, 1884-08-22
A HARD MAN GONE.
End of Bill Posey, the Texas
Desperate.
Some of His BloOdthirsty and
Daring Deeds.
With the Final Awful Climax
to His Career.

peradoes In IeXns, and his name was 4
terror to the quiet, law-abiding Germans
living in the N~ewbraunfels district. At
the time he lourished the Com inches
held undisputed sway on the broad Ilanos
of the old Territory of Texas. They
made frequent raids through Comal and
other counties in the Guadalupe valley,
and greatly annoyed and harrassed the
German farmers.
He was a modern Robin Hood, but he
wos lacking in those romantic qualities
which made the Lincoln outllw a hero.
Bill Posey declared war against his fellow
men, and neither asked nor gave quarter.
He stole horses, mules and cattle, not by
stealth and at night, but openly, in the
broad light of day. He would ride up to
a ranch, roundup the herd, and drive
it off, the wner being powerless to pre-
vent him. So industriously did he work
and so much tribute did he exact from
the German farmers that he was always
literally supplied with money, which he
disbursed with the most reckless prodi-
gality. After disposing of the results of
his forays he would go into one of the
little German towns and spend his money
continuing his debauch until he was pen
niless.
While a wild carnival was at its height,
the Sheriff of Comal County, a cool and
resolute fellow, was urging the timid citi-
zens to unite and put down the riot. He
finally succeeded in inducing fifteen or
twenty men t follow him. They were
armed with shotguns, old muskets, muz-
zle loading pistols, and hunting rifles.
Posey and his gang were in the saloon
drinking when the Sheriff 5 posse left the
Court House and marched down the
street. As the little party approached
the saloon, one of Posey's band sauntered
to the door and at a glance took in the
situation.
Bill" he cried the Sheriffs comm
down the street with a big gang"
THE devil you sayl' cried the out
law. Jump behind the door there and
give it to EN- if they come in
His drunken associates obeyed this or
der, and they awaited the entrance of the
Sheriff party with drawn revolvers.
When the posse reached the front of the
saloon, the Sheriff gave the order to
charge, and they rushed inside. Posey's
men sprang from their hiding places and
confronted them.
Throw up your hands I" cried Posey.
brandishing his six-shooter.
AT the sight of the outlaws the cour-
age OF the citizens suddenly vanished, and
they, trembling, obeyed, begging for
mercy. The sheriff was made of different
stuff, however. With a quick movement
he raised his pistol and his finger pressed
the trigger. One of the outlaws dropped
to the floor with a bullet through his heart.
Simultaneously Posey and one of his men
fired, ahd the sheriff sank down, while
the blood gushed from two bullet-holes in
his breast. The volunteer deputies COW
cred and held their breath from fear, ex-
pecting every minute to be their last.
Posey cody regarded the body of the
dead sheriff a moment, and then replaced
his six-shooter in its scabbard. Drawing
his butcher-knife, he bent over and, with
a dexterous turn of his wrist, removed
his victims scalp. Waving the CORY
trophy in the air, lie stepped TO the bar
and ordered drinks for the crowd.
Take your pay out of that he cried,
finging the bleeding scalp down on the
bar. and the frightened bartender set out
the glasses.
Shortly after this episode Posey and
several of his gang rode into Lampasas,
with the intention of running things. -
Unfortunately for the success of then
scheme, however, there happened to be a
squad of State Rangers in town. When
Posey rode in they were sitting in the
Sheriff. Office, spinning yarns. Rapid
shooting down. the street attracted theii
ntention, and they ran outside.
It's Bill Posey's gang" cried the
Sheriff, and they've come in here to run
things"
"We'n help en-" said one of the
rangers, and they advanced upon the out.
laws.
A brisk skirmish ensued, during which
Posey and one of his men were wounded.
The outlaw became alarmed and
called upon his men to mount then
horses and retreat. The rangers pur,
sued them and kept up n rapid fusilade Oh
their rear. The outlaws were mounted
on good horses and they soon distanced
their -pursuers. One Of the outlaw;
named Taylor was mounted on a superb
animal, He Jagged behind his compan-
: ions, Just keeping out of range Of the
rangers rifles. Occasionally he would
dismount and fire upon the advancing
squad, keeping it up until their bullets
whistled about his ears. Then he would
mount his horse and ride off, with a yell
of defiance, to again repeat his act d
bravado. He did this n dozen times and
escaped unscathed. Finally, one Of the
rangers named Frank Tower, who carried
} a buffalo gun ofheavy calibre, determined