History: Idaho Bank that Cassidy Robbed Still Stands

In 1896, Butch Cassidy and two other members of the “The Wild Bunch”, Elzy Lay and Bob Meeks, robbed the Bank of Montpelier, Idaho, in board daylight. The building that once housed the bank still stands today, and is a private museum dedicated to Cassidy and the daring daylight bank robbery.

The day of the robbery was an unlucky day, at least for the bank. The robbery occurred on August 13, at 3:13 p.m., after the ^13th deposit of the day had been made for the amount of $13. So, if you are superstitious, it was a bad day.

While not the original bank grill, it is accurate to the period of the bank robbery.

Here is how the robbery occurred.

Wind River Mountaineer, August 19, 1896 – Bank of Montpelier Robbed – Three Men Get Away With $10,000 in Board Daylight. Pocatello, Ida Aug 13 – News received here from Montpelier, Idaho, states that about three o’clock this afternoon three men rode into town on horseback, stopping in front of the bank of Montpelier. They dismounted and compelled six men who were standing in front of the bank among them the cashier of the bank, G.C. Gray, to go inside the bank.

One of the desperadoes then covered the six unarmed men with a revolver, which the second presented the revolver at the head of Assistant Cashier A.N. McIntosh. The third man then went behind the counter and emptied everything in sight into three sacks and after striking McIntosh over the eye and felling him with his gun made his exit. All three robbers then mounted horse and rode in an easterly direction out of town.

It was some minutes before the employees of the bank and those held up on the inside of the bank door recovered their sense sufficiently to give the alarm.

Sheriff Jeff Davis organized a posse of thirty men, who are in pursuit of the robbers, thirty minutes behind. It is thought they were heading for Jackson Hole, and if they succeed in reaching the latter place their capture will be uncertain, as the hole is known to be filled with a gang of desperadoes and renegades who will make a desperate attempt to prevent the capture of any of their number. The bank officials refuse to disclose the amount secured, but it is known to be large one authority gives the amount of $10,000. The men covered the lower portion of their face with handkerchiefs while committing the robbery.

Converse County Lusk, Wyoming, August 20,1896 – Idaho Bank Robbery. – Institution at Montpelier Looted in Broad Daylight, About 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon, three masked men rode into town on horseback at Montpelier, Idaho, stopping in front of the Bank of Montpelier. They dismounted and compelled six men who were standing in front of the bank to go inside. Two of them covered the men with revolvers, while the third went behind the counter and emptied all the cash in sight into their sacks. The robbers then mounted their horses and rode out of town. The sheriff organized a posse of thirty men who are now in pursuit of the robbers. The bank officials refuse to disclose the amount secured, but it is believed to be fully $10,000.

Bob Meeks was the only one of the three who was captured and stood trial.

This was in The Wyoming Press, Evanston September 4, 1897 – Trial Of Bob Meeks. Identified as One of the Montpelier Bank Robbers. Paris, Ida., Aug. 31.—The district court is now in session here. Bob Meeks, one of the supposed Montpelier bank robbers, is being tried. District Attorney Budge is prosecuting, assisted by Attorney John A. Bagley, who appears in the case on behalf of the bank and insurance company. Attorneys R. S. Spence and T. L. Glenn appear for the defense. Nine witnesses were examined for the prosecution, eight of whom positively identified the prisoner as one of the three who robbed the Montpelier bank. The defense had only two witnesses, both from Wyoming, and who, judging from the testimony given, have been doing business with the prisoner, and who are supposed to have got money from him and invested it in cattle. Their evidence is very conflicting.

The Sheridan Post, June 24, 1897

Wyoming Daily Press, Evanston, May 11, 1898. This From a longer story about Butch Cassidy and his gang.

Bank robberies are but side issues with them (Cassidy’s gang) — merely incidental to their grand, chief occupation of cattle stealing. If a victim resists or an officer pursues, murder is regarded as a professional duty, to be cheerfully performed, but they are not given to wanton slaughter. In several instances foolhardy officers who have invaded their stronghold have been disarmed, dismounted and sent home. An instance of this kind occurred just after the raid on the coal company at Price. Two deputies traced Cassidy and Ferguson to the lair at Robbers’ Roost. They were fully twenty-four hours behind, and their approach was known long before they arrived at the narrow trail leading up into the rendezvous. Cassidy was in a jovial mood, and he conceived that it would be more fun to capture the deputies and make sport of them than to kill them. So, he acted accordingly. The deputies were about halfway up the trail when, just at a bend around a sharp point of rocks, they heard the sharp command of “Hands up!”

A half dozen guns were staring them in the face not twenty paces away. The deputies realized that not to obey meant sudden death. Up went their hands. Cassidy stepped up to them, roaring with laughter. “You’re a couple of find dudes to come and catch peaceable citizens, ain’t you?” he cried, “Gimme your guns.“

Here, Buck,”calling to one of his men, “Search these tenderfeet, and if they’ve got any tobacco you can keep it.” The outcome of it was that the deputies, relieved of everything but their clothing, were bound hand and foot to their horses, conducted to the foot of the pass, and sent about their business. To add to their discomfiture, a rudely scrawled note was pinned on the breast of each, which read: “We are Deputy Sheriffs, Sent Out to Capture Butch Cassidy and His Gang. When found Send ‘em Home.”

One thing it is said about Cassidy, is that he never killed anyone during his career as a bank and train robber and cattle rustler. He was well liked by many of the ranchers in the Johnson County area, except for those he rustled cattle from.

Although the legend persists that he died in Boliva with the Sundance Kid in 1908, there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence that Cassidy, at least, survived and returned to the U.S.

We will probably never know the truth, but 130 years ago this month the Wild Bunch Gang robbed the bank in Montpelier, Idaho and got away with around $10,000 dollars.

Photos taken in the Butch Cassidy Museum in Montpelier, Idaho, with thanks. Vannoy Photos

For more information on the museum go to butchcassidymuseum.com contact them at ButchCassidyMuseum@gmail.com