, 1874-12-26

The De4perz.to tsodlfcr Caught After
Il Daring StruEElc-Tsventy Agalnkt


From the Lonfspi!te Courfer-Jonrnat, Dee. 25.
About II o'clucz ycsterday morning Etrlngor
entered the depot md storo-room Of Mr. Matt
Coonbs, in Memphis, Ind, Ii miles from this
n;ty. aud bought ~ centa worth Of crackasa and
eheeao. After making the purchase, ho stood by
tito sldo Of tho counter anl began to eat tho
frugal repast. There was something in the loolts
nn1 appearance Of the stranger which would at
tract attention from Q careful observer OF per-
Ho.,s. Ho was n fine looking mat, and his koen
gray evos flashed around The small Btoro, taling
III NIL that was to bo 8eon. In the store Mt tho
timD were DR.. J. II. Reynolds md Mr. John
Coombs. Dr.. Reynolds eyed tho sttengor
head. Dr. Reynolds gave Sign to coonba, when
tue latter npploacliod him and the following
conversation III q low voice took place Have
auy convictR escaped from tho prison in tho last
don't know wan tho reply Of Coonbs, ' but
hero is copy of Yesterdays Couriey-JoHudl
that will tell YOU" DR.. Reynolds took the
paper and commoneotl .glancing over it. In
10 i moments 10 laid 1t down in d lasty manner
and startod toward the door.
In the meantime tho stranger had seated
himself and was busiy engaged cating his
csaohors mud cheeae. Dr.. Reynolds left the store
aud sent boy after Nh. Melvin W. Weir In
very Bilort time Mr.. Weir arrived and Hoynolls
told him that tllore was man III tho gtoro WHO
answered tho description Of tho noted Nodtfor,
the escaped convict Woir had Heon Rodlfer ouly
short slne since. when ]io was being brought
from Torro Haute on tho cara to JcffereonVille.
know him; 30 ho started in the store. Just rs
he got opposite tho tnan raised hia eyeH and
looked Rhnrpty at Weir, who looked scarchngly
at HIM. There could bo no mtatake in tLo looks
Of the two men as they glarea at cncll other;
tho recognition was mutual aud instantaneous.
Weir know that the 1nnll boforo him was Rod,for,
the escaped CONVICT aud nolifor knew that he
was recoguixod. Wor wheeled around and left
tho store. Rodlfer, for it WAS he, Immediately
followed him out. As Weir camo out OF the
door llc mel. Constable II. 11uckelbasry, Who was
stnndlug OH tho platform, and aaid to bins.
"uuckelbcrry, taat mau," pointing to Rolifor
who. in the lneautiule, had como out, "ia Nodi-
Ior."
1t this remark Rodsfer drow from Lis sido
pocket 4 largo carying-knito, with 4 1u-incll
bade. 1Io at first acted as though lle would
place limsolf On the defensive, but moments
reflection Bcemoa to chango bis tactics, aud ho
turned and ran, With tho knife olutchol i'll lis
hand. Ao was closely followed BY Or: Roynoids,
James Heiston, Mel Weir, md Clint Thompson.
Rodifor rau like deor down tho Ckarlestown
pike and through, tho yard Of Alock Dol! to all
alloy. Weir ram into his house. noxt door to
Balls, apd got his revolyor. Whom ho camo
street, closoly pursued by number OF cltizons.
On this street WAS blacksmith ahop, in
front of which was hitchea horse belonging to
William Mcclure. Of Heuryyit!o. Rodifer spranE
lis kuifo ut the bridle-roinB Rovering them from
their fastening. Tie next moment ho 5yas ou tho
back Of the animal aud OF like the wind. During
ttis tnlo half Of tho population Of Memphis were
also procured horses, and tho race wus exciting.
Woir with several others had armed themselves
aud were about soyonty-tiye yardH behind the
flying fugitive. Tho citizcns on horsebaok wero
oloso on to Rodifer, having tho best horses.
Rodfoe kept down tho pike, urging Ills horse for
NIL fftn that nhDhhfA Df nrrk-
ing tho poor animal IN tue Hunk to make him go
faator. Heeing that Its pursuars were gaining
upon him. Rodifer made for the wooas.
Ho had just reached tho edge Of tho woods,
square around, tacing all OF his purs1eys. Ho
then firmly graspod tho rein with his loft hand
aud bout lla body forward, and atncl tho kn,fo
In tho flank Of hia horse, which cRlsol him to
pIungo mndly forward aud como tearing down
upon lia purauars. This bold aud unexpected
movonleutstartlod hls pursuerA, md boforo tItoy
could recover from tlloIr HurlWiHe, Rotlifcr was
right in their midst cutting ih horse ii, the faux
md dong his utmost to rto through tho party.
An eyewitness OF tho ,Ecoao at thls tlu1o do
acrlbos Rodifer az looking more like a demon
than human creature. He had raised himself
up in tho Birrupg, and seemed determined to run
| tic dangerous gauntlet. The hordo aud iA
daring ridor wore surrounded By thia timo by
cuba and brickbatR, aud several with revolyers
| Tie two mon Oh horseback ware by Rouifera
side, striking at him. nodifor Btil kept cutting
his horse and making auperhuuan axortions to
| force him through tho crowd, which was every
moment growing larger. At thia junctnro q nlatl
| named William Mcclure asruek Ruuter II powpr-
tul blow with q club across the neck aud ahoul-
dors. The blow soonod to ssageer lsodlfar for .
moment only, and ho still kept urging hls lorso
Onward. A aon Of Dr.. App!egato about tllH
time struck l.odifcr q terrific blow In tue
small Of tho buck With u largo club. Thif
caused him to cry out with raiu. just il1on two
uiatol.sl.o!H wore trod, aud the poor horse gayo
i bound to the Aitle Of lhe road. stumbling, and
throwing ltulifer oil. Ho foil, or ruthor, jumped
OH his foot to tho ground. Five or Bix men lierc
rushed up to him with loadad 1eyolvers. Mely,'
him to give up. Notlifer oast look at tho mon
around him, threw his kalfo on tho ground and
said, "1t's no lso} l surrender" 1lo waa i'm
mudiately tod aud takon buck to tue town.
Wnen tho noon train on tho leil. load eame
down ho WAS laLan On tho carH by Melv!n Woir
Dr.. Hoynolt!H, and Clint Thompson, aud by
thosc three men safcly delivered over to Wardeu
sauler ut tho Btasa'a Prison In Jofcrsonvlllo yes
tesday attarooou, aud sscslyod tho reward oI
| |2h0,