The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-03-17
A TERRIBLE REVENGE
A CHICAGO DETECTIVE ON The
TRACK OF THE GADS HILL
TRAIN ROBBERS.
THEY TAKE HIM OUT INTO THE WOODS
AND SHOOT HIM.

THEY TAKE HIM OUT INTO THE WOODS
AND SHOOT HIM.
From Kansas City Times. March Iith.l
The large rewards offered for the cap
ture of the Iowa train wreckers, and later
for the Gad's Hill robbers, has led a Chics-
60 detective to very sudden and mys-
terious death al the hands of those he
csmo to capture. From the following
horrifying details, as furnished by some
of the officials working up tho case, it will
be seen that the capture of the Gad's Hill
robbers i. not TO be made easily or with
out serious trouble, and tits very doubtful
| whether they are ever taken alive;
TIE DETECTIVE.
On Tuesday last a stranger arrived at
one of the Liberty hotels and registered
his name as w. j. Wicher. He was well
dressed, and made no secret of his bust
nets and his intentions. lie said he was
after the Gads Hill train robbers, and
! said he had trailod them from Gad's Hin
to Clay county, and he intended TO arrest
the James hrnthars heforo he got through
with the Job. He walked about town du-
ring the day, making close inquiries con-
corning the whereabouts Of the farm of
the widow James, and the habits and GUS
toms OF the james boys.
PREPARES FOR BUSINESS.
The detective was informed that the
James farm WAS about three miles from
Koarney, and ten or twelve from Kansas
City. He also made inquiries as to wheth-
or pistol pointed suddenly at their heads
would not be likely to intimidate and sur
prise them so that they would surrender.
These and other indiscreet remarks at
the bank and hotel left no doubt of his
intention TO attempt tho arrest of the
James brothers. Before leaving Liberty
le deposited $50 in the bank subject to his
own order and of another person, with
he understanding that he might not re-
urn again, rs no was going out on des-
,erate mission. He also made such
,hanges in his dress rs to give him the
appearance of working man, in which |
he intended to go to the James
arm and apply for work as q lsborer,and |
o become better acquainted with the hab-
Is of those ho intended to capture.
CAPTURED BY THE ROBBERS.
Whicher left Liberty on Tuesday even
ne on the B o'clock train, having pur- |
hascd ticket for Kearney station. lie |
ook with him only about ak dollars in |
money, and stated that he intanded 10
walk from kearney to tho James farm
nd apply for work. Whether he went
here and applied for work or not is at
resent unknown, as nothing more was
cen Of him after he left Kearney station
ntil he was seen in the custody of three
TRANCE men late that night. 1t is suppo.
ed by the officers who have been work
az up tho cast that no did apply to tho
ames boys, and that his true character
'as III once discovered, but this is only
mere suppositiou. lle may have attemp-
cd to arrest ono of them, and failed to
ct the drop on them as he intended.
on THE ROAD TO DEATH.
The next that was seen of the detective
10 was helpless prisoner, bound and in
ne hands Of those no had como 80 far TO
apture 1t was at Owens ferry landing,
IN tho Missouri river, about half way be-
ween Missouri City and tho Richmond
cry. One Of the ferrymen was awaken
ID about o'clock on Wednesday morn |
ing by aparty Of four mounted men. Ono |
OF these was prisoner and rode gray |
horsei the others rode two bays and "A sor- |
rel horse. They commanded the ferry
man to take them over tho river. The
man stated that it was against tho rulo TO
cross at night, and no WAS unable to row
the hstbost over the river alone. They
then commenced to call scross the river
for the other ferryman, who WAS asleep in
his house on the Jackson county shore.
CROSSING THE MISSOURI,
The ferryman at first refused TO 90 over
tho river, but the men notified him if he
did not they would cut his boat loose and
send 1t down the river. In reply 10 his
question as to who they were and what
they wanted, they shouted back that they
were sheriff q posse in charge Of Deputy
Sheriff Jim Baxter, and that they had |
captured thief and were going over TO |
j nckson county after another one. The |
ferryman ssys be knew Jim Baxter was |
not there, but 10 save his boat from going |
down tho river he got into his skiff and |
rowed over 10 tho Clay county shore. All
OF the horses were blanketGd, the three
men mad their faces covered up 10 the |
eyes with wooden comforters, and their
mats were drawn down "a IL for the nur.
pose OF concealing thor identity. onlv
one OF them spoke, and he gave all the az |
rections and led the bound prisoner nnon
the Hat boat, and the party crossed nvsr
In strict silence. The prisoner did not
appear to DO at ali restless, nor did no