The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-29
From the Baltimore American
The Romance Of Crime.

From the Baltimore American
The Romance Of Crime.
The arrest of desperate in St. Louis a
few days ago and the subsequent develop
ments connecting him with a series Of muir
ders and robberies of the boldest and most
brutal character, furnish story Of crime
such as cannot be found in the "Newgate
calendar and which throw the exploits OF
Dick Turpin and Clarde Duval completely
in the shade. The West has always been
favorite part of the country for robbers and
bandits, WHO, as knights of the road," stop
stage coaches, rob express trains and break
into banks with daring and nonchalance
times almost incredible. But certainly no
incident in the career Of the James or
Younger brothers is more wildly romantic
than the history Of the criminal who, when
he found himself abont to be arrested, fought
like wild beast at bay. wounded one of his
captors, who has since died, while he him
self is now lying in a st. Louis hospital.
The story of the arrest may be briefly sketch
ed as follows:
On the 4th of July last stranger pledged
a vallse for trifling sum with a pawnbroker
in st. Louis. Subsequently he wrote to the
pawnbroker, stating that lie had lost the
ticket, but had sent the money to redeem it
by express and directing that the article be
forwarded to st. Elmo, Ill. This was ac-
cordingly done, but in the meantime the
Sheriff of Peoria county notified the pawn
broker that the express company receipt
for the money had been found in the cast-off
vest of the man who murdered Mr.. Bel
den, near ellison. 1t being thought that
Rande, the individual who sent the money
by express, would probably call on the
pawnhroker for his property, arrangements
were made when lie did come to detain him,
inform the police and have HIM arrested.
another man, he entered the pawnshop. The
proprietor recognized him, signalled to his
clerk, who Immediately stepped out, and
then succeeded in keeping his visitor until
two policemen entered. As soon as one of
them laid his hand on Rande he pulled out
a revolver and the struggle began. Shots
were rapidly exchanged, one of the officers
fell wounded in the leg, the fight continued
over his PROSTATE body, the pawnbroker
and his clerk joined in the firing, and at last
Rande dropped to the floor. Even then he
attempted to draw another revolver from
his pocket, but was quickly disarmed and
removed to the hospital.
The bandits former career is OF the most
bloodthirsty character. For years past he
has secured through Indiana robbing and
numbering. Possess of armed men have
searched for him through the swamp and
forest. When discovered he fought SINGLE
handed with the most reckless bravery and
always put his pursuers to flight. In Au-
gust last he committed two robberies in Illi-
nois, and was tracked and brought to bay
by number of determined citizens. With
a navy revolver in each hand he turned on
them, wounding several, killing one out
right, and then making his escape. The
whole country soon turned out and came up
to him, but after another short and decisive
encounter he disappeared, occasionally turn
ing up in various parts of the State and COM
hitting more depredations.
In September last the house OF a farmer
near st. Elmo was entered during the tenn
porary absence of the occupants and num-
Der of articles stolen. When the family re-
l. ov,l
carrying valise. The farmer gave chase
and came up with the robber, who deliber-
a.ely turned and fired. killing his pursuer
and then disappearing in corn field. The
wife and children of the murdered man saw
the tragedy. The alarm was sent to St.
Elmo and in twenty minutes upwards Of
thirty men, all well mounted and armed to
the teeth, started in pursuit. The corn field
which the murderer had entered was tho
roughly searched, but no trace of him could
be found. 1t was naturally supposed he had
entered a strip of timber near by, thickly
studded with anderbrush. The road to the
south was guarded by sentinels, men were
posted on the railroad bridge to the cast of
the timber, and in fact perfect Gordon was
drawn around the mans hiding place. After
waiting two hours men on guard saw man
coming out of the underbrush and moving
towards the bridge. They opened fire on
him, when he turned towards the woods,
drove back two men stationed there, hur.
ried to the National road, open ed fire on the
picket, killing one man, rushed forward,
killed another and then moved his way
through the lines. He next started on
run,toWards ravine spanned by a bridge
and guarded by two men, but they were so
terrified when they saw him that they at
once fled. He then entered the ravne and
was seen no more. All night sharp look
out was maintained, but when morning
came it was discovered that he had escaped,
and the next heard of him he was travelling
South, stealing horses and robbing houses
onshis way.
A reporter of the st. Louis Republican
interviewed the outlaw at the hospital, and
found him determined and defiant. From
the account of the interview as furnished he
is a strange compound of bravery, reckless
ness and ferocity, with a moral nature so
distorted that he rather seemed to glory in
his acts, and spark of manhood yet remain
ing in him, in that he spoke kindly of the
officer who had helped him after he was
wounded, aud said he would like to sell his
reYOlverS and give the money to the wife of