The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-24
Capture of a Desperate.

A
5 dalies give an exciting account of the capture
in st. Louis on the preceding day, of motto,
riOus desperate named Rande, whose blood
J curdling exploits for the past year had made
him the object of anxious pursuit by an army
of detectives The most noted of his exploits
during the past summer were the murder Of
Chas Bcldcn, near Gibson Knox county, in
August last, and the murder of three men at st.
G Elmo, in Fayette county, in September. Though
p mentioned ut the time in the FREE TRADER Il
8 bret account Of these murders will bear rcpe.
y tition in connection with the climax on the
10Th at St. LOus:
THE gibson MURDER.
On the Sd of last August Rands came to the
, town of Elmwood about eighteen miles south
east of PEORIA and went into the gunshop, where
he under the preteXt of wanting to get a ram
t rod, took survey Of the shop, which wa,
, burglarized that night. Randc was suspected,
but must have disappeared on the same night.
: He turned up again August 9th, in the little
town of Gibson, scyenty-tive miles from Peoria,
G in an adjoining county. On that day, while
Charles Beldcn and his wife were at church,
some one entered their residence and purloined
various domestic articles. On returng from
church and seeing that thief had entered his
dwelling, Bclden looked about the house for
footprints of the culprit which he discovered
leading into corntield near by. Summoning
Il halfdozcn mel ghbors the selfauthorizcd posse
proceeded to track the thief, and came upon
him near the center Of the field. At first the
thief took to his heels. BY this time the story
that a thief was in the corntield spread through
the town. and rcinfOrcemens to the number of
| had ipiupl N bn pyp sporph
ing in every direction through the field. Randc
soon gave up the leg business to resort to an
attempt at intimidating his pursuers by pulling
, out long navy revolver and firing it indis-
criminatcly at the crowd in pursuit. This was
returned, but with no serious effect to Randc. On
3 the other hand, Belden was shot through the
head, killing him instantly, and another man
shot in the foot. Belden's death was so horri.
flying to the pursuers that they gave up the
chase for the time TO gather around their fallen
companion, while Rande took advantage OF
the excitement to escape into ncighbormg
woods.
THE ST. ELM0'MUEDER.
The little village of st. Elmo, Ill, situated
on the Vandalia road, seventeen miles from
Ehingham, was, on the morning of Sept II,
+, 1877, thrown into intense excitement by the
preparation of the murders herewith detailed;
. About O'Clock that morning Mr. John Scolcs,
most estimable citizen of the village, with his
family, returned to their residence, situated in
{ the midst of thickly-built part of the place,
from n visit east, where they had been absent
n for several days On entering the house, he
2 Immediately discovered that it had bcenrobbed
of numerous articles of value, and from several
indications was convinced that the burgular
/ had but Just left the place, as he had left n
. freshypreparcd breakfast on the table. This
| q. q. met n,,t
, search for the thief. He searched carefully
through the house, out-houses and out in the
rear ward, going toward his stable. As he did
{ so, he perceived man running rapidly
through the field to the rear looking back, and
r showing unmistakable evidence of being the
, party wanted trying to escape. Mr. Scoles
= mounted horse standing near, and started in
q pursuit, watched by his excited family. When
> within about thirty yards of the man, Scoles
/ ordered him to halt. The villain did So but
y with consummate GOODNESS and murderOus dar-
/ ing he drew revolver and fired, shooting Mr..
Scolcs three times each shot giving Il fatal
wound one taking effect in the head and two
in the body Mr. Scoles fell from the horse
! and expired in about three minutes, living un.
e til his family and two or three observers reach
n ed him, to whom he spoke a few words.
The news spread with electric rapidity
throughout the village, and in about twenty.
: five minutes upwards of 100 men, armed with
Y hastilv.seiZed rifles, rcvovers and shot guns
were in close pursuit. Owing to the country
> being very level there, the rapidly escaping
tiend was still in fair view to the pursuers He
was fleeing like deer, urged on by his great
desperation but the numerous pursuers, many
; being mounted, swiftly overlook HIM. AS soon
d as he arrived within mailing distance, Mr.
o Frank Barnes, who was in advance of the Cit
- zens, called To him, Halt, or you are dead
man" At this the desperate tiend turned and
> holding revolver in each hand, cody com
v mcnced firing at "A distance of about forty feet
!. The first shot fired from his right hand revOl
g yer hit Mr. Barnes, Il very worthy young gen
= tlcman, in the head, killing him instantly, the
body falling with thud 10 the ground The
e second shot, given from his left hand hit Mr.
!, Frank Wiseman, another excellent citizen, IL
;, the head, also with deadly effect he falling
II from his horse and expiring in few moments
Still coolly facing the advancing citizens, h,
J. aimed with his right hand revolver and fired
Il killing n horse from under pursuing farmer
. Then, irving Il terribly demOniaCal veil, he
rushed toward the entire party of about doZer
Ihorsemcn. THIS bold and utterly unlocked
e for action by the demon disconnected the party
f. and caused them to turn and flee in all dIrec
tons Still intent with deviiSh deeds HI
= again aimed and hit horse, wounding it 81
that il fell, unable Ia move further, and thu
rider was obliged to escape on foot
The demon then turned and easily logged Il
IS some timber and thick underground, at som,
distance lie was highly dangerous object
! "A wonderful dcad-Shot with either hand, wei
- armed, and icarfully desperate. The country
: Immediately became alive with armed citizens
/ numbering several hundred, but all felt eau
II tious of approaching his hidingpla IN,
!, when darkness came on he made his escape
NJ He was unknown to all who saw him. He ap
n pearcd Ia be about 81 years old, low in stature
Il heavy set, dark complexion, heavy dark hair
4 fierce black eyes, and would probably wcigl
f. abou, l45 pounds. The whole village wen
r into mourning for the three respected murder
~ ed citizens.
2. RNNDE'S IDENTIFICATION
$ The way Randc became identified as tn,
/ nerpe,rator of these murders was this: Somt