Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-12

seemed 10 l0lI In Win their pT1JeCl was
something quite elaborate. They admins
tered to him an oath perfectly bloodhound
ling in its architecture. and made him swear
it on . stack of bones and with all the
witcheries that their cunning could devise,
telling him that if by his treachery even
every member of the gang with whom he
was acquainted, there were dozens of whom
he knew nothing, but with whom they were
leasued, who would follow him like sleuth-
hounds to the ends of the earth, and after
capture they would torture him to an agon-
lied death and then cut his heart out OF him
and pickle it as a terror to any who con.
templated turning traitor.
The arrangement was that Creppen should
as he was getting dinner at Swan Lake, in
dictate it to some of the gang who would be
present, whenever there was enough money
In the express or mail to make it worth
while to ron the coach. Upon such indica-
ton, the robbers we're to proceed to a deep
ravine which there is between Swan Lake
and Sioux Falls and there waylay the coach,
capture it's treasure and whatever valuables
the passengers might have, and then at once
skip across the country and rob the stage
which would in a few hours be on the way
up from Canton to Sioux Falls. This ar
rsngement Creppen detailed in writing
to headquarters, giving the names
and character of the men who
were to carry it out, and among those
to be concerned was at least n whom the
authorities we're very anxious to capture as
an cid offender against the postal service.
Gen. Squirting, one If the most daring and
reliable men in the secret service, was de-
tailed for the job, and he selected James
Kelly, engaged in the Chicago postofice, to
assist him. These gentlemen arrived here
about q week ago, registering under false
names, and occupying their time in duck
hunting, keeping the Cataract hotel table
quite we'll supplied with wild game. They
hunted also the Yankton road west of town,
sometimes going 30 far rs Howard postof6ce,
sixteen miles distant, near which point the
robbery was arranged TO lake place. 1t WAS
finally decided that yesterday should be the
time at which Creppen should indicate to
the gang at Ssan Lake that there was swag
aboard the coach, whether there WAS any or
not. With this understanding, Gen. Spur
ling, James Kelly, Sheriff Calender and
Deputy Sheriff Frlnk went out to Saddle
creek %ravine, this side of Howard postofice,
also enlisting Decatur Stewart, postmaster
there. The three connected with the post.
Office department ambushed themselves after
dinner in the tail grass which lines the road.
go as to command the ravine, while Sheriff
Calender and his deputy we're stationed in
a straw stack which commanded the road
leading east. 1t had been arranged that
three Of the robbers should ride out OF
Swan Lake on horseback ahead Of the
coach, and make a rush upon it at this
%ravine. shoe, the horses and do everything
q. 80, o,e n,- -. IS -----
between them and the driver. The off
GERS therefore stationed themselves SO as tc
prtve, t The escape of the road agents aflel
however, Tut in an appearance. Their,
it LETT S van Like. but som islance thi.
side Of there one POI on, who WAS DR.. Johl
S. Parsons Of Flnlsy, aud one of the me,
who made the compact with Creppen. Re
fore the coach reaches Saddle creek ravine
it turns off the road and runs up to How
ard postof1ce, reaching the road again jus
ct the ravine. When the coach left tn,
road to 60 up to the postof1ce Parsonl
alighted 10 go on afoot to the ravine, wher'
he waited until Creppen drove up H,
then drew q revolver and demanded of tn,
driver whatever money he had, which wa
given up. sfter which be proceeded to TAX.
possession of the mail and express. HI
got the express money package into biz
hands, and just as be was reaching for the
mail sack. Gen. Squirting and Kelly covered
him with their weapons and commanded
him to throw down his revolver, which he
did with alscrity, and they then took him
He commenced . ti1de about his having
been led into the crime, but suddenly stop
ped and said that 1t was his own fault and
that he had no business to be there, after
which he became tsciturn and would com
musicate to no one anything concerning
himself or the affair, giving no explanation
of Why bis pals were absent. 1t Is
supposed, however, that they kept their
pecks out of the moose because
there we're no passengers on the
coach, and one could take i, then Us
we'll as three. The driver came on to tow
with his coach and vas o o followed BY
the officials and their game. The prisoner
was taken to . room 10 the Cataract house,
where he was guarded BY Gen Squirting and
Kelly until this morning, when the party
proceeded to Yankton. Persons will be
taken before the United States court, now in
session, where he will be charged with stop.
ping the United States mail and jeopardiz-
ing the life Of the driver. to which he will
in all probability plead guilty-unless some
lawyer should get hold of his case who is
quick enough to see that owing to the fact
Of there having been = conniyance between
Creppen and Parsons, the drivers life was
not jeopardized and he knew it, and that
Parsons did not stop the United States mail,
because there was an agreement for Creppen
to do this himself. There seems to be .
chance for the prisoner to dodge CONVICTION
on these particular charges, and escape the
mot more than twenty years" imprison.
ment fixed by the national statutes; but he
is unquestionably guilty of collision for rob
berry Of the United States mail.
Doc. Parsons is . mar Of very much more
than ordinary mental endswments and &C
q%uirements. He has been prscticing q 4
physician at .Finlay, and has been suspect.
ed Of being something higher than ,
newer of wood and drawer Of water fol
the gang of horse-thieves which has mad.
such trouble in the Jim river valley. Sew
eral stories are told Of his cunning and vel
executed schemes for raising the wind
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