The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-16
Northern "CivulxatIon'

BEDFnRD. Ind { - uuneiton,
the scene Of tiie killing of the three
burglars last night, is . little station
IN lndiana. where many desperate men
mage their headquarters. N.rhni,s
Vaughn, Virgil Wilson. Zachariab
Whitfield. and Ben Wiilouehby formed
a conspiracy to enter the saloon Of one
Meyer. who was supposed to have =
la-ye sum Of money in his cellar. After
this they were to go to the residence Of
wealthy citizen. call him out, kin him.
and rob the house, where 1t WAS, also
thought there WIS a considerable
amount Of money Then they were to
sit a vacant building on fire neal tie
edge OF the village, aud in the conse-
QueAt excitement and confusion the
conspirators were to rob the large man.
ufacturing establishment of Guthrie &
Son. After all this had been accom-
plished they intended to flee toColo'ado
or New Mexico. Willoughby exposed
the plot on Sunday morning to Mr..
Clark and steps were at c taken TO
thwart the villains. A freight car was
r lied along the switch track close to
the saloon to afford an ambush fer four
or five men. Other men were posted
in different positions that gave them
full view of the window at which the
burglars we're to enter the saloon. At
least twenty one men, nearly all armed
with shot guns heavily charged, were
thus concealed awaiting the baeglars.
At the appointed time all of them
Wilioughby, rs was agreed upon, wear
ing q pair of white pantaloons that he
he might be known and not shot-ap.
%proaching the window, which was soon
opened. Vaughn, Whitfield, and Wilson.
quickly entered. Willoughby stepped
around the corner of the building, and
a pistol was fired to alarm the burglars,
who jumped out of the window on to
the platform porch, which is elevated
above the ground three or four feet.
No soone were they all out than the
concentrated fire of the twenty-oue
men was poured upon them. They all
fell, but not one was MORALLY woun-
ded, it is supposed, and they managed
to get under the platform. Then they
were called upon TO come GU, and sur
render. The reply was that they would
come out and deliver up their arms il
assurance was given to them that they
would not be shot. 1t is said that this
assurance was given, and they crawled
out and delivered up their pistols.
COwARDLY TREACHERU.
They were instantly fred upon
Whitfield dropped dead and Vaughn
fell mortally wounded. Wilson wa,
badly wounded in the abdomen, bu1
ran some distance, fell, got up and
started again, but before he had gone
many steps he was shot down by some
person who was following him. While
he was dying a shotgun was discharged
close to his head and the top of it al
most blown off. Vaughn fingered unit
IL O'Clock last night. when he died.
Willoughby, when ~betrayiug biz
comrades, said that there was an or
ganlzed party of twelve, and that {
plan had been laid a few days ago te
wreck the through lightning expires:
on the OHIO and Mississippi Railroad
at what is called the Ute Tunnel, anc
rob the express company and passen'
gers. For some reason tire Job va
abandoned. Willoughby is a bad man
and was some years ago confined il
jail in this place on a charge of muir
der, bat owing to lack of evidenc,
against him was discharged. Yester
day morning he started for the Yves
on the Ohio and Mississippi road, NJ
doubt fearing that if he renamed il
Tunnelton others of hte gang nigh
avenge the deaths of their companions