The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-29
LAWLESSNESS.
A Sheriff Shot Down by
some Outlaws.
What a Rock Island man
heard about it.

The following detailed account
is given by a Calhoun paper of the
lawlessness in Calhoun county this
state by which the sheriff was shot down
while in the discharge or his duty
sIt has been known for some time that
the Maxwell boys, the Wisconsin outlaws,
were hidden in Calhoun county. Their
general lodging place was on Bay Island,
| in the Mississippi river. not far from Mosh
er's Landing Last Friday they We're seen
| in Pearl township in this county, 10y a
deputy sheriff, who telegraphed to sheriff
Blades here. He Immediately went down,
and the same day dispatched here for four
men to meet him that night in Belleview.
THE DISCOVERY.
They went and Sunday morning the
| Pike county posse discovered the fugitives
The boys had that morning taken break
| fast with a man by the name OF Barnes,
residing on the bluff, some two miles from
the bay. and had gone down toward the
bay Pursuit was made, and after a short
time the Pike county forces came upon a
posse from Calhoun, led by sheriff John
Lammy and his deputies, Churchman and
MacNaff. A general division of the forces
was had, some of the Pike county men
escape that way; another party, under
Sheriff Blades, going into the hills by
Crooked creek, while still another, under
Sheriff Lammy, went up further south.
| About noon, while Sheriff Lammy and his
party were resting at house, one of the
party looking across a field saw a man
with gun walking in the timber on
| creek in that direction.
SURRENDER DEMANDED.
He and his deputies instantly mounted
and hastily rode to the place, where they
came upon the brothers, fully armed with
Henry rifles and revolvers. Lammy de-
manded a surrender firing as he did so.
The fire was returned, and, as a result,
Lammy was killed. Deputy McNaff was
shot through the shoulder above the collar
bone, and Deputy Churchman through the
leg above the knee. The others of the
posse retreated, they being two Pike coun-
ty men that had joined Lammy. The boys
killed one horse and mounted the other two,
and fed towards the bay, where they Sc
cured skiff, into which they jumped, and
by its aid crossed to the Missouri side.
The Calhoun party were armed with revol
vers while the Maxwells used their Henry
rifles with deadly effect. At the time of
the killing, Sheriff Blades and posse were
mile and a half away, and had no chance
to aid the sheriff of Calhoun. John Lam
my was as brave man as ever lived, and
his courageous deputies seem to have rush
ed precipitately upon the fight, with the
result stated. The Pike county posse re-
turned home last night. but Sheriff Blades
left to-day for St. Louis, to organize force
for the capture of the villains who have
again triumphed over the law and murder
ed its officers"
A GENTLEMAN
from this city happened to be in Pittsfield
at the time the news was first received in
that place, and he corroborates the above
account in all its essential particulars. He
said that Sheriff Lammy and his posse sur
prised the desperadoes in the woods. One
or them was sitting on log with his rife
across his lap. Sheriff Lammy Immediately
covered him with his revolver and demand
ed his surrender The desperate made
movement as if to shoot. The sheriff fired,
but missed; instantly the sharp crack of
the desperadoes rifle was heard, and the
officer fell back dead, with bullet through
his brain. Two of the sheriff's posse opened
fire with their revolvers-one firing seven
shots, the other three, but none of them
taking effect.
THE BATTLE.
After the firing commenced, the second
desperate bore conspicuous part, firing
from behind a tree. While the battle was
in progress, it is said that two members of
the sheriff's posse, armed with double
barrelled shot guns, stood near, palsled with
fear, and took no part in the fight Had
these men have done their duty, both ruff
fans might have been slain on the spot
After the Maxwelrs escape, Sheriff Blades
and posse followed them to the river. It is
said that while there the steamer Dora came
up, and the officers reported having passed
the two men in skif, and volunteered to
take the officers back and assist in their
capture This offer was declined, the
sheriff, it is said, preferring to turn the job
over to St. Louis detectives