The Dalton Gang’s Last Raid

 Robbing two banks at the same time had never been done before until Bob, Grat and Emmet Dalton, Dick Broadwell and Bill Powers attempted this feat. Early in the morning of October 5, 1892, the outlaws rode into Coffeyville on horseback heading east on 8^th Street. The Dalton brothers wore disguises as they previously lived in Coffeyville. The thieves tied their horses up in the alley close to the jail. This would be their first mistake.

Three of the bandits, Grat Dalton, Bill Powers and Dick Broadwell went to the Condon Bank while Bob and Emmet Dalton entered First National. When the gang demanded money from the safe at the Condon Bank, a quick thinking bank employee told them the safe would not open until 9:30 a.m. The time was 9:20, so Grat said he would wait. This became their second mistake.

That ten minutes gave the townspeople the time they needed to get to Isham’s Hardware to grab guns and ammo to begin defending the town. The shootout lasted 12 minutes. Four of the Dalton gang were dead and four Coffeyville citizens were killed. Marshall Connelly died in what is now known as Death Alley. Bob and Grat Dalton and Bill Powers were killed in Death Alley and are buried in Coffeyville’s Elmwood Cemetery. Dick Broadwell escaped on horseback and died about a half mile from downtown Coffeyville. He is buried at Hutchinson, KS.

The Daltons were “laid out” in the city jail before burial. Emmet Dalton, the youngest brother, survived the raid but received 23 gunshot wounds. Later, he was given a life sentence in the Kansas penitentiary at Lansing and was pardoned after 14 years. Emmet then moved to California and became a real estate agent, author and actor. He died at the age of 66.

In total, the banks were robbed of $25,000. After the day’s banking business was completed and the books were balanced, the Condon Bank came up $20 short and First National was $1.98 over. Fortunately most of the money was recovered for the banks.

*Source of information: City of Coffeyville website www.coffeyville.com