A Preacher Robber

Preacher Robber Escapes Conviction of Bank Robbery on the Insanity Plea.

April 19, 1895, Deming Headlight, Deming, NM – Portland, Oregon, April 18. – Rev. J. C. Reed, the Baptist minister who is on trail for attempting to rob the First National bank of East Portland last February, was found not guilty by the jury on the ground that he is insane.

Judge Stevens remanded the prisoner to the custody of the sheriff and he will have an examination for commitment to the asylum.

Reed, armed with a pistol, had entered the bank at noon, held up the cashier, bound and gagged him and locked him in the vault.  He was captured while he was emptying bags of gold.