The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-02-26

that they were making for Tennessee,
their policy being evidently to crop
only one year in one locality and
gradually reach the West. 1t was de-
monstrated to the perfect satisfaction
of Findley. BY the testimony Of the
neighbors. that the Southerns had
occupied the deserted farm. They
pushed out, therefore, in hot pursuit,
riding day and night. They were en-
able, BY occasional inquiry, to track
the fugitives with certainty, and ar
irving at Murphy, n. g., discovered
that they were only an hour or 50
ahead. They passed through Muir
ply evidently intending. as is the
custom with wagon travellers, to get
into the woods and camp out.
SURROUNDING THE FUGITIvEs.
1t was discovered in Murphy, also.
that the fagitives had pushed through
the turnpike gate just outside Of the
town, without paying toll, and after
an insulting alteration with the gate
keeper. This official reported that
they were very heavily armed, having
several guns and pistols, and that
they were very insolent and defiant.
He was just organizing party to 60
| in pursuit of them and collect the
pikeage, when Findley, fearing that
this might interfere with his plans,
took him to one side and cohfided his
story to him. He asked TIE gate
keeper to suspend operations for q
while. promising to bring the men
back to him. He then disguised him:
self thoroughly and started out on
horseback to locate the camp and
identify the people. 1t was a dark
and rainy night. and he had consider
able difficulty in progressing at all.
He had only gone about two miles
when he saw a campfire cleaning.
Riding boldly up to it, he was halted
by q man who seemed to be doing
patrol duty. Findley made some
commonplace remark and rode up to
the fire. After inquiring as to the
road. he departed. He remained at
the fire long enough to recognize the
whole party, and to even get a
glimpse of Kate Southern as she
peered out from the wagon cover.
After riding a short distance he made
detour and returned to Murphy.
: He there secured a few additional
men, headed by Detective Howell.
who lived in Murphy and was perfectly
familiar with the country, and Mt 4
o'clock in the morning started out to
make the capture. 1t had been de
termined to completely surround the
camp and close in simultaneously
; from all sides and demand q surrender
, This plan was carried into effect, but
: il was found that the Southerns, fol
some reason o. other, had put ou
: their fire little after midnight and
moved ahead. The party then set ou
in fresh pursuit and soon came III
5 with the wagon. They rode by thu
Scutherns without making any attemp
5 at an arrest. but secured a good ambus
E cade in the road some few hundred
wards ahead. They divided and his
e themselves on each side Of the road
! When the wagon appeared they closes
! in upon 1t rapidly and called out
J, "Surrender!"
A sKILFUL CAPTURE.
There was a hurried, quick move
ment inside the curtain, a clicking o
pistol cocks. and the pursuers wer
: about to pour broad>ide into tn
: wagon when Bob Southern replied
= "Well, what do you want?" At thi
! he appeared and began to discuss tn
" situation. He evidently believed tina
: he was stopped simply because Of hi
!. refusal to paw rlkeage. and that b.
! settling nc would he allowed to g
. ahead. Humoring his supposition
\ the Findley party succeeded in gettin
:. possession of the arms OF the WACO
- while the men were outside arrangin
V 10 settle their scores. Kate SOuther
was inside the wagon. but made n
resistance. being apparently paralyze
!, with fear and astonishment. She di
d not even give the alarm. 1t was ju:
e before day. and she was probably nc
d aware Of the true state OF things
4 When the arms were secured and th
% men were surrounded FindIey tol
1t them that he had come to carry theI
70 hack to Georgia, and thereupon mad
n himself known to them. They wei
N astounded and became very violent
" but it was too late tn resist the arres
re The wagon was turned and the who
to party moved back toward Murph!
e The excitement Of Kate SOuther
'e when the truth became known to HI
'e was fearful. She moaned and mute
z ell to herself, and it was thought for
4 while that she had lost her senses.
ATTEMPTED RESCUE.
=, When they were near Murphy Il
!. whole party halted for breakfast. B
r. fore going into the house. old ma
:. Southern and his two boys. again
- whom Findley had no warrants. vel
~ discharged. They went of into Il
:, woods, but returned before the capto
= and prisoners had finished breakfas
!. They made a dash at the prisoner
!. evidently intending to release then
IS drawing two pistols which they ha
a kept concealed, the youngest Southel
- charging with nothing but q club
!. his hands. Findley was watching f
!. them. however, and inst rs the
:, reached the prisoners. they were owe
~ powered and disarmed without erin
y shot. The old man was struck
= !; the mouth with a pistol and badl
Y wounded. Having been searched an
~ thoroughly warned. they were agai
~ discharged and ordered to clear on