Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-08-25
THE STAGE
How the Gentlemen Of the Road
Were Captured.

were captured.
Johnny Thacker, j. B. Simpson and
Lew Kelly came in on the Phoebe stage
last night shortly after dark, having in
charge the two highwaymen who stopped
the stage at Sprucemont some ten days
ago and robbed Wells, Fargo & Co.'s
treasure box. Immediately after the rob-
berry Mr.. Thacker, private detective of
Wells, Fargo & Co., was sent up here
from San Francisco to work up the case
He secured information which led him to
believe that the knights Of the road were
making for Arizona. Believing that they
would have to follow a certain route, he
made his arrangements accordingly. The
company secured the services of J. B..
Simpson, Lew Kelly and Johnny O'Laugh-
lin to aid Mr.. Thacker. Thacker and
~O'Laughlin left in a private conveyance
for Hamilton last Friday. ''Sim" and
Kelly took the Phoebe stage on Mon
day morning, ostensibly to guard Wells,
Fargo & Co.'S treasure box, but really I'M
der orders of Mr.. Thacker. Thacker
took in a deputy Sheriff at Hamilton, and
travelled across the country for some trace
of the robbers. He got certain clues,
which made him hurry on to Ward to
catch the stage which left here on
Monday with Sim" and Kelly. Thacker
overlook the coach the other side of Ward,
and requested the only passenger to give
way to himself and O'Laughlin and join
the Deputy Sheriff in the private convey
ance. AT first he declined to accede to the
proposition, but on being informed that
there were shotguns ahead he gladly ac-
cepted the change. "Big Sim" sat on
watch with the driver, and the others
fixed themselves up inside for any emer-
gency 9 that might occur during
the night. The trail was getting
warm, and a sharp lookout was kept.
Shortly after daylight the stage, consider
ably ahead of time, rumbled into Cave
Valley, Lincoln equity, 80 miles south of
Ward. 1t had several miles more to make
to reach Parker's Station, where, a sus-
picion was entertained by Mr.. Thacker,
that the road agents might be found. The
detectives conclusions proved well found
ed, Tor when the stage drew up at the
station a man was discovered about a
hundred yards from the barn who an
swered to the description of one Of the
robbers. "Big SIM" with an eye on his
man, quietly slid down from the coach,
and Mr.. Thacker, who had also noticed
him from the inside, got on the ground at
the same moment, Kelly and O'Laughlin
following Immediately after. "Sim" and
Thacker covered the fellow with shotguns
in an instant, and O~'Laughlin and Kelly
followed suit, O'Laughlin beading a rifle
that carried a ball as big as a hat. While
thus covered Thacker stepped forward and
commanded the highwayman to throw up
his hands, which he did without cere-
mony. He was then relieved of his
weapons, three revolvers, and taken in
so quickly and quietly that those
in the buildings remained in ignor-
nee of what was going on. The
party, having secured the prisoner, swung
around toward the barn. They had hardly
reached it when "Sim's" argus eyes saw
a suspicious-looking character on the op-
posite side of a horse being shod. He
c)apped his shotgun or him, which was
almost simultaneously followed by Kelly,
and afterward by Thacker, The fellow
was completely taken by surprise, and
would no doubt have shown fight had he
had the ghost of a show. But the officers
had the drop on him, and while under
cover Mr.. Thacker marched up to him and
said very persuaslvely: "Now, my dear
fellow, as it has become O fashionable GUS
tom to throw up hands, please elevate
yours" The hands went up reluctantly,
and Mr.. Thacker relieved him of his bat
tery-two revolyers. The prisoners we're
afterward searched and full evidence of
their guilt found on their persons. They
were kept closely guarded during the trip.
and on their arrival here last night were
placed in Jail, from which they will be
taken tomorrow morning by Mr.. Thacker
and conveyed to Elko, where they will be
tried, as the robbery tool place in Elko
County. The prisoners give the names
of Jack King and Billy Adams. They
have the cut and appearance OF youthful
cowboys, neither of them looking to be
over 26 years Of age. They have said lit
tie about themselves or their antecedents,
and appear to take their situation in a
free and easy manner. They Travelled on
horseback with splendid animals, which
Johnny O'Laughlin is bringing in.
In an interview with Mr.. Thacker, he in
formed a SENTINEL reporter that he had so
much admiration for the party that accom-
panied him, and assisted in the arrests,
that he could not refrain from speaking of
them in the highest praise, and thanking
them for their promptness and assistance.
He considered all three, "Sim," Kelly and
O'Laughlin, men of nerve and grit, and
thought much OF the success of the trip
was due TO their conduct and shrewdness.