The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-12-05
RAIDING ROBBERS.
Rapid Firing at Topeka Be-
tween Legal Officers and
q Robbers Nest-Great
Excitement.
A Gay Night at the Capital OF
Kansas, But the Robbers
Got Away.

A special to the Kansas City Times of
this morning, from Topeka, says:
The southwest part of town was thrown
into wild excitement about 4 o'clock this
morning, by the continuous firing Of guns
and pistols, lasting fifteen or twenty min
minutes,
These are facts as near as can he gather
cred and chronicled from the different and
disconnected stories told: Two or three
days ago a detective BY the name of Smith
came here from Chicago, and made known
To Mr.. DuStan that his business was to
capture a band OF desperadoes who had
located in Topeka some months agJ, from
Iowa, and ali We're living here still. They
together began a systematic search for the
gangs quarters, and soon learned that in
large, square house. corner Of Tenth ave-
nue. and Taylor street was where they
lived, and that the outfit consisted of four
IIen and three women, Cook bv name.
INFORMATION GIVEN.
Yesterday the detectives were informed
that the whole posse came in on Sunday,
intending to stay until alter Thanksgiving,
and arrangements were at once made to
capture them last night. Sheriff Bush was
notified and he prepared W. rrants for the
arrest Of Charles, William, James and John
Cook; a party to perform the grand act,
consisting of James Duslan, Sheriff Bush,
Deputy Sheriff Fred Miller, the jailor.
Charles Curtis and Jake Orcott They
waited quietly until about 4 o'clock this
morning, before making the attack. At
that hour the officers marched out to Messrs.
Cooks and stationed then selves on each
side of the house. In one of the rooms a
light was burning.
WHO'S THERE?
Mr.. Dustan went to the door, knocked,
and a female voice demanded to know who
was there. Information was given back,
the sheriff of Shawnee county demand
ed admission. About that time the light
went out, and every window on the east
and north sides flew up, and a vOlley of
shots were discharged AT Bush and Miller.
Both were hit, but they stood their ground
and retaliated. The firing then became
general. Those inside rushed to the south
windows, stuck their heads out and "let
drive" at Curtis, but without effect. He
returned the saiutation by blazing away
at the windows, and the men ON the other
sides kept up their play in good shape.
Bush and Miller were both badly wounded,
but never ceased shooting until they had
emptied their revolvers two or three times
At this point the desperadOs saw an op-
portuniiy to get through a northwest win
dow which they took advantage of and
were not slew in making their escape.
FOLLOWED.
After gaining the street they struck west,
nd ~ft u
followed three blocks, and then, after run
ming out of ammunition, they returned to
the scene Of conflict to arrest the woman
and little boy: which they did, there be-
ing three of the women taken in and
lodged in the county Jail. One very old
lady, grandmother 10 the outlaws, was
left at the house, with Orcott in charge a.
guard. Curtis got hack, and brought the
two wounded men down to Sheldan b
Hibben's sfics, where their injuries were
carefully dressed BY DR.. Hibben.
On examination it was found that Mr..
Bush had been shot through the Joint
bones of the left ankle, creating . very
serious, painful and dangerous wound. Mr..
Miller received hole through the Aeshy
part ef his thighs. the ball, . 44calibre,
entering on the left side, coming out on the
opposite side, and dropping down into his
boot
THE OTHER THREE MEN
came out Of the Sight without . scratch.
Whether any Of the enemy vas injured, 10
not positively known, though one or two of
them, while running uttered several ago
.izing yells and begged the others in front
10 hold on and help them along.
It seems that these Cooks have been law
less charscters, whose deeds and exploits
would make the james boys, in their
palmiest days, ashamed of themselves.
Over their heads now hang twenty-five or
thirty rewards, iron the officials of ILL.,
nols and Isva, amounting in the aggregate
20 several thousand dollars.
THE CHARGES
They are charged with having broken
all in both the above named states three |
u four times with having stolen numer-
BUS horses hogs and cattle, and with the !
Killing of two men in Iowa.
A company of officers have gone in pur-
Iuit Of them to-day. Two of the women |
captured are almost equally As vicious |
u the men, and handled their
evolvers during the fight with the
kill of trained hands. One of the
women in Jail says that her name is Eliza |
Tackson, and that she Was only . boarder
n the house; went there two or three
weeks ago from Mr.. Higgins, and that the
amily's actions were always 50 mysterious
be never could learn anything about
hem. .I