Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-06
THE RUSSELLVILLE BANDITTI.
Desperate Scheme for the Liber-
alton Of Sheppard.
A Railway Train to be Hurled TO
Destruction.
Capture Of Two Of the Gang at
the Nashville Depot. and EX-
plOsiOn Of the Plot.
From tho Louisville Courier, Nov. 5.


One of the most desperate and deep.
laid schemes ever coDeocted for the fur
therance of crime was frustrated yesterday
morning by Louisville detectives. The
whole country is familiar with the story
Of the robbery of the bank at Russellyille,
which occurred some FIVE or six months
ago. and il will be remembered as one OF
those dashing. daredevil feats Of robbery
and plunder which belong rather to the
days of Dick Turpin and Sixteen String
Jack, than to our stald, God-iearing
times, and one which, occurring 80 sud-
denly and unexpectedly, at point where
thing was SO little dreamed OF, startled
the Commonwealth and awoke the people
to some disagreeable truths as to our crlml-
nal status that could not well be passed
over.
George Sheppard, one of the band that
debouched upon Russellville, and charged
the bank, has been lying in Jail in this
city for some time, from whence he was to
have been taken to Russsllville last night
for trial. He was the man who rode the
iron-gray horse, and who cavOrted like
true highwayman, fourishing his revolver
and frightening away every one whom he
encountered. The Sheriff Of Logan coun-
ty arrived here on Monday for the purpose
Of returning with Sheppard to Rus5ellyille,
but some little occurrence at the jail du-
ring his imprisonment there had excited
the suspicious Of the jailer, Mr.. Thomas,
and some interesting results Of that officers
observations were promptly laid before
Detectives Bligh and Gallagher, of the
Metropolitan Police.
Not long since a brother of the prisoner
came to this city from Kansas City, Mis-
souri,, or that vicinity, and joining the
prisoners wife here, both made one of our
hotels their temporary home. Their visits
10 the Jail were so frequent that Mr..
Thomas was LED to believe that all was not
right, and the developments yesterday
morning fully proved that bis suspicious
were not by any means groundless.
1t had been understood that Sheppard
would be taken to ltussellville by the 6:3O
P. NJ. train, but through TIE advice Of the
detectives the Sheriff determined TO start
with him by the morning train. When
the Sheriff and detectives reached the
Jail, Sheppard's brother was hanging about
the premises, and while the Sheriff and
Bligh went into the cell and handcuffed
Sheppard, Gallagher kept an eye on the
movements of the brother A soon "a
the prisoner was brought on! the brother,
with establishment depicted in every fsa-
ture, fastened of, and struck dog-irot cut
Sixth street toward the Nashville depot,
Gallagher following closely in his wake,
The Sheriff and Bligh, with Sheppard,
got into a hack and drove rapidly towfrd
Broadway arriving atthe depot considerably
in advance Of Gallagher and The so!icitous
brother, more especially as the brother
stopped at LonginottPs saloon, on the cor
ner Of Ninth and Broadway. Going in,
he came out again in a moment, accompa-
MED by two men, and gestlcdiating vio-
lently. He then left his two companions,
walking quickly up toward the depot. At
this iunclu7e. Detective Gallagher came up
aud arrested both the men who had come
out of Longin0tti'I, and assisted by officer
Enlow, marched them OF TO jail. Five
heavy navy reyoIvsrs were found in some
saddle-bag5 belonging to them. and they
gave their names as Charles +. Cahiil and
Richard Haddocks. They we're both
comparatively young men and claimed to
have Just come from beyond lie plains,
passing through Chicago ga thsiF way
South.
Sheppard's brother Ea3 not seen again,
but officers were putupon his track as soon
as possible. The prisoner, in company
with the Sheriff and Detective Bligh, left
by the train at o'clock From facts in
possession ofthe detective, itappe1vs there
was plot on the part OF The brother Of
Sheppard for the release Of the prisoner,
and aided by Mr.. Sheppard and other ac-
completes, who are believed to belong to
the same gang who entered Russellville,
he was confident Of its successful working
The first plan was that Hadlocks and Ca
hill, or whoever the aCc0mplices might be,
were to leave here yesterday morning, by
the Nashville train, and getting of at some
point between this city and Russellville,
throw from the track the night train,
which was 10 convey the Sheriff and
Sheppard. The unexpected movement
of the Sheriff in the morning knocked
in the head ali their calculations, and the
only thing left that could be attempted WAS
to muster a small party OF determined men,
we'll armed, who would, on the way to Rus.
sellville, attack the Sheriff and forcibly
take the prisoner from him. The brother
of Sheppard was evidently eudeavoring to
muster the members Of the gang when Ca
hill and Haddocks were arrested. Both
these young men are said to have come
from the same pointiu Missouri where one
of the bank robbers vas shot in an attempt
to capture him, and are believed to belong
to the original band.
The trial Of Sheppard will probably
commence at RussellviIIc to-day. J. Hop.
Price aud Major VIII J. Kinney, counsel
for the prisoner, left here last night for
Russellvile.
Haddocks and Cah.lI were presented in
the City Court shortly after their arrest, to
answer the charge @. coa7piring to take
life and obstruct the course Of public jus
tice. The case was continued, and their
bonds fixed at $1,000 each.