The Republican journal., 1873-09-25
The Iowa Train Robbers.

o''ie VI lHc ouPIoSed perpetrators OF the
Iowa train-robbery, the story having been
obtained, it is alleged from member OF
the Lafayette county vigilance commit
tee The correspondent says: ''Imme-
dlately after the occurrence an Iowa detec-
tive was employed by the railroad and ex-
press companies to ferret out the thieves
and bring them to Justice This official at
once organized a band of eleven picked
men to aid him in endeavoring to capture
the outlaws, and knowing that the James
boys, who We're among the suspected ones
mad been living part of the time in RAY
county, and subsequently, in LAFAYETTE
county, IN this state, they headed for Aul-
VILE, where they were joined bv the La
fayette county vigilants. The pursuil o
party soon struck the trail of the robbers
and captured a magnificent mare belong
ING to one OF the Jameses. She was sent
to Dubuque. Getting wind Of the prepar-
atlonS that Were being made for their
capture, the ]ameses managed to make
their escape from Lafayette county The
trail was lost for a time, but the detectives
soon received information which aflerwar(l
proved to be correct, 10 the effect that the
robbers had gone to JOIN the Younger
boNs at their home neal johnson CITY, a
village III st. Clair county, some eighty
i've mlleS from Sedaia and fifteen OF six
teen miles south of Montrosc On the
18th of August the vigilance committee
arrived in Sedaia. and the officers of the
Missouri. Kansas Il Texas road furnished
them with special train. The official in
charge had orders to take the party to any
point on the road that might be deemed
necessary to further their project 4 stop
was made at Montrose where the commit
tee took wagons for the vicinity of John
son City, arriving there about midnight
They left the wagon and teamster by the
roadside, III order that it might appear as
though they were engaged in hauling
lumber, while the main body of the pur-
suers took to the woods ana made their
camp Scouts We're then put to work to
ascertain il the robbers We're really in the
neighborhood, and this fact was soon de
termined beyond Il doubt. At : O'Clock
on Friday morning one Of the scouts came
in and stated that the Younger boys had
put up for the night at their home in the
suburbs of johnson CITY The scout had
taken the precaution to notify the team
sters rs they passed, and the wagons were
driven to the camp. The plan of attack
was speedily decided on. and the commit
tee started for Robbers Roost.' arriving
there in a short time 1t was their inten-
ton not to make amy demonstration until
daylight, but IN approaching the house an
indiscreet member cried out close upon it. >
This brought matters to a climax and the
entire party advanced on the house, their
guns bearing on the doors and windows.
The inmates were ordered to surrender,
and rs no SIGNS Of fight We're visible it was
soon ascertained that the only occupants
Of the building We're women and children,
and that the objects of the pursuit had
made good their escape. The women pre-
tended to be very much frightened, and
denied that the robbers had been in the
vicinity. They afterwards claimed to
have been grossly abused by the vigilants,
and it is reported on good authority that 4
member of the family has gone to Jetlcr-
son City to see Gov Woodsou with refer
encr to the affair The committee re-
turned to Sedalia on Friday night very
much chagrincd at their bad luck and very
hungry, They complained of having had
nothing to eat, and stated that they them
selves had been eaten up w chigrcS and
ticks. They stacked arms at the Ives
House, Kept their siX-shooters IN their
pockets aud got outside of numerous
square meals The next morning they
took the train for Aulville, and on arriving
there disbandcI and gave up the chase
Tbs same correspondent gives rather an
enthusiastic account Of the antecedents OF
the robbers. saying The criminal record
Of the gang dates back As far As 1861, and
although they have done little but murder
and pllagr, no one of them has ever been
taken. Undoubtedly the desperate most
e be feared is Arthur p McCov. He is
about thrty-tiye wears OF age, Il giant in
stature, and rs brave rs II lion He fol
lowed the occupation of painter in st
Louis, but on the breaking out Of the re-
bellion Joined his fortunes with some
irregular command in the confederate in
| tercst and thenceforWard was known as {
desperate Of the most bloodthirsty type
He became Il spy and Il bushwacker, but
was never known to be wounded He Ia,
had Il hand in every bank robbery of con
sequence that has occurred in Missouri
and has also worked in Kentucky ant
other southern states Mccoy has ealme,
the reputation OF being the deadlieSt pisto
Shot i'll America on horseback. and is
stranger to fear. At Gallatin, in this state
while being pursued by some citizen
whom he had robbed his wonderful mark
manship saved him 4 hempen necktic
While his horse was ut full speed McCoy
shot u citizen in the forehead who Wa
sixty yards to his right, and turning, tirec
over his lett shoulder and put a bal
| through the brain of an unfortunate yigi
lante who was taking aim at him with
Shot gun from behind tree full 40 pace
distant Both men fell dead in their tracks
His home is in Howard county, and atte
the Iowa adventure he was traced there
aud his shanty surrounded by nine men
Mccoy was watching the pursuing part,
from behind log, and at daylight h
made his hiding place known, covered tn
leader with his deadly Derringer an,
made the entire crowd about face an,
| march single file away from the spot
was supposed that he would JOIN the bal
ance of the gang at the house Of the Young
ers, in st. Clair county, but the surmis
was incorrect, as although he may hay,
been in the vicinity no traces Were toun'
of him. The James boys, Jesse and Frank
are the clever members of the mob aDt
to them is always assigned the responsi
bility of planning the robberles. They alS'
do their share of the fighting when neceS
sary, are excellent shots, and to use tn
eXpession Of my informant, are as goo
grit as ever drew triggers or HANDLED
knives. During the war the James boy
belonged TO Quantrell's command, am
since its close they have done nothing bu
rob, making banks and railroad trains
specially. They and their relatives liv
in Ray County, but the boys have spen
the greater portion Of the last few year
i'll Lafayette county. In addition to tn
other robberes they Were connected wit
the raid on the Lexington bank as ia
back as 1865. After the attack on til
Cameron bank they retreated to an in
pregnable position in the Sni hills, siXtee
on eighteen miles southwest Of Lexington
where they built themselves cabin, an
fortified it so strongly that although nun
Der of persons knew their whereabouts, an
We're aware of the large reward offered to
their capture, no attempt at arrest was mad
The brothers are about thirty-two yeal
of age, light haired, and comparativel
slim built. Of the Youngers' record BIT
little is known beyond the fact that the
reside near johnson City, in st. Cla
5 county. They are three in number. an