Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-15
TERRIBLE CASUALTIES.
A Town In Possession of Mule
Drivers-A Lesson to Law
less RuhianB.

From the Marysyille (Kansas) Rnterprise.l
On Monday night, the 18th inst, the
train Of Mr.. Benham, Of st. Joseph, on
its way down from Denver, drove into
town and corraled in the vicinity Of Tom
Smiths livery and feed stables, near the
heart Of the town, and number Of the
drivers, headed by notorious desperate
named George Reed alias " Arkansaw," T"
began visiting the different saloons and
calling for whiskey, whereupon three or
four Of the roughs became quite profuse
in spewing out oaths and making decla-
rations of what they would do If they did
not get whiskey, but they we're finally
quelled by the keeper, the saloon vacated
and the door closed About dark these
fellows were again parading the streets
and in an intoxicated condition, having
procured liquor somewhere as their ac-
tions fully evinced. They became more
and more noisy, but the citizens, suspect
ing really no serious injury from them,
retired to their respective homes. About
10 o'clock in the evening little boy
cNme running down the street from the
bakery of Mr.. Straub, and informed a
number Of citizens that these wretches
were breaking into Mr.. Straub's estab-
lishment, and had almost killed an old
man-Mr. Bartlow-and pulled Mrs.
Strab by her hair from the house into
the backyard.
Before the citizens could rally they
had vacated the place, however, and re.
turned to camp. Previous to this, while
passing down the street, they were heard
to remark several times that they had
been "hired to rnn this town, and, by
Cd, they were going to run il" 1t
seems, however that they did not remain
in camp long, for a very few minutes
after firing was heard at a house in the
vicinity of Spring creek, and loud cry
of murder, murder r. Six of our armed
citizens rushed to the place, and found
that number of these drunken devils,
led by Arkansaw," had taken posses
sion of the house of widow lady with
the evident intent of ravishing her,
threatening to kill her if she did not yield
to their demands.
A brother of the lady was with her in
the house, but before assistance had
reached them these brutes had knocked
him down with the handle of q revolver,
inflicting bad wound on his forehead.
The citizens demanded of them to sur
render and give up their arms, which |
they refused to do, and suddenly dashing
open the door, and rushing out, they |
began firing as they went. But our six
boys were too much for them, and after
a hot contest of several minutes some
three of them were brought to the ground,
and another, "Arkansaw," surrendered. |
A desperate dare devil called ''Red"
was shot through the arm, another by
the name of Casey, and a9other named
Coulter received ball in his side, which
lodged somewhere in his bowels, and of,
which, it is thought, he will not recover.
The whole lawless gang was safely
guarded during the night, and other
parties arrested the next morning, who
have since been discharged. Miraculous
as it may seem, not one of our citizens
was hurt in the least
From what inform alton we can gather
this man Reed, or "Arkansaw," is a
desperate and hardened character, who
delights in calling himself the "bul of
,he woods" and we can say but little
more for "Re1" or Zachariah Ben, as
he calls himself, or for Coulter, who it is
hought, will not recover. "Arkansaw"
las been held to bail to appear at our
District Court under FIVE different
charges in the sum of $2500, and the
,thers, who are in custody, will be tried
md bound over as fast as their physical
will permit them to be brought
Ysiore Justice Cottrell.