25 January 1877, Neosho Times
From the Cassville Democrat
Late last Tuesday evening they had a rather serious shooting affair at Washburn in this county, between R. R. Smith and Jesse King jr. It seems there had been an old feud existing between them for some time, and Smith came riding up in front of the Grange store at that place, where King was standing in conversation with one of his cousins, when Smith accused him, using some naughty language, and immediately drew his pistol and fired upon King, the ball striking him on the right side of the chest and glancing against a rib in the downward direction, and coming out some three or four inches from its point of entrance. King immediately drew his pistol and commenced firing upon Smith, and for a short time they had quite a lively little skirmish, firing some three or four shots apiece. Smith received a severe wound in the right leg, just below the knee; and besides had his horse shot in the fleshy part of the neck.
King had Smith arrested for assault with intent to kill him, the said King, and prosecuting attorney Plummer and A. H. Wear went up to Washburn last Wednesday, to prosecute the case; but Mr. Smith's wound was so painful that the trial was deferred until next Wednesday. King's wound is a little painful, but not at all dangerous; while Mr. Smith's extremely painful and not devoid of danger; and it may be weeks before he finally recovers.
NOTE
R. R. Smith was involved in a prior shooting with a John King in December, 1875. See above.
26 May 1877, Peirce City Weekly Empire
Last Friday night a couple of irate females armed themselves with clubs and "otherwise" and repaired to a house some three or four miles from town occupied by one of their own sex, whose reputation for chastity, as rumored, is not so good as it might be. Arrived at the house they fell upon the woman and after choking her, beating her with their clubs and "otherwise" maltreating her they left her in a senseless, badly used-up condition. Wednesday the woman was brought to town, and, as we understand, made complaint preparatory to a judicial investigation. -- Valley Press [Cassville].
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30 June 1877, Peirce City Weekly Empire
ARRESTED FOR MURDER. ------- Resisting an Officer -- and what Came of It. ------- [From the Valley Press]
Last Friday evening a Mr. J. Beakley came to Cassville, bringing with him two writs, issued by the acting Governor of this State in response to a requisition of the Governor of Texas, directed to Sheriff Hopkins, and commanding him to apprehend, secure and deliver J. F., Napolean and Columbus Rowley, and surrender them to Beakley as the agent of the State of Texas. Saturday morning the Sheriff, Beakley, Constable Eden and brother proceeded to the residence of J. F. Rowley, near Washburn, and there finding Napoleon Rowley arrested and surrendered him to Beakley. The posse then proceeded to Washburn, where the Sheriff arrested and surrendered J. F. Rowley as directed. J. F. Rowley and Beakley, who seemed to have been acquainted with each other in Texas, stepped aside and held quite a lengthy conversation, in which Rowley betrayed great anxiety to ascertain if there was also a writ for his other son, Columbus, and Beakley informed him there was. A short time after, Rowley, who was not under strict surveilance, mounted his horse and left Washburn in the direction of his home. This fact was communicated to Sheriff Hopkins, and by him to Beakley, who said he had promised Rowley he might go home but that he did not intend to permit him to do so without an accompanying guard. Beakley and constable Eden started at once in pursuit, as did also the Sheriff, but by a different route. Columbus Rowley it was reported and believed was in South America, but the conduct and remarks of Rowley aroused the Sheriff's suspicions and led him to believe that Columbus was not so far away. Concluding that Rowley had not gone home, the Sheriff, instead of following him as did Beakley and Eden, took a road leading to the house of Ebin Ledgenham, a son-in-law of Rowley's. Approaching the house he saw Rowley, Legenham (sic) and another son-in-law of Rowley's in close consultation. Concealing himself he waited and watched. Presently Ebin Ledgenham mounted a fleet horse belonging to Rowley, and rode off in the direction of Peirce City, on the road leading from Washburn to that place. Rowley and the other son-in-law started off in the direction of Rowley's house near which they were met by Beakley and Eden. Deciding to follow Ledgenham, the Sheriff, so soon as the way was clear, set out after him confident that he had been sent with a message to Columbus Rowley. He soon found that Ledgenham was riding at great speed, for although on a fleet horse himself, he kept up a spanking gate for ten miles before he came in view of Ledgenham. Keeping Ledgenham in sight as nearly as it was possible to do without arousing suspicion, he followed on until near Corsicana, about sixteen miles from Washburn. Just before reaching L. J. Blankenship's residence, a stretch of the road favoring [?] he saw Ledgenham meet another man driving a team hitched to the running gear of a wagon, on which he man was riding, at the crossing of the creek a few yards north of Blankenship's residence. After a short conversation, Ledgenham turned about, and the two men proceeding, met the Sheriff opposite Blankenship's barn.
So soon as they met, the Sheriff, fully satisfied that the man on the wagon was Columbus Rowley, motioned for him to check up, and as he did so, told him to surrender, as he was an officer and had process for his arrest. Rowley, for it was Columbus Rowley, for whom the Sheriff had the Governor's writ, jumped from the wagon saying, "No, I'll be God d---d if I do!" drew a six-shooter and leveled it at the Sheriff. Quick as thought the Sheriff dropped from his horse, drew and presented his revolver, and commanded him to surrender. The two men then stood, each with his revolver leveled at the other, on either side of the running gear of the wagon. Although previously advised of the desperate character of the man, and wishing to avoid the apparent extremity, although determined to do his duty, the Sheriff, taking the risk of Rowley's pulling trigger, sou't by expostulation to get him to submit to lawful authority, but to no purpose. Ledgenham had in the meantime dismounted, and his horse was standing near the head of the team Rowley had been driving. With pistol still leveled, Rowley backed away from the Sheriff in the direction of this horse. Divining his intention, the Sheriff just as Rowley with one foot in the stirrup was mounting this horse, met him, and with revolver at his breast, again demanded him to surrender. Rowley made no reply, but dropping his foot from the stirrup, leveled his pistol at the Sheriff across the saddle. For a few seconds the two men stood, each with pistol leveled at the other, and separated by the horse. Rowley stepped back, and the Sheriff whipped around the horse, stood face to face with him. Rowley kept stepping back, in the direction of the horse ridden by the Sheriff, which had been left standing where dismounted. Supposing his intention to be to mount this horse, if possible, the Sheriff pressed on Rowley, and when within about four feet of him, Rowley suddenly leveled his pistol and fired, the ball grazing the Sheriff's leg. No sooner was the pistol discharged than Rowley tried to cock it again, but the Sheriff seeing the strait he was in, fired, and at the same moment jumped towards Rowley and succeeded in grasping Rowley's pistol around the chamber with his left hand. A fierce struggle ensued, in which Rowley got hold of the Sheriff's pistol with his left hand. Finally the Sheriff succeeded in freeing his own pistol from Rowley's grasp, and with it struck Rowley two smart blows against his right arm, which caused him to release his hold of the other pistol, which so soon as done, Rowley staggered and fell, and rising, fell again.
Knowing that his shot had struck Rowley, so soon as he fell the Sheriff called to Ledgenham, who all this time had been a silent spectator, and the two went to Rowley, and lifting him off a pile of stones on which he had fallen laid him on the ground. Just at this time some others came up, and with their assistance Rowley was carried and laid under the shade trees in Blankenship's yard across the road from where the encounter occurred. The Sheriff at once sent for a physician, but the messenger had scare gone ere Rowley breathed his last. The Coroner, who lives at Corsicana, was at once notified, and in the evening held an inquest.
* * * * * * * * *
[Apparently, the following paragraphs were added by the Empire rather than copied from the Valley Press.]
The following is the verdict of the Coroner's jury:
"After having heard the evidence and upon full inquiry concerning the facts, and a careful examination of the said body, do find that the deceased came to his death in a manner and by means of a pistol shot in the hands of A. J. Hopkins, Sheriff of Barry county Missouri, who was justifiable in the act."
August 15, 1874, Columbus Rowley, then 16 years old, killed Walter Black, 17 years old. The young men had a quarrel, and when young Black was getting on his horse Rowley crept up behind him and knocked his skull in with a foot adz. After this cowardly murder, young Rowley fled into Arkansas where his father and brother Napoleon had gone some weeks before for the alledged murder of Wm. Hunter, a negro man. Columbus then went to South America, soon grew tired and returned, went to his father's in Barry county, then to California, but soon returned again. He went to the Black Hills last spring, but returned and had spent most of his time at his brother-in-law's in Dade county, at other times he was at his father's in Barry, and east of Peirce City, where he played the role of a hired man and assumed the name of George Haines. After almost three years, wondering up and down, he is shot and killed while resisting arrest.
The elder Rowley and his son claim that they killed the negro who was their tenant, while resisting arrest, and that he was of bad character and shot at them first and that the shooting was in self-defense. The old man, at that time a justice of the peace, and the son gave themselves up and upon a preliminary examination were acquitted. They then moved to Arkansas and from there to Barry county, near Washburn, where they settled down, and possessing considerable means, have bought land in that as well as this county, and had the reputation of good citizens.
Mr. Beakley returned to Texas having taken the word of the old man and Napoleon that they will appear at the next term of the proper court in that state.
7 July 1877, Peirce City Weekly Empire
We have been furnished the following statement concerning the killing of Walter Black by Columbus Rowley who was killed by the sheriff of Barry County two weeks ago to-day, and which differs somewhat from the former information:
Rowley and Black had a difficulty June 17th, 1874, Black then rode off up the creek, and after some time returned with a foot adz, renewed the difficulty and run at young Rowley with the adz drawn. In the scuffle Rowley got the adz and struck the blow that killed Black instantly. It is not true, as reported, that young Rowley killed a sheriff in Texas.
NOTE
In February, 1882, Napoleon Rowley, brother of Columbus Rowley, killed ex-sheriff Hopkins in a Washburn saloon. For an account of the killing, see Part II.
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2 August 1877, Neosho Times
SHOT AND WOUNDED. -- Mr. Truston Sparkman was down last Monday, and he informs us that Hugh Clements was shot from the brush last Sunday evening, as he was driving a wagon and team over to his mothers, a short distance from his house. He was shot in the back immediately under the right shoulder blade, the ball coming to the surface on the right breast, an inch or more from the median line, producing a severe, though it is hoped, not a fatal wound. Mr. Clements at last accounts was doing very well, and was expected to recover, the ball having been extracted by Dr. Eggleston, who had been called to see him, just under the skin on the right breast.
Last Monday A. J. Dye and two of his sons were arrested on suspicion of being the would be assassins, and brought to Washburn; and Prosecuting Attorney Plummer and Hunter Ware went up the same evening to attend the preliminary examination; but it was postponed from day to day, until last Thursday, when it was expected to come off. We will not therefore be able to give the result of said examination in all probability before next week. -- Cassville Democrat.
NOTE
Goodspeed's 1888 History of McDonald County, page 38, wrongly dates this event in July, 1878, and places it in that county, but the Barry County prosecutor would not have been involved if it had occurred there. Goodspeed's 1888 History of Barry County, page 74, says that A. J. Dye shot and killed a man named Morris in southern Barry County in May, 1887. He was awaiting trial when the book was published.
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16 January 1879, Peirce City Weekly Empire
Stabbed.
Two young men by the name of David Morgan and Jacob McGlandlass, of this county, got into a difficulty at Wat. Carney's just over the line in Arkansas, New Years night, at a dance at that place, and agreed to go out and have a fair fight, in order to settle it. They went out, and Morgan pulled his coat off, and as McGandlass was pulling his off, Morgan run up and stabbed him in the side of the chest; and broke and fled. McGandlass lived about two hours, when he died from the effects of the wound. Immediate pursuit was give to Morgan, but he eluded his pursuers and made his escape. Morgan was from Greene county, to this county. -- Cassville Democrat.
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24 April 1879, Neosho Times
The Cassville paper says that the body of an unknown murdered man was recently found in White River, about 100 yards below Leland's Ferry. He had reached the apparent age of 45 or 50 years. He had been shot through the mouth and struck on the head with some hard substance. Was dressed in dark clothing. No clue to his name was upon him. A little time ago this man had passed through Cassville in company with two young men, the three having a wagon and a team of a horse and a mule. They hailed from Kansas and said they were travelling to purchase cattle. The young men and team have been seen since the murder.
22 May 1879, Neosho Times
. . . [F]rom the Cassville Democrat of the 17th inst.: . . . . We learn from reliable authority that the name of the man found murdered in White River, about the 15th of April last was Thomas Ellis, and that he was from Norristown, Pope county, Arkansas. Arkansas papers please copy, that the matter may be ferreted out, and his murderers brought to the punishment that they so richly deserve.
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24 April 1879, Neosho Times
The Cassville Democrat reports that Wallace Greenwood was shot, on last week Sunday night, at a place on the Rock Creek road about two and a half miles from Cassville. The ball penetrated his left breast, traversed his left lung, and came out near the spine on the same side, but he will probably recover. He seemed to be ignorant of his assailant's name. Next morning James Roberts acknowledged the shooting and surrendered himself to a constable. The Democrat says it forbears comments as the affair has yet to undergo investigation. Roberts has been place under a $_____ bond.
24 April 1879, Peirce City Weekly Empire
Sensation at Cassville. -------
The Cassville Republican last week furnished the following item: The best information we can get is as follows: Sunday night, 13th inst about ten o'clock, four citizen[s] of Cassville, to wit, James Roberts and Byron Hawk (single men) and Dr. W. Speece and Wallace Greenwood (married men) met at or near the residence of a young grass widow about three miles southeast of this place, for purposes best known to themselves, Roberts and Hawk getting there first, but soon after the others came. When the usual tragedy, on such occasions, followed, and the result was that, James Roberts shot Wallace Greenwood, with a large Colts army Pistol, in the left-breast, the ball passing through his lung and out just below the left shoulder-blade[,] Greenwood by the aid of Dr. Speece got to Mr. J. M. Wallen's, near by, where he remained until conveyance was procured and he was taken home. His relatives and friends with the aid of physicians, are doing all they can to save him, but the hopes of his recovery are shadowed with much doubt. James Roberts surrendered himself to authorities Monday morning and was placed under bond.
NOTE
In December, 1882, a Jim Roberts killed Thomas Bratton at a Barry County dance. For an account of the resulting trial, see Part II.
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25 September 1879, Peirce City Weekly Empire
Startling Murder!AMOS N. KELLEY, MURDERED AT CORSICANA, MO. The Criminal Still at Large, but Officers in Every Direction Searching for Him. ------ One of the Most Dastardly Mur- ders Ever Committed in Southwest Missouri. ------ [From Monday's Daily.]
A gentleman arrived in the city this afternoon and imparted the information of the murder of Amos N. Kelley, of Corsicana, this morning. Our informant says about 10 o'clock this morning Jim Hall and Amos N. Kelley were in the store of W. I. I. Morrow and as Kelley was leaving the store, Hall shot him in the back, the ball penetrating the heart and lodged in the breast, causing death in less than thirty minutes. It is alleged the cause of the murder was an old grudge in which Amos had appeared as an attorney for Carr and Hall as a defendant. Great excitement was created by the tearful deed, and Hall made his escape. Officers are now out in every direction looking for the criminal, but at last accounts had not succeeded in making the arrest.
Further Particulars. ----- [From Tuesday's Daily.]
We glean the following facts in relation to the killing of Amos N. Kelley at Corsicana yesterday, from Mr. McKinney, who was present at the inquest held by Squire Ripley last night, at Morrow's store, and who took down the testimony:
It seems that Mr. Kelley had just returned from Eureka Springs with his wife on Sunday last. Early Monday morning Mr. Kelley went to town for his buggy, intending to take his wife over to his father's to execute a deed to some property to one Mrs. Stanley, when returning to his home he met James Hall and a Mr. Key coming into Corsicana. Says Hall to Kelley, "You work for nothing, do you?" To which Mr. Kelley made no reply, but drove on home. Presently Kelley and his wife returned to Corsicana and stopped at Morrow's store to have a deed filled out for Mrs. Stanley, who, by chance, met them at the store. While conversing with Mrs. Stanley about the title of the property, Hall who was sitting on the west side of the store, on the counter, came to the east counter where Kelley and Mrs. Stanley were standing and commenced a very abusive tirade on Kelley, and trying to provoke a fight. Soon the parties came to blows, and Kelley being much smaller than his antagonist got behind the counter; at this juncture Hall drew a navy revolver to shoot Kelley. Kelley seeing this motion of Hall, started to run out of the west door of the store, being unarmed. Mrs. Kelley seeing the danger of her husband attempted to rush between them, but did not succeed, and cried out to Hall not to shoot her husband, but Hall passed her and just as Kelley was turning north at the west door of the store, shot Kelley near the seventh dorsal vertebrate, the ball ranging obliquely toward the left nipple passing near or hitting the heart and possibly cutting the descending aorta. Kelley fell on the platform and to ground, and while his wife was trying to raise his prostrate form, the villian attempted to shoot him again, but did not. Kelley simply said to his wife, "Molly I am killed. Tell my brothers not to do anything unlawful, as I will be dead before any of them can see me;" and soon died.
There can be little doubt that the killing results from bad blood engendered by the wanton assassination of Dr. Hallidy, some three years ago, in which Kelley was reputed in some way to be connected. Hall after the shooting walked away, down the street with his brother William, breathing curses upon his victim. No attempt was made by the many citizens, who witnessed the killing, to arrest Hall, who, no doubt, will escape. The murder was unprovoked and a most diabolical one. The end is not yet, if Hall is found. Kelley's eight brothers, who are after him, will settle his hash, no doubt.
2 October 1879, Peirce City Weekly Empire
A gentleman from Barry co. told us the particulars of the surrender of Jas. Hall the Kelley murderer. Hall sent in to the authorities that he was willing to surrender, but requested they send 12 men to guard him, as he feared assassination. The men were sent out and Hall taken to Cassville, he was released and walked the streets until the sheriff returned from a trip he had to make into the country. Hall, he said, had several bad cuts on his breast, and one particularly ugly wound just to the right of his navil. There seems to be some mystery connected with this murder.
27 March 1880, Miner and Mechanic, Neosho, Missouri
Hall-Kelly Murder Trial. -- James Hall Acquitted.
Our readers will remember that on the 22d day of September, 1879, at Corsicana, Barry County, Mo., James Hall shot and killed Amos N. Kelly. That Hall surrendered himself soon after the homicide. At the March term of the Barry Circuit he was indicted for murder in the first degree. On last Thursday morning the case was stated to the jury, and the evidence of forty-four witnesses was concluded on Saturday evening. The argument was begun by Capt. James Patterson opening for the state. A. J. Harbison opening for the defence, followed by Mr. Joe Plummer and George Hubbert concluded for the defence, and O. H. Traverse concluded for the state, Mr. Wear, prosecuting attorney being sick.
The time occupied by the counsel in presenting their argument was: Patterson, 1 1/2 hours; Harbison, 3 1/2; Plummer, 1 1/2; Hubbert, 6; and Traverse 7; making about twenty hours solid talk.
The jury were only ten minutes in making their verdict. The defence was justification. The evidence showed that Kelly stabbed Hall with a Congress knife before Hall drew his pistol and fired.
NOTE
Goodspeed's 1888 History of Barry County, again with typical pinpoint accuracy, lists this event in 1877. It also says that the shooting occurred in William Fly's store, where Kelly and his wife had gone to acknowledge a deed. Reprint, page 73.
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22 January 1880, Peirce City Weekly Empire
We learn this morning that Sheriff Hudson received a requisition from Gov. Phelps for the arrest of one Hefley of this county, for some offense committed in Texas. The Sheriff and his deputy (Edens) went out to Hefley's Tuesday night to arrest him, and as H. did not wish to be hampered with the law he gave leg bail. While he was signing the leg bail bond in his bare feet at a rapid rate, the Deputy pulled down on him several times with a revolver. The fellow run into the brush, and the Deputy saw him no more for a short time. Finally the Sheriff and Deputy discovered a pair of huge white feet sticking up, and went and pulled the fellow over and rolled him around and pronounced him dead, came back to town and left him lying in the woods. The Deputy was terribly worked up about the matter all night, losing considerable sleep. Wednesday morning however revealed the fact that the man had been resurected and was not to be found by the Coronor, who found that the "possum" game had been played fine on the officers. -- Cassville Republican.
Leaving off preliminaries, the account of this affair given by the Democrat is as follows: When Hefley stopped running the sheriff and deputy called to each other and soon got together in a road or path where they discovered the body of James Hefley lying prone upon the earth, and upon examination appeared to be dead -- no sign of breathing or beating of the heart could be discovered. The sheriff and deputy therefore informed the family where to find him, and came on to town and sent Esq. Manley out to hold an inquest, but when the squire got there, he could find no dead body; nor the sign of one, and the family said that Hefley was not hurt much, and we have reasons to believe that he was not touched by a ball, but had either fainted, or was possuming in order to fool the officers -- most probably the former.
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7 October 1880, Peirce City Weekly Empire
"Road Agents" Make a Haul. ------
About noon, on yesterday a week, Threadgill & Genning's stage was stopped on the road about 17 miles south of this city, on Shoal creek, by six men wearing handkerchiefs, masks, and armed to [the] teeth. The driver, Eldridge, was commanded to halt at the muzzle of a double-barreled shot-gun. W. H. Champlin attempted to draw a revolver, when he was fired upon by one of the road agents, the bullet passing through his coat-sleeve. They then ordered the eleven men and Mrs. Fisher out of the stage and to hold up their hands. Mr. A. P. Man, First assistant Engineer of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, was relieved of his gold watch and chain and $270 in money; his clerk, W. H. Champlin, of about $175. Two gentlemen threw their pocket-books away, containing some $1,500, but returned afterward and got them. The United State mail and Adams' Express were not molested at all. After they had gone through everybody they ordered the driver to skip, and then leisurely walked into the woods.
No clue of the robbers has yet been obtained.
25 November 1880, Neosho Times
The man Lewis, arrested for complicity in the Eureka stage robbery, confesses to having killed a man named Shaw, in Duquoin, Ill., on the 7th of October. He is evidently a hard case.
9 December 1880, Neosho Times
Results of Reading Dime Novels.
The Joplin Herald has the following to say about Lewis and Sanders, recently arrested and now in the Greene county jail for robbing the Eureka Springs stage, and Posey, who has been implicated as a confederate in the transaction:
They are all Granby boys, and many of our citizens who formerly resided there remember them. In conversation a few days since, with a former resident of Granby, an incident was recalled in the life the boys that brings up the old saw, "As the twig is bent," etc. At the time of the occurrence Posey, Lewis and Sanders were lads of about 12 to 14 years of age. For some days the movements of some half-dozen lads, including the three above-mentioned, partook something of the mysterious. They were seen constantly consulting together, and making frequent visits to the woods near town. Their movements aroused curiosity, and they were watched and traced to their rendezvous in the forest. The parties who made the descent were astonished to find an improvised camp, in which were concealed every species of fire-arms, from an old-fashioned single pistol to a double-barreled shot-gun. The collection included a number of new revolvers.
Their intention was to leave for Texas in a day or two and become brigands of the border. They had been reading ten-cent novels glowing with the exploits of "Rowdy, the Ranger," "Bloody Bill," "One-eyed Kit," "the Cut-throat of the Cliff," and other amiable characters peculiar to that class of literature, and longed to distinguish themselves as highway men. Posey was captain, having acquired that distinction by stealing half a dozen revolvers from his father's store. The others had provided such arms as they could procure around home. The den they had made looked like a militia picket post. The discovery of their arsenal created quite a sensation, and the youthful brigands were captured by their parents and taken from the path of glory and remanded to the monotony and trials of the domestic roof.
Now that they have become men, the spirit that captivated their youthful fancy has been put into practical operation on the passengers of the Eureka stage coach. Now, as then, Posey appears to have been the captain.
27 January 1881, Peirce City Weekly Empire
At a special term of the Barry county circuit court, convened at Cassville on the 13th instant, indictments were presented against Perry Martin, alias Wm. Lewis, alias Canada Bill (who was considered the leader of the gang), W. H. Saunders and H. W. Posey. Perry Martin was tried seperately and after about three days consumed in his trial, the jury found him guilty, and assessed his punishment at twelve years in the Penitentiary. The Cassville Republican says the State not being ready to proceed in the cases of Saunders and Posey, their cases were continued to the next regular term in March.
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A notice of the trial and conviction of one of the mail robbers, at Cassville last week, is given elsewhere. Soon after the robbery occured a reward was offered by many citizens in the southwest, the citizens of Peirce responding very liberally. Well, when everybody had desponded of ever learning any further of those who committed the deed, Frank Erskine, detective for the St. Louis and San Francisco railway, was tracing and chasing, and after several months of labor and a liberal expenditure of money got the scent, and finally arrested one in this State, one in Kansas and the other in Texas, and the result is as stated.
NOTE
At the March 1881 term of the Barry County Circuit Court W. H. Saunders was sentenced to 10 years in the penitentiary for this robbery and H. W. Posey to 3 years. Peirce City Weekly Empire 31 March 1881.
In September, 1882, the stage between Seligman and Eureka Springs was robbed again. For details, see Part II. Beginning February 1, 1883, the Frisco began running a train between Seligman and Eureka Springs. Carthage Banner 25 January 1883.
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9 December 1880, CarthageBanner
Shooting Affray.
The water tank on the Arkanas division of the St. L & S. F. R. R. at Washburn station is about a mile and a half on this side. It seems a lot of roughs have been in the habit of jumping on the train and riding down to the tank. In the course of time this free and easy method of apropriating the train to their pleasure grew monotinous to the train officials and last Friday they ran by the tank without stopping, carried the roughs to Exeter and collected fare. On Saturday when the train stopped at the tank some fellow came out of the brush, raised the whoop and fired into the passenger coach with a shot gun. Immediately afterward a whole volley was fired into the coach by a gang of rascals who were hid in the brush. One man was wounded and the coach was riddled with bullet holes. Search was at once instituted for the villains and two of them were caught and lodged in jail in Cassville. The longest possible term in the Penitentiary should be their reward, and we doubt not will be, as no more reckless piece of villainy could be attempted than that of shooting promiscuously into a coach loaded with women and children. It is due to the brave Conductor to say that with a single musket he drove the devils away.
9 December 1880, Peirce City Weekly Empire
Shot Guns and Pistols. ------ Bad Boys in Barry. ------
A bold attack was made on the train near Washburn on Saturday last by a half dozen or more reckless roughs. It appears that on Friday a passenger was carried some 5 miles beyond where he wanted to get off, by the train not stopping to take water as had been the custom. This did not suit the passenger, and as he was inclined to have trains run to his convenience, a half dozen or more were concealed near the water tank at Bradley's mill on Saturday. The engine was cut loose from the train, and the war whoop raised, and the ruffians came from their consealment and made for the train. The engine was again attached and as the train moved off they let fire at the coach, which was spotted with turkey shot as bad as a Christmas target. Mr. G. W. Wilson of this city was standing on the rear platform of the car and received one shot in the left leg about thigh [high], he emptied a revolver, but with what effect, is not known. A gentleman bound for Eureka received two or three shots, but was scared more than hurt. We are told two of the party were captured and lodged in jail.
16 December 1880, Peirce City Weekly Empire
13 Captured in a Row! ------ Barry County Shootists in Limbo. ------
The particulars of the recent shooting into the mail train at Bradley's mill, about two miles this side of Washburn, on the Arkansas division, have already been give in these columns.
Two of the parties were captured, placed in the hands of local authorities and Monday last set as the day for trial before a J. P. at Washburn.
Frank Erskine, detective for the Frisco worked up the case, and planned the mode of procedure. U. S. Marshal C. C. Allen, and deputy Houghawout were on hand Monday. The witnesses for the state were called, then witnesses for the Defense took their stand in an opposite row and answered to the call, when Marshal Allen stepped in between and announced his official position and announced that the one side were prisoners, and the other his posse. Thirteen persons were made prisoners at the one command. So complete a surprise was never witnessed in these parts. The Marshal, deputies, lawyers and witnesses arrived in this city on the evening train, and were taken to Carthage by a special Monday evening. The prisoners will have a preliminary examination at Kansas City. Following are the names of the prisoners: D. B. Bradley, W. H. Erwin, J. D. Erwin, W. S. Erwin, James B. Erwin, G. W. Arrowd, T. B. Farris, Henry Thornberry, W. S. Wilson, J. M. Tootbee, Jas. Carin and Wm. Thomas.
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