Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-01
DEsPERADEos. DONE.
A Lively Fight in Securing One Of
lEStE Them.
tventful Life Of Murderer, Gambler and
Robbef, as Told by Himself While
Wounded and in JaiI--Both
-......... Men Killed. .
BETTER THAN A DIME NOVEL.

CHICAGO, February 2s-Tbe Sunday
morning train over the Milwaukee and
st. Paul road brought to this city two
Western desperadoes named Polk Wells
ond Bill Norris who were arrested Satur-
day in Randolph, Wis, by Sheriff d. A.
Farrell of Mills county, Ia, and Sheriff
Samuel Chandler, OF the adjoing county OF
Mills, the same State. The prisoners
were guarded in the depot uD-
til the arrival of the West Madison
street patrol wagon and an express cart
The latter was necessary in order 70 re-
move Wells safely, as hes-was suffering
from terrible wound in the left breast
and another in the left wrist, inflicted at
the time of the capture. He was lying on
a stretCher and was moved in that C0ndi-
ton TO the station. Norris was securely
shackled, and, not being wounded, was
able to ride in the patrol wagon.
The men are on their way TO
Fremont county, Ia, and are wanted
for horse stealing, for robbing bank. for
participating in pillaging the Rock Island
train at Winston, Mo, and four for taking
part in the Mortified train robbery, which
occurred in Missouri, and was charged to
the James brothers. Wells is also wanted
near salt Lake, Utah, for killing Mormon
bishop in 1876. The prisoners were born
and raised in Buchanan county, Mo-, and
led rowing life from boyhOod. The south.
west became too dangerous for them after
the daring train robberies OF 1879
and 1880. and they crossed
the Missouri river into Iowa and
committed number vi depredations
which drew the attention Of SheritfS Far
fl,0f
Wells and Norris we're lowering about his
county. and us he knew them both, he
determined to run them down, and went
into partnership with Chandler, of Mills
county. for that purpose. Farrell had
lived in Buchanan county, Missouri, and
knew the boys well by sight. He was also
aware that they knew him, aud for that
reason was obliged to keep in the back
ground while Chand Ter did
Skirmishins in the Hunt.
Since that time the Sherifls have been
on the watch for the two men, and have
identified them in connection with the out
RACES previously recorded. 1t seems that
Chandler, in his search through Missouri
learned that Norris and Wells had decided
10 leave the State and settle down
somewhere to lead quiet life, and he ac-
cordingly returned home to await develop
mentS. He occasionally heard of their
movements through the winter but for
month lost sight Of them. \ few weeks
ago he received pointer to the effect
that the bows wore in Randolph, Wis, and
when the fact was verified he made
arrangements with Farrell to go
up there. They left home on
Saturday one week ago and went TO Mati-
son, Wis. and from there to Randolph on
Friday. Farrell had to keep concealed be-
I, ,roc GDnwn WAS learned that
the men were proprietors of the bsSt hotel
in the place known rs the Commercial
House. They had been there about two
months, and were well known by every
one, us the town has only about six hun
dred inhabitants. 1t was learned on
Saturday that Norris was going to the post
office in the afternoon, and Sheriff Chand-
Ter went there and arrested him quietly.
The fellow was not armed He denied bis-y
name, and said he was Frank Johnson, and
was in partnership with c. II. Warren, at
the Commercial Hotel. These were the
names under which they were going in the
town. and it can we'll be imagined that con-
siderable
Excitement Was Stirred Up
bv the announcement that the men were
train robbers and road agents OF the Jesse
James stamp. Sheriff Farrell then found
il necessary TO go at once TO the hotel TO
secure Wells, alias Warner, and he did so.
Going to the office he told the clerk
he wanted 10 see Warner and
the latter was called out. He recognized
the sheriff, and when the latter said that
he wanted to speak with him, Wells ut
once began TO draw 4 revolver, tuning
sideways AS he did 50. Farrell knew that
one or the other of them had to die.
and he whipped out his own pistol and
fired before Wells had quite raised
his to aim. The ball struck Wells in
the left breast and Coursed over
the ribs, lodging in the right breast.
The sheriff Immediately rushed upon him,
| but received shot in the back of the head.
| As he was expecting the shot when he ran
| forward, he had turned his head to one
| side, and the ball glanced on his skull and
| merely tore through the scalp without at
| fecting the bone. They closed in rough
and.tumble struggle, each holding ON 70
his revolver. They rolled upon the floor
| and exchanged seven shots while in =
prostrate position. Wells turned his wrist
! sunricieutiy to reach the sheriff. head and
| fired. The ball passed through the rim OF
his hat The sheriff fired and the ball
| passed through Wells wrist. Again the
| desperate got his weapon in position and
fired into Farrell's right shoulder The
hall ripped away through the, sheriti,s
| tnllK IOdl anu ~ d<sIlS hAN ''NSAL
came out of the sleeve several
inches below the shoulder. Wells threw
his right arm around Farrell's neck, press.
| ed the hot pistol barrel against his temple
| and fired The ball lodged in the office
| ceiling, leaving long black smOotch on
the sherifi's face burnt by the powder.
| Nobody dared to enter the place while the
| promiscuous firing was going on, and the
| contestants
Fought II Out Alone.
| shaking the very building in their super
| human efforts to master each other. Three
| shots were fired without effect. Wells be-
| gan to weaken at last from the loss of blood
| and the weapon was TreSted from
! him He then surrendered. The
party at once made preparations for de-
| parture and left on the next train with
| their prisoners. Wells had on his person
| two large army and navy revolvers, of forty
| Calibre, and about eighteen inches long.
They we're slung about his waist with
belt. which also had double row of cart
ridges as big rs ones little finger. He
said he intended to kill the Sheriff
and would have done so if they had not
come to close quarters. As the Plncky
| fellow sat up in bed yesterday at tue sta
| ton. drinking coffee, he gave a detailed
| history of himself from early bOyhood.
Both Men Killed.
CHCAGO, February 2S.-Polk Wells and
| Bill Norris. the Iowa outlaws, who passed
through here last Sunday en- route from
| Randolph. Wis. to Riverton. Iowa.
in charge of Sheriff's Chandler and
| Wilson. attempted to escape from
| the officers while ON the train. The
officers were asleep, but 4 movement of the
prisoners wakened them, and thoy at once
opened fire. shooting Wells six times and
! Norris five. The men were taken from the
| train al sidney, Iowa, for treatment,
| but there is little chance for their