The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-06-05

From Saturdays Daily Hcrald,l
A BOLD BREAK.
A Railroad Car Entered by Armed Men,
and q Prisoner Rescued.
A Deputy Sheriff Forced TO Release u
Prisoner at the Muzzlc OF u
Shotgun.

One of the bodest and most daring
attempts to rescue prisoner from the
officers of the law took place yesterday
morning between and 8 o'clock mt
Palmer, station on the Texas Central
railroad, in Ellis county, about tw cnty-
seven m lies from this city.
From Major James Il. Barkley, who
was in the sleeping ear of the train,
the reporter has been furnished the
following particulars: AS the train
neared the station, he noticed several
men standing around the platform,
but suspicioncd nothing wrong, think
ing that they We're only party of
country fellows looking about the
train, as is frequently seen. As soon
as the train stopped one of the men
walked up to the locomotive, and lev
cling n double-barreled shotgun at the
engineer and ordered him not to move
the train on penalty of instant death.
Two or three of the other men, togeth-
er with two women, led by
deputy sheriff of Ellis county,
named ,Vester, then walked up to
the platform of one Of the cars and en-
deavored to obtain an entrance, but
were denied by Il brakesman who stood
at the door. Drawing his revolver,
Vester ordered him to stand aside, re-
marking, "Open that door; we're all
right" Resistance being useless, the
brakesman stepped aside and the party
entered the ear, where was sitting }.
w. Herrjn, deputy sheriff of Smith
county, in charge of man named
Forston, who had been arrested in
Ellis county and was being taken to
Smith county to answer to the charge
of murder committed in that county
some time ago. The party demanded
the prisoner from the officer, and as he
was unable to resist, he turned him
over to the mob, who assisted him to
the door of the car and placed him on
~ holStt III ioA
and the whole party rode rapidly
away. The whole affair occurred so
quick and sudden that it was some
moments before the passengers realized
what had occurred.
AS soon as order was res tored, Sher-
if fBarkley advised Deputy Sheriff Her
rim to stop over at Dallas, promising
to lend him all the assistance in his
power to recapture Forston. Arriving
here, Sheriff Marsh, of Smith county,
was telegraphed to, when the follow
ing answer was received:
TYLER, May 2S.
To ]. W. Herrin:
Get assistance and arrest Forston,
Vester and mob. If you need money
or assistance, telegraph.
BRYAN NASH, Sheriff.
Sheriff Barkley telegraphed to the
attorney general for instructions in the
premises, and received the following
reply:
AUSTIN, May 2S.
To Major James T.. Barkley:
Summon a sufficient number of good
citizens as posse for pressing emergen-
cies, ana when Time admits, proceed
under general laws of 1875, chapter
seventy-two. Get specific instructions
from district attorney.
GEORGE CLARK,
Attorney General.
Sheriff Barkley also telegraphef to
Sheriff King, of Ellis county, tender
ing him assistance, but up to late
hour last night had received no an
swer.
Immediately on receiving the dis
patch of the attorney general, Sheriff
Barkley issued a request to the officers
of the Stonewall Greys and Lamar
Rifles to report their companies for
duty, intending to start for the scene of
action on the $50 train, but Herrin,
the deputy sheriff from Smith county,
who had all the papers in the case in
his possession, left the city on the $3.50
train. Major Barkley telegraphed him
at Terrell to return, and if not, to at
least send the papers back, but no an
swer was received from him.
The sheriff of Smith was then tele-
graphed to, and at eight o'clock last
evening Major Barkley received the
necessary papers by telegraph. 1t was
then supposed that the companies
would start by the midnight train, but
after reflection, Major Barkley deter
mined to take no immediate action
unless something further was develop
ed. The companies will rendezvous at
the court house this morning, and, If
necessary, will start at once for the |
scene of the outrage
Great praise is due our citizen sol |
diery for the prompt and spirited man.
ner in which they responded to the
call of duty, showing that they were
not organized alone for military
pageantry and displays, but that they
have the spirit and determination of
old veterans,