The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-05-28
CAPTURED BY TELEGRAPH.

During the winter of 1859 | was en-
ployed as night operator in the railroad
Office at D, Iowa. The principal road
between Chicago and Omaha runs through
d, and the great irregular night trains.
and constant danger OF collisions resulting
rherefrom, rendered the position of night
operator by no means an easy one. Itmay
be well TO mention here. as necessary to
the following story, that besides the rail-
road office there was also ut D. a bust
= rsss Office of the Union Comoany. This
we always spoke of as the downtown
ofiice.-
One stormy night, not far from IL
O'Clock, sat at my desk-and for won
der, idle. The wires had not called for
some time, and was leaning back in nv
chair listening TO the wind outside, and
3 rasecting upon the loneliness OF my situa-
ton. The eastern train had crossed the
river an hour ago, all the depot officials
had gone off home, and so far as knew |
was entirely alone in the vast building.
Finally, tired of thinking. picked up
the evening paper and glanced listlessy
over its columns. Among other things |
read the detailed account of fearful ira.
gely that had occurred fifty miles up the
river on the previous night. Three RATS
men, well known as desperate characters
In that vicinity. had entered the cottage OF
one Matthews. a farmer living in an isola-
ted spot; had butchered the farmer and
bis children. terribly rnaltreated his wife,
and then departed as they came, having
taken with them whatever of plumber was
handy. What interested me most was a
full description. for purposes of identified
ton, ofthe chief OF the yillanoust trio, Tim
Lynch. Here it Is:
Five hundred dohsrs reward will be paid for
Information leading 70 the capture, dead or alive
OF Tim Lynch, the ringleader of the Matthews
feet four inches in height, very broad across the
shoulders. Eyes greenish gray, with a deep
scar over theright one. Hair why, black. and
dres sed in black Kossuth hat, faded army over
coat, pants Of gray jeans, and heavy boots. The
above reward will be paid to any one furnishing
positive Information Of his whereabouts,
(signcd) -, sheriff Of - County.
At the very instant | finished reading
the advertisement, there occurred the
most remarkable coincidence that has
ever come under my observation. heard
I a heavy tread on the stairs, and then the
door opened and there entered-Tim
lynch! The moment set my eyes upon
him I recognized him as perfectly as
though / had known him all his life. The
army overcoat and gray pants tucked into
the heavy boots. and massive frame and
shoulders, the slouched hat pulled down
( over his right eye to conceal--l was sure
the ser, above all desperate, hunted.
2 look In his forbidding countenance--all
were not To be mistaken. l was as certain
>of his identity as though he had stepped
forward. pulled off his hat to show the
scar. and told me his name.
To say that l was not alarmed at this
sudden and unwelcome intrusion would
re untrue. i am not a brave men. and
my present situation. alone in the depot
with "A hunted murderer, was by no means
reassuring. Ny heart beat violently, but
from mere force of habit arose and asked
him TO be seated. White he turned to
comply ! succeeded In conquering nv
agitation to some extent. He drew a
chair noisily forward, and sitting down
threw open his coat. displaying by so do
ing heavy navy revolver stuck in his belt.
Then he freed bis mouth of quantity of
tobacco juice, and spoke:
Young feller,' he said. motionng
with his head toward the battery, "thet
thar macheen Is what yer call Telegram,
Is'posesn
"well," answered, with faint smile,
intended 10 be conciliatory, "that's what
we send kilograms by
wal, want you to send a message to
friend o mine out in Coh0e. / tell yer
aforehand hain't got no collateral. But
l kinder guess you'd better trust me,
young feller." Here he laid his hand
significantly on his belly. "I'll fetch 1t In
ter morrow, efit's convenient
! hastened to say that the charge could
:, lust as well be paid at the other end by his
z riend9