Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-07-26
CAPTURED.

The Assessins of CIfnean. the Polk City
UaJ Postmaster, Run Down-One of the
Murderers Killed and the Other Ar
rested.
DIES MONIES, July I6,
The Polk City murderers We're captured
saturday in 4 large grove out in Shelby
County, The fugitives stole two horse,
near Angus, Wednesday morning, and since
.hen they have been closely pursued until
Fridayuigat, wien they sought shelter in
She grove above mentioned. The grove co.,
srs an area of about one hundred and fifty
acres. and as tie country is very bluffy and
( c5ountls in heavy timber and dense under
brush It rendered coEceaItncflt for the des-
rerddocs comparatively easy, while it was
hazardous for the pursuers to approach.
They concluded to close in on them,
however, and accordingly stationed them
selves about twenty feet apart and gradually
marched to the center. They had not gone
far before Willis HalIeck. of Extra, discoy-
cred them concealed in the grass. He inn
med;ately called out: g Here they are, men,"
At this the two sprang up and one of them
shot Halleck in the right side. The wound
will probable prove fatal. The pursuit was
then abandoned for the night, but guard was
stationed around the grove. The aSSaSsinS
made an attempt to escape about four
O'Clock Saturday morning, but were met
with a vOlley of buckshot.
AT nine O'Clock the pursuers were rein
forced by a crowd of some, eight hundred
men, who had assembled to assist in the
chase. They then formed in a circle and
marched in on them, firing at intervals. An
encounter ensued, in which one of the muir
derers named Gates was fatally wounded,
but had tune to confess that he had shot
both Mayor Stubs and Postmaster Clingan
before he expired. He also said that their
object was robbery. He requested to be
taken to some house that he might die in
peace, but the driver in whose wagon
he was lying said: "Cursed if | sill haul
him any further" and threw him out on the
ground just as he was dying. His pal.
known as Hardy. alias Smith, was captured,
a rope placed around his nock, and he I'M
doubtedly would have paid the penalty with
his life on the spot, but he showed a dispo-
Sition to reveal matters of interest. The
mob procured a rope, and started for the
railroad bridge with the intention of lynch
ing him. On arriving there the prisoner
was granted permission to indite letter to
his mother, and afterwards was allowed 10
address the people assembled. Standing
there with the rope around his neck, the
wretch spoke as follows:
"GENTLEMEN AND FELLow-CITIZENS: am
placed in rather peculiar circumstances be
fore you this afternoon. You may think that
/ have had experience in this business, but
nave not. will take my oath that until July
I, 1855, never had anything to do with any
such business but through influence of that
man Crawford was persuaded to leave my
mother for the purpose of making money.
You may think by my appearance that
! have been in the business some time,
but men in this biz do, not wear good
clothes. never had poor a suit on before
in my life. If you think that I am guilty of
the crime of murder. then you may hang me,
but am not L never killed u man. and never
expect TO. Boys, there are many of you about
be swung OF this bridge into eternity. Metii,
tate on it, and il you think it is just show me
as much mercy as you think l deserve. If
there is any Christian in this audience, or
friends who will speak in my behalf, i would
like to have them do So" :
Better counsel prevailed, and Sheriff Lit
Teton took tine prisoner to Harlan, where
he was confined in the County Jail. One
Wess Maddy. of Marine, was also shot by
one of the fugitiveS.