Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-01-15

A Union County boy Taken to WyOn.
ing 10 nswer TO n Charge Of Murder
The story ola Maynard life.

ing 10 Answer TO n Char2e Of Murder.
The story ola Maynard life.
This is a fast age. We hardly know
whom to trust either with confidence or
our life, as we know not the hour when
we may be betrayed. 1t of1times be-
m the painful duty of the journalist
to record the misdeeds of some erriug
mortal too often the one of whom we
are compelled to write is either a friend
or a relative of one we truly respect for
his manhood and nobleness. Such is the
case in this instance. The father and
mother of the subject of this sketch are
old and highly respectable citizens of
Union County, All who know them
honor them. Mr.. Vassar is al honest
hard working farmer, and has gained a
good home and competency by hard
earnes toll. But to the sad story we
are forced to give.
Some weeks ago there stopped at the
Elk Point House a young man we'll clad
and of fine address, who was On his way
home from the plains Of tue far west
He was very reticent as to his experiences
during the last few years. other than that
he had been a government scout aud was
on his way home with a leave Of absence
until next March. He wanted to 60 to
the home of his father. who resides ut
Grove Hill, this county, and after getting
his supper he employed II young man by
the uame of Henry Dwyer to take him
across the couitry to his home. Moth
ing strange was thought CT his return.
Ii was known that w of Mr.. Nassar's
SONS had spent five years in the Regular
Army, one returning early last Summer to
his home, and the other remained in Wy
oming.
SHORTLY after the return of John NJ.
Vassar to Uuion County, Sheriff Bovee
received u letter from a detective in the
employ of the Union Pacific, asking
about the young man. At length the
~ SSNtN AhlhS w NhiS 4 alA IA Soih'
pany with Sheriff Bovee started up the
country. They stopped all night with
MIR. Folsrme, who resides close to Mr..
Vassar. They there learned that the
young man had by certain means, known
to several, got wild of the approach of
the detective, aud left for Iowa. How
he was finally caught will appear farther
on in this article.
But to the chcckered career of the
young man. Over FIVE years ago, in CON
paDy with u brother, he enlisted as a
soldier and went to the frontier forts
He was near the scene of the Custer
massacre, aid wandered over the bloody
field shortly after that terrible battle.
Ia the course of his service, his regiment
was stationed at a number OF the forts in
Territories. When he received his dis
charge he was stationed somewhere in
Wyoming, and concluded to Iemaiu IN
that locality. In a short time he got
into trouble, and Ia Il passion shot aud
instantly killed a deputy sheriff. For
this he was arrested and tried, but dis
charged on the plea of doing the deed in
self defence. His escape from the gal
lows seems to have made him bold in his
reckless course, and his life became. one
Of debauchery aud crime. We next hear
of him getting iDto a post office trouble
at Fort Fetterman. for which he was
compelled to leave that part of the
country. He then joined a gang of noted
~highwaymen, for the purpose of plunder.
iug and wrecking trains.
Sometime ago this gang met at Bear
Butte, Wyoming, and laid plans to ditch
al express train and rob all on board.
1t was a horrible undertaking. The
train that dark, stormy night was heavily
loaded with passengers, AID little did
any of them think as they whiricd
through the canyons of eastern Utah and
western Wyoming, of the trap laid at
Bear Butte for their lives and money.
1t is a wonder that the dismal rumbling
of the train through Webber and Echo
canyons or its rocking and twisting on
sharp curves along the barren valley Of
the Green River, did not tell them of the
abyss they We're rapidly nearing. At the
same hour the train was running through
that lonely land, at Bear Butte ten men
were tearing up q rail in the track
When their work was done they laid down
near the scene to await the arrival of the
train. But u wise Providence sheltereds
the passengers on the train. Soon after
the rail- had been removed, an engine and
tender came from the other direction.
engiue was q mass of ruins,
Search was at once made for the wreck.
ers. and the parties fearing that they
would be caught, led the officers in pur-
suit into ambush aud killed a deputy
United States Marshal and deputy Sher-
if. Five of the caowd were captured at
that time. One OF the i've turned states
evidence, and tod the whereabouts of
the other parties. He accused John M.
Vassar Of doing the shooting.
Hence the earnest search for Vassar.
The story of his capture is soon toli. In
his fight from Dakota, he went to visit
relatives at Maquoketa, Iowa. The de-
lcctive had the advice Of a postoffice or.
der sent to Vassar, and also used the
name OF a friend Of the family to a tele
! gram which was sent him with reference
to the order Vassar called at the post.
Office, walked iute the trap and was cap.
tured.
Tuesday morning last he wrote a letter
| RI ShartM Rnvoa ctat,pn that In Waa