Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-12-27
Killed BY Policemen.

Killed BY Policemen.
Special Telegram 10 The Chicago Times.
CLINTON, Iowa, Dec. 19-This COM
IMunity was startled early this MORN
Ing by . fearful tragedy enacted on
Second street. Night officers John
Crowley and John Bowes attempted
to arrest John and James Hunt, two
desperate brothers, residing at CO.
manche, and another man, for the
alleged robbery of James Williams,
a railroader. The trio resisted and
all drew rev0lvers. Promiscuous fir
ing on the street began, lasting about
fifteen minutes. The officers were at
first overpowered and badly beaten
about the heads, Crowley being shot
through the shoulder. The police
finally put the others to rout, after
fully q dozen shots had been ex-
changed. Two escaped, but John
Hunt was captured. He tried to es-
cape, but was shot dead in the street.
By this time quite number had ar
rived on the street. Both officers went
home, and are now delirious and un-
able to leave their beds. Fears are
entertained that one or both will die.
The inquest began to-day, but was
postponed until tomorrow. Public
opinion cxonerates the officers.
The above dispatch we clip from
the Chicago Times of yesterday,
and rs the Hunt boys were at one time
somewhat notorious characters in this
city, a COURIER reporter has been at
some pains to gather something Of
their history from the best means at
command.
The Hunt boys were raised in this
county, and the family moved to this
city about Is years ago, establishing a
livery stable here either in the fall of
1853 or in the spring of 1859.
OF the two boys engaged in this
row, John was the Oldest, being about
% years of age. Jim is about % or
"a years old. John has not been in
this city for several years until this
fall, when he made his appearance
with Butcher, the horseman, at the
fall races, at which time he seemed
very quiet and peaceable. His char
tacter previous to this time was not
considered very good, and at one time
he was noted as pugilist. However,
it may be said to his credit that he
never was considered man that
drank to excess, although not saint
by any means. We understand that
he was once arrested for cutting G..
w. Kitterman with a knife, at Dab
lonega, in row, the particulars of
which is not necessary now to give or
pertinent to the story.
4 Jim, the other brother in the melee,
was the more notorious and the most
dangerous of the two, and man OF
bad character. He once, through
spite or a fit of anger, broke pitch.
fork over the head Of Frank Adams,a
colored man, for which he paid Q
heavy fine, and among other sports
amused himself with shooting Scot
; Bailey, not inflicting wounds tina
were considered dangerous, ant
for which he has been under bail fol
: two or three years, and may be We
for aught we know, the case havin,
been put off from time to time until i
has been lost track of except by tn
Court authorities. He was also &C
cused of participating in the Conge1
robbery, better known as the @Coun
ty line robbery" which excited s,
much attention about year ago, il
connection with Bill Henry, Jaquc
and others. For this crime he was ar
rested, lodged in Jail in this city
transferred from here to Centerville
and from there to Keosauqua,a at which
. place he was released about three
months ago on turning States cyl
dence or something of that sort. HI
has frequently been accused of having
a desire to appropriate other peoples
property without returning an equiv.
alent, although he never was arrested
for theft other than as related above
that we are aware of.
Both John and Jim had the same
quality-good or bad and never
went into row without the inten.
ton of coming out first best at all haz..
ards, and for this reason they
were always considered dangerous
men, although generally peaceable.
Charley, an older brother than either,
we understand was sent to the Mis-
souri, Penitentiary, a few years ago,
for horse stealing. Their father died
in this city in 1861.