The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-16
a Description Of Lawlessness
and BlOOdshed IN the West.
NISCESNEs. IND. Ian 2 1870

N4AAh-E &ANtC
miles north Of this city, was the scene
OF quite a tragedy last night. One
man was killed outright, one seriously
wounded and one slightly wounded.
Oaktown has been a field for the opera
tlons OF burglars for the past six wears.
Although several have been arrested
and imprisoned that did not seem To
deter others. On Wednesday the post
master at oaktown received 3 letter
tom Bloomfield, Ind, notifying the
clelzens OF Oaktown that a gang of
burglars would make a raid on them
the next night The citizens lmmedi-
ately organized and placed several
armed men In each business house.
ms was also done again last night.
At eleven o'clock last night the men in
Madlgan's saloon heard persons Al.
tempting to force back the door. They
immediately prepared themselves. AS
the door was opened by the burglars
three OF them immediately fired. and
almost at the same instant the party in
the saloon tired. The burglars ran of.
two OF them going south. One, after
running $50 yards, fell, and life was
extinct III twenty minutes. A bullet
struck him IN the neck, cutting the
carotid artery. One also took effect in
the shoulder and one IN the back.
DESPERATE CRIMINAL.
One burglar, named Gainey, ran up
the railroad track, pursued by a mum
Der of persons firing He returned the
fr6 as ha ran anrnfyipr .ll 49, 49,,
bers except one, of his two reviewers.
lie fell, and DR.. Warner, one Of the
pursuing party, stopping over him, ask
ed him if he was dead. He turned
over on his back, and placing the pistol
within SIX inches Of DR.. Warmers face
pulled the trigger, but it failed to go
Oh, thus saving DIR. Warmers life.
Henry Norton, who was also in the
pursuing party, received a bullet from
Galney's revolver, entering his open
mouth, and, without touching tooth or
bone, passing through the left cheek.
The dead man is named Noah Will
hams. He had lived in Oaktown a
year, and a month since returned TO
Bloomfield, his place Of residence. He
was a stout, muscular fellow, aged
twenty-five.
PROUD OF HIS CRIMES.
The burglar secured, Alden C. Gainey,
aged twenty-five, belongs to one of
the best families of Southern Indiana.
and is a son Of A. w. Carney, a rich
merchant of Bloomfield. Gainev's left
arm, just above the elbow, is badly
fractured by a bullet. Another bullet
entered his back, passed around to the
front under the skin and passed out.
A third bullet is lodged in the thick
muscle of his back. His wounds ale
not considered fatal. Gainey has been
a source of sorrow and disgrace to his
parents for years; was sent to the Pen
ltentlary when sixteen years old, and
served ten months; under another SEN
tence eight months, and still another
eleven months. For a person of his
age be is a most hardened criminal.
In talkil 6 to me he seemed proud of
his criminal record, and never softened
until l commenced talking to him of
some of his relatives whom / knew.
Taken altogether be is the most utterly
reckless criminal | ever saw.
SPY on Fl OUTLAWS.
The third man, Mont. John, tells the
following story, which is ~substantiated
by the letter received on Wednesday
by the postmaster. He says Gainey
came back to Bloomfield three weeks
ago, after spending two months at
Oaktown. He told John they could
make money going to Oaktown and
robbing stores. John refused to join
him; but, upon disclosing Gainey's in
tentions to prominent citizens, he was
urged to assent to Gainey's proposi-
ton, and as he became acquainted with
his plans to divulge them. He did so,
and when the Oaktown robbery was
planned it was told to citizens who
Immediately notified the postmaster at
Oaktown. The latter described John,
and stated that he was to be protected.
They came to Vincennes Thursday af-
ternoon, took the eight o'clock night
train for Oaktown, but got off at Bus
seron station, two miles south of Oak
town, and walked to that place,
reaching there at ten o'clock and
waiting until eleven before
ing operations. Miraculously he escaped
unhurt, although standing between the
two men when the first volley was
fired. Mont's plan of operations was
to stand guard while the other two
broke open the back doors, and then
be would go to the nearest residence
and notify them of what was going
on; but being cold and dry they CON
cluded to break into the saloon and get
a drink. When they opened the saloon
they met with a warmer reception than
they anticipated. The burglars were
supplied with a full set of tools, dark
lanterns, jimmies, powder, masks, &c.
The dead man had a valuable watch