The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-09-27
BUNKER,s GHOST.
An Iowa Tale OF the Olden Tlmc
with . Late SEQUEL.

0ON1A Eu8'S UkAV0As
An Iowa Tale Of the Olden Time
with . Late sequel.
from the State Register Of the loth.l
Yesterdays Register contained an
account of the arrest and escape Of
Lem Small, for an alleged murder
committed eighteen years ago. The
account was picked up hurriedly as
the reporter could find any one that
knew anything about 1t, and of course
was imperfect, and, in some details,
incorrect. During the day, however,
the reportorial ear hove to along
side gentleman that knew all the
circumstances and vouched for the
truth Of his statement. The following
is the tale of the olden time:
Eighteen years ago Mr.. Small had
three valuable colts stolen from the
prairie just east of the city which, by
the way, wasn't much of city at that
time. He was not the only sufferer
from horse thieves, for in that day
there was chain of their craft ex-
tending from the northern line Of Min
nesota to Arkansas ON the south. No
stock in three States was safe from
their depredations. Des Moines and
vicinity had been specially plundered,
thousands of dollars worth of horses
and cattle had been spirited away.
Among the most noted desperadoes Of
the gang committing these depreda-
tions were the members of q family
named Bunker. Their headquarters
were in Tama county, where the
mother and three of her sons were re-
siding, but two of the boys owned a
small property just east of Des Moines,
near the prairie Queen" When Mr..
Small missed his colts he procured
the assistance of Constable Seaman, of
East Des Moines, and started on the
trail, which they followed to the res
idence of the Bunkers in Tama coun-
ty, where they found the stock. Ad-
vancing to the house, the pursuers
were met by the mother of the Bum
kers who barred their way, axe in
hand. At length, and without vio-
lence, an entrance was effected and
one of the boys arrested. Securing
him, they kept guard until daylight
when another Bunker mot Read, as
published yesterday came in sight,
and after a long chase, he, too, was
captured. The colts were haltered and
the party started for Des Moines. Be
fore they left Tama county they were
joined by man named Clingerman
and the three proposed to hang one of
their prisoners until he should reveal
the names OF the partners In crime.
They had succeeded SO far as to sus-
pend him in mid air-without, how
ever, intending to continue the proc
ess until he was dead-when the 9TH
er Bunker sprang away and started
for freedom at rushing gait. Clin-
german and Seaman in pursuit, leav-
ing Small to take care of the aerial
Bunker. Small became 30 much in
terested in watching the pursuit and
flight that he forgot to lower the body,
and by the time Clingerman and Sea-
man returned with the recaptured
brother, the first was dead as q smelt.
As matter of precaution, and to pre-
vent his telling tales out of school, the
other Bunker was submitted to the
same strangulatory process and with
the same result. Both bodies were
left suspended on the Tama county
tree. and the executioners came to
Des Moines, keeping their own coun-
sci, except with two men. To these
they revealed all the incidents Of their
long chase, the subsequent arrest and
discovery of the stolen property, and
finally the fatal transaction in the tim
ber in Tama county. Both of their
confidantes yet reside in Des Moines.
One Is among the wealthiest and best
known Of our citizens; the other oc-
cupies an official position and Is equal
ly well known and respected.
A day or two after their return some
more stock was stolen and Small, Sea-
man, Clingerman and . number of
other prominent citizens of the East
Side concluded to experiment on the
two Bunkers that lived just east of the
city. Proceeding thither they arrest
ed them and demanded the names of
their comrades In the horse-stealing
business. The prisoners refused to re-
veal them. TO threats and coaxing
they were alike resistant and finally
the dread word was passed: Bring
o rope" In those days law was weak
and lynch was powerful. The moose
was adjusted about the neck of the
younger Bunker-Ben. He was asked
if he would divulge the names Of his
accomplices. With bitter curses he
refused. "If you do not want to see
him dangle," said one Of the party to
the others, turn away your heads"
The historian did not state how many
exercised the lateral muscles Of their
necks, but moment later Ben Bum
ker was dancing on nothing. Very
little of that kind of medicine is an ef-
fective cure for dumbness and when
he was lowered to earth he became as
voluble a. any could have desired. He
revealed all that he knew concerning
the gang, giving names. location, the
code of secret signs and grips by which
they recognized one another, and all
other things connected Herewith.
This confession was Joined In by the
older brother, whose fears were thor
oughly aroused by the sight Of Ben in
mid air. All this was carefully noted
down by q gentleman who was subse-
quently prominent State officer. The
Bunkers were then notified to leave
the vicinity in twelve hours and the
Des Moiners returned home. The
next day the Bunkers sold theirproper-
ty ana disappeared, nor have they since
been heard from.
Clingerman returned to his home
In Tama county, but before he reach
ed there the bodies Of the two Bunkers