Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-03-27
THE GAD'S HILL ROBBERS.

|
His Tracks Like n DOg-Two Detect
ives Murdered, and One Seriously,
If Not Fatally, Wounded The Mis-
souri, Outlaws Tracked 20 Their
Hiding Places.
Ever since the bold robbery of the train on
the Iron Mountain Railway at Gad's Hill, No,
on the 31st of January, measures for the dis
covery of the perpetrators have been vigor-
ously prosecuted. The Postoffice officials,
Adams Express Company and the railway
company finally placed the matter in the
hands of Allan Pinkerton, the well-known de-
tective of Chicago. After full survey of
the circumstances attending the affair the
conclusion was reached that the five men
concerned in the outrage were the famous
James and Younger brothers, the former
living in Clay County and the latter in St.
Clair County, Mo-
After the robbery above referred to these
men Travelled down into Arkansas, giving out
| that they were bound for New Mexico and
| then doubled on their tracks and sought their
homes-the James boys going one way and
| the three Younger boys another. They were
closely followed. Not long ago a detective
named Joseph W. Whicher came across the
trail of the James boys. He arrived at Lib
erty, Mo-, on the 10th of March, where he
sought banker named Adkins, with whom he
deposited some money, as he had more With
him than it was prudent to carry on such an
errand. He told Adkins his business, who
advised him not to undertake it as the boys
would be sure to kill him. Whicher, however,
was fearless and persistent in going. Adkins
then recommended hiR to talk with the Sher-
| iff, who could direct him where he wished to
go. The Sheriff also advised Whicher not to
go on his intended errand. He told him that
the boys were bad lot and were away from
| home but that the old woman was there, and
she would kill him as quick as the boys, for
she was dead shot and could shoot like a
man. Whcher obtained description of the
boys and the way to their house, and started
off on his perilous errand. He left Liberty on
the afternoon of the 10th, on the Hannibal IL
st. Joseph Railway. Reaching Kearney Sta
ton at about dark he left the train and struck
off across the country for the James boys
place.
The next known Of him is from the report
OF John Brickey, the ferryman at the Blue
| Mills crossing of the Missouri River. He
says he was called up on the night of the 10th
| by some men on the north side of the river,
who wanted to Cross The party consisted
| of four men on horseback. The fourth man
was tied on his horse by rope fastened to his
legs and passing under the horses belly, and
had his arms tied behind him at the elbows;
his hat was tied on with handkerchief. One
of the men dsmounted and took the prisoner
from his horse. Brickey says that the prisoner
took things very coolly, and stamped his feet
n l. la
tion. Not word was said all the way across
the river. The ferryman saw that all the men
except the prisoner had the lower part OF
their faces covered with mufflers and their
hats slouched down over their faces. When
| the south side of the river was reached one
| of the men asked what the fare was, paid it,
| and the party rode Off without a word. Brlckey
| got back to his house at three o'clock in the
morning. Next day man going to Liberty
with a load of wood found Whicher's dead
body lying at the meeting of the Lexington,
| Liberty and Independence roads. He was shot
through the temple, through the neck, and in
| the shoulder. A fourth shot, evidently fired
| by man ON horseback, passed between his
| legs and was found in the ground. The pistol
with which he was shot through the head was
| held so close as to burn the handkerchief with
which his hat was tied on, while his neck was
also badly burned from the close discharge OF
a pistol
| There is no doubt in the minds of the peo
pie of Clay County that Whicher was mur
dered by one of the James boys. These mer
have established a perfect terrorism in theil
neighborhood. Everybody is afraid of them
People will not talk about the murder
| do a ta nn1x In In
the seclusion of back rooms. The James boy
have made hosts of friends by stealing from
the rich and giving to the poor, 1t is said
They have means of receiving timely notic'
of any steps TO trouble them, and Whicher'
fate shows that they do not scruple at desper
ate measures to relieve themselves from mo
lestation. . .-
Three of Pinkerton's best men wer,
detailed TO pursue the Younger brothers
and left for the woods about the time Whiche
was murdered. They first sent out spy, on
of the employees of the Iron Mountain Railway
who came across the men in ravine near Man
agaw Springs, where the Younger brother
own property and where they had establishes
a rendezvous. He was at once captured, bu
played his part SO adroitly that he was set a
liberty and told to leave the country. Instea,
Of doing this, however, he hurried to Pinker
toms men and gave them what information h
had gathered, and they at once started 70
their hiding place, accompanied by Deputy
Sheriff Daniels, of st. Clair, On the after
noon Of the 10th the three on horsebacl
called at the house, making some trivia
errand. Two Of the Youngers were eating
, and, when the detectives left, they took thel
arms, mounted their horSss, and rode atte
them. Coming close upon Them the Younger
called upon the detectives to halt, and, aimin
} their guns al the party, demanded their SUI
render Allen, one of the detectives, turne
J his horse close to them, took pistol from hI