saloon in north Defiance and ordered a drink. He got the drink and then refused to pay for it, whereabouts 'Pus' started to leave the place, when Kissner attempted to stop him to make him pay. At this, Connors pulled a revolver and pointed it at Kissner. This caused the latter to desist and Connors was allowed to go.
He then went over to Clemmon's place, where he attempted the same deal. Here he was captured by the police and locked up. His revolver had no loads in, hence was not very dangerous, though flourishing it was in violation of law.
He was taken before Mayor Deatrick Monday p.m., who bound him over to Probate Court on the charge of pointing firearms."
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