Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-12
THE MAXWELL BROTHERS.

THE MAXWELL BROTHERS.
Details of the Desperate. Struggle During
Witch One of Them icas Captured.
A special dispatch to the Chicago
Times from Grand Island, Neb., Nov. 9,
gives the particulars of the arrest of Ed
Maxwell, alias Ed. Williams, as detailed
to the Times correspondent by Sheriff
Joseph Killian, of Hall county: On Mon
day evening the sheriff was notified by
Squire Schultz and Constable Staal that
two men, supposed to be the Williams
brothers, were then at the residence of
William Neidfelt, five miles southeast of
this city. These men had first applied
to Mrs. Schultz for lodging, claiming to
be hunters from Hastings, twenty-five
miles south, for wild geese. They were
refused, and the fact of their being on
foot and carrying Winchester rifles and
each two revolvers, and declining to go
to ranch near by, excited Schultz's sus-
plcion, and led him to hunt up descrip-
ton of the Williams brothers, which he
had in a newspaper in the house, when
he became almost certain they were the
men. On Tuesday morning at 4
O'Clock Sheriff August Nilsch and
Constable Staal started for Neidfeldt's,
reaching there about 5 a. m.
Their rap at the!door was.answered by Mrs.
Niedfelt, when the sheriff asked if they
were going to thrash that day. She
answered in the affirmative, and invited
the party in, Sheriff Killian carelessly
entering the bedroom where the outlaws
were lying on the floor, wrapped IN their
blankets. Mr.. Niedfelt was still in his
bed with the children. Klllian conversed
with Niedfelt carelessly on different top
les, in both German and English, cycling
the strangers as well as he could without
exciting their suspicious. In few mo-
ments Ed. got up and dressed, seating
himself on a trunk by the side of his VIM
chester rifle. Lon then began dressing,
being very careful to conceal his feet
under the blankets while drawing on his
socks. This attracted the sneriff's at
tention, 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 a double belt filled with
cartridges. Taking his Winchester in
his hand Lon went into the kitchen and
stood right up by the stove. Ed. re-
manned 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 sepa-
rated, Killian entered the bedroom, where
he found Ed. seated on trunk, the butt
of his rifle on the floor, his right hand
IL H. Of ha Oh
six inches below the muZZle. Approach
ing him, the sheriff seized the gun and
said: 81 would like to speak to you"
Then commenced desperate struggle for
possession of the gun, Ed. attempting to
wrench it from the sheriff's grasp, but in
vain, as Killian soon had the weapon,
when Niedfelt and Schultz caught him,
forcing him to the floor by superior
strength. Ed. meanwhile 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 revolver
in his hand who instantly fired at the sher-
iff. missing his aim. Killian turned back,
entering the door closely followed by
Lon, who pushed the door open only to
be met by the two barrels of a shotgun
in the hands of Nitsch, who pulled the
trigger The gun missed fire, thus spar
ing the desperado's life. He turned
from the door and came to the window
seemingly intent on rescuing his brother
but was met there with both shotgun
and revolver, when he lodged back, and
has not since been seen. Killian hand.
cuffed Ed He says he never before saw
a man fight so desperately to keep from
being ironed. After he was made secure
search was made for Lon, who had fled tC
the tall grass on the low Platte bottom
and could not be found He was without
hat or coat, not having put them on be-
, fore going to the barn. He has with hin
Smith s. Wesson revolver, A caliber.
Through the courtesy of Sheriff Killiar
the Times correspondent was permitted
to visit Ed. in the jail about this even
ling. Williams had retired for the night
but raised up to give view of his face
"Have we not met before?" asked tn
correspondent
The prisoner gave his interrogation
searching anu iuqulTlng look, ana an
swered that he believed not.
He was next asked where he halle,
from.
He quickly responded that he ha
rather not answer a1y questions.
"Were you ever In Wisconsin," aske
the correspondent.
The man declined to answer anything
and said he would not be interviewed
and 1t had to be given up.
One of the Colemans, a brother of til
victims of these men, will be here t.
!; morrow night to identify Williams an
q take him to Wisconsin. A large part
are in pursuit of Lon; and it is hope
k and believed that he will be apprehende,