The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-02-14
A GREAT MAN.iiCET.
Exciting Encounter Between Officers and
Thugs at indianapolis.

indianapolis Cor. Chicago Tribune.]
Great excitement was occasioned IN
this city and vicinity to-day by the cap
ture of John Davis, Frank Weaver, and
Joseph Davis, supposed to be the MUIR
derers of Policeman Kunkle, of Cincin-
natl. The first intimation OF their com
ing was received by Marshal Manning,
of the Union Depot, who received a dis
patch about 10 o'clock from Conductor
Billy Smith, of the Indianapolis, Cincin-
natl and Lafayette train, due here at
noon from Cincinnati, stating that he
thought he had the men on the tram,
who boarded it at Valley Junction. Man
ming gave orders to the policeman at the
depot to watch the train closely when it
arrived, and he went out to meet IL. Un-
for unately, his appearance, or something
els,., gave him away" and, when the
train stopped at the yards at the east
part of city to change engines, the men
drew their revolvers and ordered Man
ming to throw up his hands. He did 80
promptly, and two of them then ordered
the passengers to clear the car, and that
WAS done In very expeditions fnanner,
The murdere1s Jumped from the car, and
hailing a passing street-car, boarded
that, and compelled the driver to carry
them to the extreme end of the route
with the utmost speed. In the meantime
the train car1e into the depot, and the
alarm was instantly gi*en. Manning and,
a force of men, the Sheriff and his posse,
and squad of police, all hastened in
search of the scoundrels. After reach
ing the end of the route of the street
car first entered, the men took possession
of a car coming into town from Irving
| ton, a suburb fottr miles east of this city,
and, holding a revolver to the driver S
| head, were carried to that place as rapidly
! as the car-mules could gallop. Leaving
| The car, they struck into the woods. The
officers soon reached the vicinity, and an
exciting chase end sbirmish followed.
lasting about two hours. Manning and
/ the Sheriff and their assistants did not
| get into Immediate proximity with the
cut-throats at any time, the chase being
kept up by the police, assisted by twenty
Eve or thirty farmers armed with shot
guns and rifles. The refugees fought
bitterly, returning the fire of their pur-
suers as long as their ammunition held
out. They sought refuge in haystacks,
behind stumps of trees, ETC., but were
driven from cover every time. Finally
they ran directly across the path of a
quartette of policemen, and, being nearly
worn otit, gGve UP the fight and surren-
dered Although over 100 shots were
fired during the scrimmage, the only
casualty was the killing of a farmers
dog. Before surrendering, John Davis,
the leader, required, as condition, that
/ they should be treated as gentlemen.
| They We're brought to the city and lodged
in the station-honse- They We're seven
miles from the city. During the after
noon the widest rumors prevailed in the
city respecting the battle, and, when it
was announced that all the fugitives had
been captured, there was general con-
graduation. The men are reticent con-
| cerning the Cincinnati tragedy, and nei-
ther deny nor admit connection with it.
They say they were in Connerstille last
night and went down to Valley june
ton this morning. John Davis, tbs
| leader, is about 40 years old, heavy set,
five feet eleven, weighs 160 pounds, and
is resolute, notwithstanding man.
| He seems to have complete control of his
confederates. Joseph Davis, otherwise
"the kid" is q small, compactly- built
man. with a smooth face, dark hair. and
weighs 1876 pounds. His face is drawn
one side, giving him peculiar and
marked expression. Weaver is Irish, has
dark lair and smooth face, is five # ct ten
inches in height, and 80 years old. Two
are dressed in dark clothes with slouch
hats They threw away their overcoats
at the beginning of the fight. The police
say they never saw more desperate char
| acters in all their experience.