Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-26
THE GADsHILL MEN AGAIN.
The Missouri RaiIlans in Hlekman-An
Attempt to Rob the Express
Repalsed.
The Express Agent Shet-A Very Mar
row Escape from Death-De-
scriptIOn Of the Es-
capped.

We are indebted to the Hickman
| (Ky.) Courier OF Saturday for the following
particulars OF the latest effort of the Gadshill
gang:
Thursday night last a bold and daring at
| tempt was made to rob the Hickman express
! office, the execution Of which was thwarted
| by the courage and management OF some OF
our citizens and officers, and the whole gang
captured but for an unlook ed-for act on the
| part Of one OF the robbers.
| Tuesday last three strangers were seen 20
| land at Hickman in n skiH, and their appear
| snce and action attracted some suspicion by
officers who were on the lookout.
These three men finally found their way
over to the little bo 1t Katie, which is said to
| be kept bawdy house. etc. One Captain
| Braun Is the captain or proprietor of the
| Katie. These men sounded Braun to know If
| he wouldn't join them in a "venture to make
q raise" Braun told them that the circuit
court was in session at Hickman, and they
1 would probe around town and find good
! venture" They told him they wanted game
that was "quick and Off"
Braun came to Hickman and told our
1 townsman, Joe Stegala, what had occurred,
and that he was satisfied from what the three
men mad told him that they were a part Of the
GaoshiH gang that had recently robbed the
| train in Missouri, and they would certainly
| do mischief before they left Hickman.
| Nc. Stegala communicated these facts TO
I Oficer Lineback and TO other trusty friends,
and together they proceeded tc devise plan
| to entTap this robbers.
The preliminaries being arranged, Stegala
instructed Braun to enter into arrange
ments" with the thieves, and to inform them
that he gstegalal would direct affairs and
strueted to, and did, tell the robbers that the
Hickman express Of Thursday night would
bring in twenty-five Thousand dollars for
Pleut & Bro, of Hickman, returns for cotton
and corn shipments, and that Stegala knew
this from the fact that the Ptauts had bOr-
r0Wed three hundred and fifty dollars from
him, stating that they would receive this
twenty-five Thousand dollars return by ex-
press Thursday night. The robbers entered
eagerly into the work and took a man called
"Pete"-an:attaeheo OF the 'Katie," in with
them. "Pete" was also in with the detective
Ropbing the express was then agreed upon
and the play and way began to be devised.
The three robbers wanted to kill the express
messenger and seize his safe, Immediately on
the arrival OF the train at forty-ive minutes
past nine o'clock in the morning; but the Ste
gala party dissuaded them from this idea,
urging that the crowd of passengers and train
men would make the venture unnecessarily
hazardous and dangerous, and that the situa-
fectly easy. They finally consented to Ste
gaIas suggestion, and TO put the whole thing
under his direction. In the meantime. EX-
press-Agent Dick Reid had been minutely In
formed OF every movement and arrangement,
and kindly consented to let one of the party
rob him OF tie out door key.
Two O'Clock Thursday night was agreed
upon as tf f4e hour for the robbery.
Of1cer Linebsck now commenced arrange
nents FIR capturing the party. He selected
Dick Reid, Charlie Meacham and James War
ner.. They armed themselves with double
p.recaution to roll two cotton bales into the
express office, placing either oDe IN
q corner opposite eacn osner' andi ana
screen themselves from observation.
The safe was in the end Of the room opposite
the cotton bales, but in immediate range OF
to lead the robbers into first enter himself
and see that everything was clear, and that
the safe was in the same position as described
by Stegala, and as they had seen it in the day
time. Offlcer Lineback's party was to walt
until the robbers had reached the part OF the
room where .the safe was sitting, and stimuli
Caneously bring their guns and lantern down
on them, and their surrender demanded.
All their arrangements being perfected, and
thoroughly understood, all hands put them
selves Z readiness for its execution.
The ROBBERS were 10 come over from the
and meet MI. Stegala at his saloon for final in
structiOns. 4 boat landing at the wharf ABOUT
the hour designated delayed them until about
three o'clock. They had agreed TO commune
cate their presence to Stegala by three slow
scratches on his back-door. About three
o'clock they came and gave the agreed signal.
Stegala stepped to the door and said to them:
"Boys, you're late for the work.
The leader replied: 1.-THE landing Of that
ID boat delayed u.s."
sNo matter" said Stegala; "if you're going
70 DO it, you must de Il quick and OF. Every
aHow much viii the safe weigh ?" asked the
leader.
mot more than three or four hundred
pounds" said Stegala.
''shaIl we carry it up or down the river,'
said one or the gang.
"Down," said Stegala.
"And across" !" said another of the robbers.
"All right" said the leader, "that twenty
two thousand dollars is ours. See here, Pete,
the man that hinches or wavers IN the trans
action dies" At the same time he exhibited
to StegaIa flask of powder, which he said
would open "that little safe in jify."
The party then proceeded to the express
office, Stegala and Captain Braun stopping
on the nearest street corner as watchers.
The man "Pete" then entered the express
rof
ed TO the robbers on the platform, reporting
"all clear" The robbers then entered, "Pete"
In the lead. The hindmost roooer had scarce
1y entered the door, when he threw his hand up
TO the wall and struck d match, which ex-
posed Officer Line5ack, and that officer had to
do something quickly, and the robDer being too
close to shoot with a gun, Lineback knocked
him down with billie. This brought action
on Just twinkle too quick, and Its sudden
positions. The robbers of course "bulged" for
the door. Mr.. James Warner fired upon them,
and Mr Reed standing exactly opposite him,
position shattered and knocked from his
hands But for the gun he would certainly
have been killed, and as 1t was one ball clip
ped a very nice little scratch on his nose
The robbers succeed In clearing the door,
pursued by the Lineback party, who got in as
darkness, probably without much effect !
though 1t is believed that one of the escaped
robbers was wounded. The three robbers
took different directions, and in the confusion
two escaped. One was pursued and captured
by Nj. Charles Meacham, about two hundred
yards from the express office, laying fat on
some rock underneath the river bank. The |
captured party was taken in charge, and is |
now in the county jail. He gives his name es
fOore, and says he formerly lived in Column |
bus, Kentucky and that this was his first rob- |
btBg exploit, auo that he was seduced into 1t |
by the two men escaped, who were old hands |
at the business.
Dispatches have been sent in every direct |
ION with full description Of the two parties |
that escaped, and every exertiOn will be made /
10 /
identified if captured.
One OF them is described as about five feet |
ak inches in hight, heavy set, weighing about /
one hundred and sixty-ave pounds, white !
and thick hook nose-was about |
twenty-four years old, and had on yellow +
OvercOat torn at the wrist, and wore fine i
boots.
The other was about five feet ten inches
high, slim built, red or sandy hair, smooth
face, and very red complexion.
Moore has been tried, convicted, and sem
fenced to the penitentiary for four years.
Detective Pat. Gonnell Is hard after the I
balance of the gang.