The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-06-02
CRIME.
A SANCTUARY AFFAIR At SPRING.
FIELD, ILLINOIS.
A Young Desperate shot While RrsIs'-
Ing Arrest.

SPRINGrIELp, May 29.-Therc is great
excitement here about the case of young
Bancroft, Of which informed You ye'ter-
day. This young man, who resided in the
northwestern part ofthc city, had strongly
opposed the surveying Of the lot belonging
10 his mother, through which Il Is proposed
10 run the Springfield 4 Northwes tern
railroad. The surveyors were driven on
the ground yesterday by him with bloody
threats, and he fired several times upon
them. A warrant placed in the hands of
Capt. Robbins, of the city police, who i'm
mediatcly repaired TO the grounds and OBJ
tanned admittancc 20 the house with an as
sistant or two. The ruiiian threatened Ia
shoot any man who placed his hands upon
him, and was well armed with pistols and
n Ratchet Aftcr some parley Capt. Rob
bins withdrew, hoping tomake the arrest
without bloodshcd.
This morning Maj. Louis Souther, city
editor of the STATE Register, repaired TO
Bancroits house Ia obtain his statement
of the matter, and was successful in meet
ing Mrs. Bancroft, who advised him 10
leave without attempting 10 see her son.
"A. she feared he might do him an injury.
Just nj this moment Bancroft came out
of the house and approached Maj, Souther,
carrying small stone or slung-shot in his
hand, and said What do you want here ~
By this time Maj. souther had turned,
and was leaving, and hearing. Bancroft
turned and saw him getting over the fence.
A few words passed, in which Bancroft
threatened the majors life The latter
then again retreated toward the city, and
Bancroft threw the slung-shot at him but
missed him. Bancroft then Immediately
drew a pistol and fired, the ball taking eff
feet in tho upper third of the major right
arm, producing severe and painful
wound.
Immediately after this, Bancroft went
10 an adjoining back yard occupied by Mr.
Henry Miller, and in conversation with
the latter expressed regret that he had re-
sisted the officers yesterday, but said mas
much as tho matter has gone so far he
could never surrender alive, and hoped TO
kill at least one man before he was cap
tured. Bancroft then started TO return
TO his house, and near there met Mr.. Nc
/ Clure, one of the railroad engineers,
and an assistant. After some con.
versation with Mr.. Mcclure he
drew his revolver and struck
him violently over the head, and
commenced firing upon him. Mr. Nc
/ Clure was armed and at once returned the
fire, and his assistant, who was unarmed,
ran away Severa! shots were exchanged
| between Bancroft and Mcclure, and the
latter received two wounds, one in his arm
and the other in his leg.
The report Of these circumstances in the
city created great excitement and Sheriff
Bowen and large number of citizens, re-
paired to the ground, where crowd con-
gregated. After sending several messa-
ges TO Bancroft, the sheriff finding there
was no chance Of peaceably capturing the
Tuiiisn, summoned Captain Robbins and a
force Of police, Capt. Robbins approached
the house, armed with shotgun, loaded
with buekshot, and as soon rs Bancroft
perceived him he raised his pistol TO shoot
but Capt. Robbins fired and shot him dead
J 10 his tracks