Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-26
Rock Island Railroad ana
Gad's gEiiI Train Robbers
Assasafnafe a Detective.

The following account OF the do
ings Of the daring railroad robbers
appeared in the Kansas City Times
fof the 14tb inst. 1t appears that
they are maintaining their reputa-
! ton for courage and systematic exc
cution Of weIl-laid plans, showing
their determination not 10 be taken
by any ordinary or secondelass
scheming. Such reckless robbery
and murder In open and semi-chivai-
| ric defiance Of law and authorities IL
very like the operations Of old-tine
highwaymen:
| The large rewards offered for the
capture Of the Iowa train wreckers,
and later for the Gad's Hill robbers,
has led Chicago detective TO o very
sudden and mysterious death at the
hands Of those lac came to capture.
From the following horrifying de-
tails AZ furnished by some Of the of
ficials working up the case, IL will be
seen that the capture OF the Gad's
Hill robbers is not TO be made easily
or without serious trouble, and il Is
very doubtful whether they are ever
taken alive.
THE DETECTIVE.
On Tuesday morning last stran-
ger arrived ut one Of the Liberty ho-
tells, and registered as J. w. Which
err. He was we'll dressed, and made
no secret Of his business. or inten-
tions. He said that he was after the
Gad's Hill train robbers, and that he
had trailcd them from Gad's Hill to
Clay county, and that he intended to
arrest the James brothers before he
got through with the job. lie walk
ed about town dnring the day, maxi
ing close inquiries concerning the
whereabouts Of the farm OF the wild
ow James, and the habits and Gus
toms Of the James boys.
PREPARES ron BUSINESS.
The detaettii wins informed That
the James farm was about three
miles from Kearney, and ten or
twelve from Kansas tity. He also
made inquiries as to whether n pistol
pointed suddenly at their heads
would not be likely to intimidate
and surprise them SO that they would
surrender. These and other indis-
Greet remarks at the bank and hotel
left no doubt of his intention 10 at
tempt the arrest Of the James broth
ers. Before leaving Liberty he de-
posted fifty dollars in the bank
subject to his own order and OF an
other person, with the understands
Ing that he might not return again, as
he was going out on q desperate
mission. He also made such changes
In his dress AS TO give him the APP
pearance of II working man, in which
character he intended to go to the
james farm and apply for work as a
laborer, and so become better ac-
qaainted with the habits OF those he
intended to capture.
CAPTURED AT THE ROBBERS.
Whicher left Liberty on Tuesday
evening on the O'Clock train having
purchased ticket for Kearney sta
tion. He took with him only about
six dollars in money, and stated that
he intended TO walk from kearney
TO the James farm and apply for
work. Whether he went there and
applied for work or not Is at present
unknown, rs nothing more was seen
of him after he left kearney station,
until he WAS seen i'm the custody Of
three strange men late that night.
II is supposed by the officers work
ing up the case that he did apply TO
the James boys and that his true
character was at once discovered, but
this Is only IA mere supposition. He
may have attempted to arrest one of
them, and failed to get the drop on
him rs he intended.
on THE ROAD TO DEATH.
The next that was seen Of the de-
tectiye he was helpless prisoner,
bound, and la the hands of those he
had come SO far to capture. 1t wits
at Owens Ferry Landing, on the
the Missouri river, about half way
between Missouri City and the Rich
mond Ferry. One OF the ferrymen
was awakened at three O'Clock on
"Wednesday morning by n party OF
four mounted men. One OF these
was a prisoner and rode gray horse;
tho others rode two bays and one
sorrel horse. They commanded the
ferryman to take them over the rig-