The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-01-01
IFrom tss LOuisriRs c5urier-you-aag, Dec. 5
CAPTURED.
The Desperate Rodifer Cauzht Aftsr a
Daring Straggle-Twsnsy Against Ons.

About II o'clock yesterday morning a
stranger entered the depot and store
room of Mr.. Matt. Coolnbs, in Memphis.
md, fifteen miles from this eity. and
bought twenty cents worth of crackers
and cheese. After making the purchase
ne stood beside the counter and BEGAN Il,
eat the frugal repaSt There was some
thing in the looks and appearance of the
stranger whieS would attract attention
from careful observer of persons. He
was fine looking man, and his keen,
gray eyes flashed around the small
store, taking in all that was to be seen.
In the store at the time were DIR. ]. NJ.
Reynolds and Mr. John Coombs. DIR.
Reynolds eyed the stranger closely. and
the stranger observing it averted his
head DIR. Reynolds gave a sign to
CoOmbs, when the latter approached him
and the following conversation took
place in a low tone of voice: ''Have apy
eonvictS escaped from the prison In the
last day or twol" said Reynolds to
Coombs. Il don't know" was the re-
ply of Combs, ''buE here is a COPY of
yesterdays Courier Journal; that will
tell you" DR.. Reynolds took the paper
and commenced glancing over it. In
few moments he laid it down in a hasty
manner and started toward the door.
In the mean time the stranger had
seated himself and was busily engaged
eating his crackers and cheese. DIR.
Reynolds left the store and sent a boy
after Mr.. Melvin w. Weir. In a very
short time Mr.. Weir arrived, and Rey-
nolds told him that there was a man in
the store who answered the description
Ofthe noted Rodifer, the escaped con-
vict. Weird had seen Rodifer not long
since, when he was being brought from
Terre Haute, on the cars to Jeffer-
sonville. He knew that If the man was
Rodifer; so he started in the store. Just
as he got opposite the man raised his
eyes and looked sharply at Weir, who
looked searehIngly at him. There could
be no mistake in the looks of the two
men as they glared at each other; the
recognition was mutual and instantane-
ons. Weir knew the man before him
was ROdifer, the escaped convict, and
ROdifer knew that he was recognized.
Weir wheeled around and left the store
Rodifer, forIt was he, Immediately fol-
lowed him out. As Weir came out of
the door he met Constable H Huckel-
berry, who was standing on the platform,
and said to him:
'Huckelberry, that mar, pointing to
Rodifer, who, In the meantime, had come
out, lis ROdifer"
At this remark Rodifer drew from his
side pocket large carving knife, with a
ten-inch blade. He at first acted as
though he would place himself on the
defense, but a moments reflection SEEM
ed to change his tactics, and he turned
and ran, with the knife clutched in his
hand. He was closely followed by DIR.
Reynolds, James Heiston, Melvin Weir
and Clinton Thompson. Rodifer ran
like deer down the Charleston pike,
and through the yard of Aleek Ball, to
an alley Weir ran into his house. next
door to Balls, and got his revolver
When he came out ROdifer was running
down the alley to a street, closely pur-
sued by number of citizens. On this
street was blacksmith shop, in front of
which was hitched horse, belong to
William Mcclure, of HenryviIIe Rodifer
sprang up to the side of the horse and
slashed away with his knife at the bridle-
reins, ,severing them from their fastening
The next moment he was on the back of
the animal and off like the wind. Dur
lhS atAAAo tAllC Tic POpuldtAOu O1nciu-
phis were alarmed and in pursuit Two
of the pursuers had also procured horses,
and the race was exciting. Weir, with
several others, had arSned themselves,
and were about seventy-fve yards be-
hind the flying fugitive The citizens on
horseback were close on to Rodifer, ,hav-
ing the best horses. Rodifer kept down
the pike, urging his horse forward to all
,k, Ill
the poor animal in the flankfto make him
20 faster Seeing that his pursuers were
! gaining upon him, Rodifer made for the
woods.
He had just reached the edge of the
woods, when he scddenly wheeled and
turned his horse square around, facing
all of his pursuers. He then firmly grasped
the reins with his left handiand bent his
body forward, and stuck the knife into
the flank of his horse, which caused him
to plunge madly forward and came tear
ing down upon his pursuers. This bold
and unexpected movement startled his
pursuers, and, before they could recover
from their surprise, Rodifer was right in
4heir midst, cutting his horse in the flank,
and doing his utmost to ride through the
party. An eyewitness of the scene, at
this time, describes Rcdifer as looking
more like demon than a human crea-
ture. He had raised himself up in his
stirrups, and seemed determined to run
the dangerous gauntlet. The horse and
its daring rider was surrounded. by this
time, by fifteen or twenty men, who were
armed by clubs and brickbats, and sew
eral with reyolvers. Th9 two men on
horseback were by Rodifer's side, striking
at him. Rodifer still kept cutting his
horse and making superhuman exertions
to force himself through tie crowd,
which was every moment growing larger.
At this junctnre a man named William
Mcclure struck Rodifer powerful blow
with ID club across the neck and shoul-
ders. The blow seemed TO stagger Rod
ifer for a moment only, and he still kept
urging his horse onward. A son of DIR.
Applegate, about this time, struck Rod
ifer terrible blow in the small of the
back with large club. This caused
him to cry out with pain Just then two
pistoi-shvts were fired, and the poor
horse gave bound to the side of the
road, stumbling, and throwing ROdifer
off He fell, or rather jumped, on his
feet to the ground. Five or six men
here rushed up to him with loaded re-
volvers. Melvin Weir placed a revolver
at his breast, and told him to give up.
Rodifer cast look at the men around
him, threw his knife on the ground, and
said, Its no use; 1 surrender" He WAS
Immediately tied and taken back TO the
town. When the noon train on the JEFF
fersonville Road came down he was Ia
ken on the cars, by Melvin Weir, DIR.
Reynolds and Clinton Thompson, and by
these three men safely delivered over to
Warden Shuler, at the States Prison in
Jeffersonville. yesterday afternoon, and
they received the reward of S250.
On his way down in the cars, RodifeF
was mOrose and sullen, and had but
little to say. He confessed the robbery
in New Albany, Tuesday night, and
stated that he slept on the knobs all
night Wednesday. He wanted to know
how much reward bad been offered for
him, and when told, said that he was
glad that his eaptOrs would get it, and
that he did not blame them He said
that he would escape again if he got q
chance. He refused to tell where he
stayed the day of his escape. Great
credit IS due the good people of Mem.
phis, Ind, for their securing one of the
most desperate men in the Western
country.
The ROAD To HEALTH
Cleanse thu stomach, bowels and blood
from all the aerid, corrupt and offensive
Accommodations which produce functional