Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1856-11-24

DrtdJaf .Scsae- ROm0n1f an Redi
Life Particulars Of III, Capture
ard Execution " "Tom E,H," the
H.gh@uymo".
Several days past, kumors in rela-
ton 10 the capture and execution OF
this notorious highwayman. has filled
the papers. The San Andres lndepen-
dent gives the following particulars,
which seem to confirm the truth OF the
story that Bell has been actually taken:
BY the information obtained from
one Bill White" an escaped convict
and one OF Bell. gang, Who WAS ares
led by the people near Knights Ferry,
il was a>certained that some of the
bandits were concealed in the willows
near the junction OF the slough leading
from luare La kes 10 the San joachim,
abou, ,iA miles above Firebaugh's Fer
~. Also that two brothers, BY the
name ol tarnsworth were keeping
camp, and that woman and her three
daughters were with them.
Acting Oh this information, Judge
Belt and MIR. Armstrong, of the Mer-
ced, organized party OF eight men,
armed and equipped for the most Ies-
perate emergency, and hastily started
in pursuit, taking White with them rs
guide. After arriving st the place
OF the robbers renjcz, Jus, Belt, pat
~ went into camp and found that
Cnder-Shertf milford and McFish,
Adams and others, had previously ar-
rived. and arrested the Farnsworth's,
aud secured the stock, &c, belonging
to the robbers. They also posted
guard to arrest any new arrivals. AZ
ter the guard had stood sentry five
days and nights, without discovering
any thing, and started Tor Stockton
Two OF the Shcritf's party had previ-
ously started for Stockton with the
prisoners already arrested. when
about mile below Firebaugh's Ferry,
one Of Judge Belts men, Mr.. Robert
Price, Of Sonora, separated from the
party, and crossed the river, on his
way to Sonora. After crossing the
river, he observed man on horseback,
suspiciously concealing himself in the
willows; Price went his way as il not
noticing the incident; when out of
sight, he hastily returned to Belts par
ty and informed them OF his suspicionS.
Three men, including Judge Belt, fol-
lowed the trail, while the others took
position on the plains 70 as to prevent
his escape. The three on the trail came
up to Bell, who was sitting on his
horse, talking to q Mexican, also Oh
horseback.
When within about fifty yards of
them, Belts party rode briskly up, the
Judge at the same time dismounting,
and aiming y double barrel shot gun,
cooked, II Bells head and ordering
him to give up bis gun, Il Mississippi
rihe) which he did without reply or
resistance. Belt then said. Il believe
You are the man we have been looking
fort" "Very probably" coolly replied
Bell. One OF the party then slipped
up to the bandit, and took Navy re-
volver and bowie knife from his belt
and proceeded to tie him, aud ordered
him TO dismount, which he did with
out . murmur; he was accordingly Ne
cured, with the Mexican, and taken to
Firebaugh's Ferry. This WAS about
eleven o'clock Of Saturday, the Ath day
Of October aud they hung him 1t
o'clock the same day.
Tom Bell said hs had not robbed
any for two months. That be had
been in fight on Tuesday night, pre-
viouA near Auburn, but did not know
with whom, Or what had been the tate
Of bis companions, He himself was
not hit in the fight. and bic company
was entirely broken up, and most Of
them arrested. Bell wishsd time to
confess, but the emergency Of the case
was Of such nature that his captor
thought il advisabls to hang him be-.
fore ni0ht ahould Aonna nm.