The Osceola times., 1876-09-23
OsCEOLA ARKANSAS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 49,

"Take good aim before you fire." I'm
mediately after this one of the horses
started up the street and the rider began
to reel and sway to and froand suddenly
fell TO the ground just opposite Eldridge's
store. Another borseman rode up. dis
mounted, and spoke to the PROSTATE
man, who was stretched out at full
length, supporting himself on his out
stretched arms, when he rolled over on
his back. Then the other man took from
him his cartridge belt and two pistol, and
remounting his horee, rode off,
Another horseman, finding Mr.. Man.
ning's fire too hot, dismounted from his
horse and got on the opposite side of it
for protection, when an unerring bail
from the Remington brought the horse
down, the man runDiae ~tshind some
boxes which were piled beneath the
staircase before mentioned, and now en-
sued lively fusilade between this fellow
and Manning, the scoundrel keeping
himself well under cover. But ball
from Wheeler's musket struck the fellow
in the leg, half way above the knee. He
at once changed his pistol tn the left
hand and .grasped the wounded limb
with the right, still trying to get at
Manning. Finding himself getting weak
he turned and limped off up the street,
but seeing Bates with pistol In his
hand, hesent a ball whizzing toward that
gentleman, grazing the side of his cheek
and the bridge of his nose, and burying
itself in collar-box in the store.
The man limped away as he got oppo-
site to Mr.. Morris store, when he cried
out to his retreating companions, My
God, boys, you are not going to leave me
i am shot" One of the party riding
sorrel horse with light tail and name,
turned and took the wounded man up
behind him.
During Friday forenoon the robbers
were stripped of their clothing and wash
ed clean, preparatory to the coroner's in
quest, which took place at | O'Clock. The
coroner's jury, after short deliberation,
rendered verdict in accordance with
the facts previously sent you. On the
body of the shortest man was found a
fine Howard gold watch, worth at least
$l75, pocket map of Minnesota, pur.
chased OF Williams Bros, Minnesota, a
pocket compass, and 1915 in currency
gold sleeve buttons, with enameled leaf
on the face ond plain gold ring. The
possession of the map would seem to in
dicate that the dead man was one of, or
the principal leader of the gang.
The larger man of the two killed had
nothing in his possession except fine
gold Waltham watch and ten cents in
currency.
On the person of the smallest was
found an article from the Mortified
paper describing the Vale chronometer
lock and safe just procured by the bank.
The fact that nothing was found on
the dead robbers to indicate who they
were or where they came from, clearly
shows that they were professional brig
ands, probably from Missouri or Kansas,
as it is rule with such, when on ma
rauding expeditions attended with dan.
ger of capture or death, to have nothing
about their persons by which their names
could be ascertained and each is under
the most solemn obligations never to
disclose his own, or the names of his as
sociates, even when such disclosure would
be to his own advantage. A brigand is
now serving out sentence Of fourteen
years in one Of the prisons below us, who
has repeatedly been offered entire immu-
nifty for his own crime il he would give
the names of Others connected with his
band, but he resolutely refused, declar
ing that his life would not be worth a
straw if he accepted the proposition. If
death overtakes them they give no sign,
and years may elapse before any one
outside the band or their immediate
family circles, receive the intelligence.
A notable case in point occurred in Ken
lucky year or two ago, where robber,
supposed to belong TO the James or
Younger band, was fatally shot, but
fingered for some time and finally died,
but "gave no sign," although earnestly
requested to do so, whereby his identity
could be ascertained. 1t was aflerward
discovered by means of photographs sent
from Missouri, that he was prominent
member of the banditti of that state.