Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-08-31
5bspbsrSstuwn Register.
1875.
Arrests near Harper's Ferry.

last Sheriff Reichard, assisted by Con-
stable Wassen and William Feigley,
made u very important arrest OF two
notorious men, one of whom, particular
". mas been the terror OF the citizens 10
the lower part of the county, opposite
Harpers Ferry, and who have been
long suspected as parties to the barn
burnings and other incendiary doings
in that neighborhood. 1t will be re-
membered that from time TO time we
have had to record the destruction OF
property by incendiaries back of Sandy
Hook, in the mountain, at one time the
torch having been applied in no less
than FIVE distinct places In nearly
straight line, within distance of two
miles along the Samples Manor road,
between the hours Of ~ aud o'clock
at night. Suspicion attached among
/ others TO Sylvester and Albertus Peach
er, two brothers living in the neighbor-
hood, although from different causes,
among the chief of which was perhaps
the dread of persons to testify lest they
might be yictimized, no case could be
made out against them at that time.
These fires were followed by others.
Among these was the burning of the
large barn of Mr.. Chas Beck, an at
tempt to fire which had been previously
made, and also an attempt to fire the
premises of Jane Waters. For these
two offences the two Peachers were ar
rested Oh the 10th of May last, aud es-
capped from Jail, Sylvester on the 18th
of June aud Albertus, just one week
later.
Since their escape Sheriff Reichard
has had his eye on them and knew they
were in the habit of frequenting their
old home. On Wednesday morning
last his information led him TO move and
Mr.. Feigley was sent ahead, who re-
ported progress. About noon Sheriff
Reichard, with Constable Wassen, pro.
ceeded to the place of meeting, in q
buggy from Hagerstown, and were on
the ground little before 6 o'clock.
They were all there armed with revol-
yers and the Sheriff and Feigley with
guns besides Loading their guns with
buckshot, twelve shot 10 barrel, they
arranged themselves around The spot
known to be occupied by the two fugi-
tiycs from justice--the Sheriff being on
hill towards llagerstown, Feigley on
the other side of the two men on the
Harper's Ferry road, and Wassen in
path leading westward towards the
canal at Mountain Lock. The two men
had been seated on log short dis
tance from the house of Oliver Peacher,
their brother, and while so seated Sheriff
Reichard had run across clearing and
down hill to get nearer the house,
without being observed. The men had
gone TO the house and the Sheriff secret
ed himself in a gulch near it, when he
saw Sylvester come out and 60 to the
corner of the house, where he took a
drink of water. Still unobserved, and
with his double-barreied gun cooked
and leyeled he called out, "halt, which
had the effect Of starting Sylvester from
the house, and that too directly towards
the Sheriff, whom he had not yet seen.
As Sylvester advanced he drew a revol-
yer and held il before him, and at a
distance of 20 yards the Sheriff fired,
the buckshot, striking him III the front
part of the thigh. Sylvester turned and
ran around the house and as he did so
the Sheriff snapped the other barrel at
him, but it did not 90 off.
Sheriff Reichard then turned his at
tertiou to Alburtus, who was secreted
in the house, and Sylvester rushed
down the path occupied by Constable
Wassen, whom he suddenly ran upon
and lodged, and in passing the consta-
bic they exchanged shots with their re-
yolvers, neither ball taking effect. This
diversion turned Sylvester towards the
Harper's Ferry road, and directly upon
Mr.. Feigley, who gave him volley
from his gun and struck him on the
same thigh in which the Sheriff's load
was deposited, and from which seven
teen buckshot were subsequently ex-
tracted. Sylvester then took refuge in
a house close by-probably that of
Alex. jerks, his brother-in-law, in which
| there were a number Of women. Con-
stable WasSen burst into this house az
ter the wounded man, who had fled into
the garret, but was stopped from going
up stairs by the women, who insisted
that lie would be shot. Wassen then
jumped upoE the shed Of an oven, under
. window, in the upper story, which
gave way under him, but holding on he
dashed in the window with his revolver
and saw Sylvester, with bis revolver 10
his hand, under the bed, aud instantly
covering him with bis pistol ordered
him to dro,, his and come out. Sylyes-
ter let his pistol fall on the floor and
was at once captured by the constable
aud taken out on TO the high road.
Meantime Sheriff Reichard bad gone
into divers house and found Alburtus
hid behind a trunk, and upon having a
revolver drawn upon him cried out ''for
Gods sake don't shoot and gave him
self up. Proceeding down the road
with his prisoner and when near the
spot where Wassen and Feigley had
| Sylvester, The Sheriff came upon an
empty wagon with tour horses coming
from Hsrper's Ferry. As soon as the
condition of things was taken in, one OF
the men with the wagon who proved 10
be Alfred jenkins, the brother-in-law,
made rush at the Sheriff, foamiDg at
the mouth aud cursipg desperately, and
the gun having been reloaded, il the
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