The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-31

Who Has Become q Bold, Bad MIssOar
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as follows: az,
1.-THE following circular was published
by order Of the County Court OF New
Madrid county, Mo.
1.-Two thousand dollars $1,000 reward
10 offered for the capture Of the outlaws,
Jesse Myers, James o. Hamilton and F.
Brown, who fred into the Sherifa posse,
killing one and wounding two others In
Nav Madrid county, Mo-, on Wednesday,
NAV 18th, 1881, or II either Of them is
captured, the reward will be paid In the
following proportion: One thousand dol
lara Isl, 0OO) for Meyers, and five hundred
dollars $500 for each Of the others,
The crime for which q Sherifs posse
was pursuing the outlaws at the time Of
the above tragedy, was thelE attack On
William Knox's house In New Madrid
county on Monday night, May 9, A gang
Of four consistingo OF Jesse Meyers, James
o. Hamilton, Robert Rhoades and +. D.
Brown went to Knox's house, with the
ayowed intention Of killing him. Being
informed OF the purpose Of their visit,
Knox fled by q bAckdoor and thus saved
his life. AS the party approached the
house they saw George Williams enter the
mouse from the yard, and supposing 1t
was Knox, they Immediately opened tire
upon him, shooting some twelve or fifteen
~yolleys OF buCkshOt at the house. VII.
liams was wounded In the leg, and o little
Virl who was living Witu Knox received
Two wounds. The women fled from the
house to the barn, followed by several
volleys Of buckshot, but without effect,
The villains followed them TO the barn,
but as the women had climbed up into
the loft and hid themselves, they escaped
detection, and after Q short search the
murderers returned to the house, and after
shooting q few more shots into 1t, they en-
teredin search Of Knox. In the meantime
Williams had left the house and dragged
himself TO the back Of the"held, where he
passed o sleepless night OF sRony. Hav'
Ing made diligent search for Knox, they
then dressed the wounds Of the little girl
and left the house, but watched around Tor
Knox until daylight. The girl died from
wounds. Being attracted by the cries Of
Williams, they went to him, aud carrying
him to q pond near by, they gave him some
water, washed and dressed his wounds for
him, and assured him they did not wish to
hurt hint was Knox they were alter.
The origin seems to have been an old
grudge.
Knox at once procured a mule from q
neal neighbor and started to town Tor
help. A warrant was promptly issued,
and the sheriff summoned o posse and
started In pursuit. Keeping asharp look
out on QUE OF the murderer's houses with
a telescope, the sheriif's posse saw one Of
the women lake = basket to the barn, and
correctly supposed that II contained din:
uer for the objects Of their search, and
that they wers In the barn, but in this
they were mistaken.
Accordingly they mounted their horses
and rode 10 the spot, but as they ap.
preached the place they discovered the
four men Just emerging from 0 dense
thiCket Of hazel brush that stood distant
but u few hundred yards. The parties
discovered each others' presence about
the same time, and the fugitiyes immedi,
ateIy reiterated 10 the thiCket, and as the
pursuers passed tho house they were
iauntingly told by one Of the women that
somo Of their party would be hauled back
from the chase.
The iugitives soon regained the cover oil
the bushes, and as the place was small,
b esheri1's posse Immediately surrounded
II on oil sides, but little did they know oil
the condition Of that fatal thiCket, or oil
The character OF the enemy they were con-
franting. This was their secret hiding
place. In the midst OF II they had q breast.
work OF oak logs three feet high, which
entirely surrounded them on three sides,
and armed with a double arrelled shot.
gun and four navy %six.shootera 10 each
man, enabling them To FIRE l0l shots before
having to reload. they could fight four
times their number with ease. In add.
ton to oil this, it now appears that they
were shielded both back and front with
steel plates made with their own hands
from cross cut gaws. Unconscious Of ell
these things, and unable TO see this pitfall
on account Of the densenesa OF the thicket,
the sherif's party formed and started
through the thiCket, unConsciously di.
viding and passing on both sides OF II.
The first note OIL warning was the crack OF
q pistol from the murderers, lees than ten
PAGES distant from the let wing OF the
party. The shot struck Q pistol In the belt
Of Mr.. John sChafer, shatterlng the handle
and driving the aplinters into bis body.
Scarcely had the sound beeh heard, when
1t wa followed by a deaiening report Of
firearms from the same spot, and Robert
Laforge, a most worthy and exemplary
young man, fell dead upon the ground.
Next to him stood Albert Hunter, who
was shot through the neck with 0 large
ball; the blood streamed forth from the
wound In profusion, but bis wounds are
not considered dangerous. Another man
who was near by wss wounded In the leg.
They next turned their attention 10 the
right wing Of the party, and the first move
was 10 order Dr.. j. A. Waters to give up
his gun, to which the doctor responded by
giving them the contents thereof. Mr.. ].
Ellis also fred two loads OF buCkshot ct
them, and then the firing ceased, and as
they could not see the parties they were
forced 10 retire.
As 0 as the Sheriff could collect bis
men he sent for a physician and more
help. In the meantime, DR.. Began went
into tho thiCket and recovered Mr.. La.
iorge's body, by the consent Of his mur.
deferS, but II was robbed Of his gold watch,
pistols, and about $40 In currency. His
body was horribly mutilated, and made
his death the more painful to bis relatives
and friends. A very short notice was SUI.
lClent to fll the country full OF armed
men, and II does not seem possible that
any Of the sCoundrels can escape.
Robert Rhosds was captured on Wedues.
day evening, May II, at the residence Of
Mr.. ]. D. Stepp. He received five wounds
In the battle Of the thiCket, and was forced
to seek shelter. He died Thursday morn.
ing.
A later account gives intelligence OF The
killing on Thursday, May 10Th, Of John
T. Davis, sheriff, and The woundinR Of
James F. HatLon, collector OF Wayne
county, by the three desperadoes, The
men fled. The people OF Wayne COUNTY
are intensely excited, and 500 are said 10
be securing the woods In oil directions for
the mufdefefp, A reward Of 80 ON was