Daily globe., 1881-11-18

Tho Arrival at Menomonie Last Night
No Violence Manifested.
On the 10th of July last startling
tragedy was perpetrated at Durand,
Pepin county, Wisconsin. About dark
on that day Milton Coleman, under sher-
iff, and his brother Charles, attempted to
arrest two horse thieves and burglars
known in that region as the Williams
brothers, but whose real names were Ed
and Lon Maxwell The desperadoes shot
the Coleman brothers dead and fled to
the woods, and, though vigorously pur-
sued, made their escape and worked their
way down the Mississippi, The next
heard from them was in Missouri county,
near St. Louis, where they killed another
sheriff and again made their escape.
The fact that Edward Maxwell, one OF the
murderers, and the more desperate of the two,
would arrive on the noon train on the Sioux
City road Yesterday, having been duly an
nounced by the GLOBE, crowd OF several
hundred gathered at the Union depot prompt
ed by curiosity to view the noted outlaw.
The prisoner was in charge of Joseph Killian,
sheriff of Hall county, Nebraska,
who made the captures NJ: Knight, under
sheriff of Pepin comfy, Wis, Ed. G. Cole
man, of Knapp, Wis, and Henry b: Coleman,
of Menomonie, Wis. The two latter are
brothers of the murdered men. The prisoner
was chained about the ankles and also hand
cuffed. He was, as speedily as the crowd
would permit, taken into side room in the
depot to await the departure of the Wisconsin
train at 1:45 p. m.
A GLOBE reporter promptly obtained ad-
mission to the room where the prisoner and
officers were in waiting and first in
terviewed Mr.. Killian relative to the
on the morning of November 8. in the south
west corner of Hamilton county. Nebraska,
about five miles from Grand Island. Mr..
Kllhan was notified that two suspicious char
acters, thought to be the Maxwells, were stay
ing all night at farmers, and about a. m.
he went with two assistants to the house,
pretending to be on a hunt and desiring
breakfast. They found their men awake but
in bed. In few moments Ed. got up and
dressed. seating himself on trunk by the
side of his Winchester rifle. Lon
careful to conceal his feet under the
blankets while drawing on his
socks. This attracted the sheriff's attention,
and led HIM to believe that they were the men
he wanted, as he concluded Lon was hiding
the missing toe. On his getting out Of bed
Killian noticed that Lon had on double belt
filled with cartridges. Taking his Winches-
ter in his hand Lon went into. the kitchen
and stood right up by the stove: Ed. re-
mained in the bedroom. Killian then
walked out doors with Neidfelt, who had
dressed, Lon soon following and going to the
barn. The brothers now being separated,
Killian entered the bedroom, where he found
Ed. seated on a trunk, the butt of his rifle on
the floor. his right hand clasping the barrel
of the weapon about six inches below the
muzzle. Approaching him, the sheriff seized
you.'' Then commenced des-
@ the gun, Ed. attempting to
wrench it from the sheriff's grasp, but in
vain, as Killiau soon had the weapon, when
his assistants caught him, forcing him
to the floor by superior strength. Ed. mean
while worked his way toward his blankets,
where he picked up revolver in each hand
from where they had been concealed, but they
were taken from him. During the time he had
made several loud whoops, and Killian now
went out to ascertain where Lon was. AS
he turned the corner OF the house he met
Lon coming on the run, with a revolver in
his hand, who instantly fired at the sheriff,
missing his aim. Killian turned back, enter
ing the door closely followed by Lon, who
pushed the door open onlyto be met by the
two barrels of a shotgun in the hands OF
Nitsch, who pulled the trigger. The gun
missed fire, thus sparing the desperado's life.
He turned from the door and came to the
window, seemingly intent on rescuing his
brother, bnt was met there with both shot
gun and revolver, when he lodged back, an d
has not since been seen.
Mr.. Killian says he never saw O man fight
so desperately. His clothing was of The
tramp variety, and was torn to shreds in the
struggle. At first he denied his identity, but
when the under sheriff from Wisconsin, and
the two Coleman boys arrived and recognized
him he weakened. Sheriff Killian had his
photograph taken and sent it to Joliet, ILL.,,
where he served a term of five years, and re-
ceived telegram stating that it was Ed. Max
well beyond all question.
The officers, with their prisoner, left Grand
Island Tuesday, and report a quiet trip all the
way to st. Paul, the prisoner not having
drawn q crowd until this city was reached.
The Colemans and Mr.. Knight all stated that
the man wanted. He is quite short, but little
over five feet, and was neatly dressed in suit
of black which Sheriff Killian had provided.
After talking with the officers, the GLOBE
representative turned his attentionito the pris-
oner, and soon found that the question of
identity was undisputed. He admitted that
he was Ed. Maxwell and that he and his
brother killed the Colemans, but claimed it
was done in self defense. ''Did you ever hear
tacked?" was his query He said they were
both badly wounded by the Colemans
and suffered terribly. They were
in the woods eighty-fve hours with
out food. and several times their pursaers
were close upon them but they were not dis
covered. They finally reached the river near
Maiden Rock and crossed in a deserted skiff
they found there. He declined to say how
long they remained in the woods or tell much
ly alluded to the person with him when ar
rested as his "partner," and did not admit it
was his brother Lon. In response to the
question If he did not fear violence, he coolly
replied; d., Mt .,,.,a w. n.ve d, aot to d..
sometime, and it does not make. much differ.
ence when if man is prepared. .,
The tone of his reply indicated That he con-
sidered himself prepared"
While in the depot one of the CoIemans
brought him lunch, and took off his hand
cuffs to enable him to cat, which he did with
apparent relish By the time his lunch
was finished train time was called,
and the officers took the
prisoner to the cars. They had with them
the two Winchester rifles which have done
such deadly execution in the hands OF the
desperadoes. While in waiting the crowd had
grown to great proportions, and it was with
difficulty the officers could make their way to
the Chicago, st. Paul & Omaha train, which
was bound for Meromonie. The story OF the
arrival there is told by our special correspond
ents below:
1T MenOmOnie.
Especial Dispatch to the GIobe.]
MENoMoNIE, Wis, Nov. T.-Ed. Williams