The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-01
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
The Story of the Desperate Encounter Be-
tween Sheriff Farrell and Polk Wells.

winch resulted IN Jne capture OF bn6 OuJldN
Polk Wells is not unfamiliar in general way,
but there are details of the conflict which have
never been published. A measure now pending
before the Iowa Legislature reawakens interest
in the matter, and affords excuse for describing
the remarkable fight, with the details alluded to.
On the 18th of July, 1881, Wells and compan-
ion rode into the little town of Riverton, Ia,
and surprising the cashier of the bank, secured
81, 600 in money. Desultory firing ensued as the
men left town, and Wells was slightly wounded,
but both bandits escaped. Months passed. Sub
sequently, Wells was heard of as taking part in
a bold robbery in Illinois. Sheriff Chandler, of
Fremont county, Ia, never relaxed his search
for the bank-robbers, and finally secured in
formation which led him to believe that the
two men were in WISCONSIN. He never relaxed
in the chase. He procured acquisitions and
called upon Sheriff Daniel Farrell, of Mills
county to assist him. No one knew better than
Farrell the terrible character of Wells and his
robber associates, but he did not hesitate a mo-
ment to accept the chances and attempt the
capture. The two officers leaving western
Iowa went direct to Randolph, Wis, where
they soon learned, without exciting any
suspicion that Wells and Norris at least, were
there, and were engaged in running hotel. 1t
being night when they arrived in the town moth
ing was done more than to secure the required
information and wait patiently for daylight.
On the morning of Feb %, 1882, although they
had matured their plans, it was thought best,
before making any demonstration, that Farrell
should go to the hotel of Wells and Norris,
which they were operating under assumed
names, and make close survey of the sur
roundings, so that if a conflict should become
inevitable when they made the arrest, the rob
bers would not have too great an advantage in a
knowledge of the premises.
AS Farrell proceeded toward the hotel a cir
cumstance occurred which entirely changed the
whole plan of proceedings, for as he was walk
ing along the street, he met Norris On per
ceving that Norris knew him, Farrell threw his
revolver in the face of the robber and command
ed him to throw up his hands Taken by sur
prise, and seeing death in the eye of the officer,
Norris, with great reluctance surrendered. Far
Pell handcutfed the prisoner and hurried him
back to where he had left Sheriff Chandler and
gave Norris into his charge.
And now the desperate part of his game began
for Farrell well knew that if he captured Wells
at all it must be before word of Norris's arrest
had reached the desperate Already excited
people were gathering on the streets, wondering
who did not even open his mouth to speak to any
of them. Accompanied by city marshal of a
neighboring town. Farrell was followed by the
curious and excited populace of the place, amazed
at his GOODNESS when they could see that he
meant further trouble with some one, and anX-
ious to know who that one was. They did not
have long to wait. When the officers were
within block of the hotel they were in plain
view of any person looking from its office win
dow, and with the turn matters had taken it was
impossible to avoid this exposure. The robber
sat looking out Of his office window and saw
them approaching He knew at once that it was
unusual crowd for that time in the morning
and he became suspicious. To be suspi-
cious was to be fore-armed. lie immedi-
ately went to the back part of the hotel
from which he might have escaped, but
that it was his boast that he never ran
away from any Here he arranged
and looked to the conditions of his two revolv-
ers, and waited the approach of the officers
Farrell knowing nothing of this action on the
part of the bandit, followed by the crowd, went
into the hotel and approached the clerk of the
Office and inquired for Mr.. Warner, the name by
which Wells was known.
Scarcely were the words out of his mouth be-
fore the door within about three feet of him.
leading into the dining-room, was thrown open,
ana Wells appeared with forty-fou caliber re
yolver in hand. Farrell asked him if he was Mr.
Warner Yes said Wells he instantly
leveed the murderous weapon in the face of the
intrepid officer. They were standing close to-
gether at this time, and Farrell had taken the
precaution to draw his revolver and hold it
cooked in his overcoat pocket The desperate
confidently expected that the officer would say
he did not wish to see him, and as speedily as
possible beat a retreat There are but few men
who would not have done so. Farrell, notwith-
standing he at the disadvantage of having
his revolver in his coat pocket while that of the
man who would take his life on the instant he
showed fight was cooked in his face, still
thought he had an even chance
and he acted promptly. Striking the pistol
fpot1 10 ha and 6
the most terrific Struggles ever known to kill his
man and save himself, began. That Farrell was
very quick shown by the fact that both PTS
tolls were discharged at the same time. Weiss
shot, just missing Farrell took effect in the door
casing behind him. Farrell's shot took effect in
Weiss left breast, passing under the breast
bone and lodging in the right side This wound
did not in the least disable him at the time, but
he stepped back step into the dining room,
with Farrell following close to him. Both fired
again each trying to avert the shot of the other
FarrelTs shot took effect, and made a slight
scalp wound, but did not penetrate the skull.
Wels's shot was turned aside by blow from Far
rell. By this time the two men had closed, and
Wells kept backing around the room each IN the
meantime struggling to get in a shot, and at the
same time hold the weapon of the other. As
they struggled through the room they knocked
over stove in which hot fire was burn
ing. They broke table, chairs and
dishes Finally, as they were passing
by the stove, and before it was knocked over,
NfSllo Threw HIS plSlOi AROUND lne pipe ana
fred, hitting Farrell in the back of the head.
The ball passed across the skull under the scalp.
This shot for moment paralyzed Farrell and
carried him to his knees, and he lost his revolv-
er. Just as Wells was drawing down on him
again he had recovered, andsprang, and clinehed
Wells as his only hope for life. The shot of
Wells went into the ceiling, and Farrell threw
him heavily to the floor, and as they lay there
Farrell seized Wellss revolver and struggled for
its possession, knowing that it was death to the
man who released his hold. In the conflict on
the floor they moved along until they came with
in reach of Farrell's pistol, which he immediate
ly seized. but before he could fire. Wells also
seized hold of it with his left hand, and there
they fought. Wells holding Farrells pistol with
his left and his own with his right hand. In
this position they fought for the mastery until
from sheer exhaustion they, still holding with a