The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-03-19
PURSUING OUTLAW CASH.
AN ARMED POSSE OF PICKED MEN
81 - SURROUND HIS FATHERS
HOUSE.

THE COLONEL SURPRISED AND DISARM-
ED, BUT NO TRACE OF THE FUGITIVE
FoUND-HoRsEMEN TO CONTINUE
THE SEARCH IN PEEDEE SWAMP.
COLUMBIA, S. c., March 9.-Chief
State Constable Richbourg, with
twelve picked men armed with i'm
proved Sharps rifles, left Columbia
at midnight last night, and arrived
at Florence at $50 this morning,
where they were met by Sheriff
Cole Of Darlington county, Sheriff
Spofford Of Chesterfield county still
being "sick." The party took an
other special train from Florence,
and reached a point q mile below
Cash's house just before daylight.
The house was at once quietly sur
rounded, and the posse waited for
daylight. At about 6 o'clock the
elder Cash arose and appeared at
the front door. He espied the pick
cts about the house, and retired
within. In about five minutes he
reappeared, armed with a Winchcs-
ter rifle and two pistols, and tried
to make his escape. He had not
proceeded more than a hundred
yards from his house before he was
confronted by John III. Pearson,
one of the sentinels, who presented
his rifle and demanded Cash's
surrender. Cash hesitated, and
Pearson said:
"Drop your gun, or I'll shoot you
in two seconds. ...
Cash dropped his gun quickly and
admitted having been take COM
pletely by surprise. When captured
he was endeavorlng to make his
way to log house across the rail
road track, where young Cash was
said to be sleeping. The posse then
closed in aud searched the Cash
mansion thoroughly but could find
nothing Of Began Cash. A party
then started for the log house.
When they were half way there
Col. Cash, evidently becoming
alarmed for his sons safety, made
a proposition to go to the log house
alone, if allowed to do SO, and pledg-
ed his sacred honor that he would
have his son surrender within two
hours. His proposal was acceeded
to and the force recalled. Cash went
and soon returned, saying that his
son had left the house an hour be-
fore, and that he did not know
where he had gone. He offered
however, if the posse would with
draw that his son would surrender
before Wednesday. lie frankly add
ed that he only wanted "to come off
with flying colors," that neither he
nor his son desired to effect a cap
itulation en- his own terms.
Bearing in mind the Instructions
Of Gov. Thompson, that Cash should
be captured before he had chance
to surrender, Chief State Constable
Richbourg declined these terms,
Cash then made another PROPOSE
ton, and finally offered to let Rich
bourg go with him to hunt his son,
promising that he would surrender
within twenty-four hours if the
posse were dispersed. This was tax
en- as an evident weakening, and was
promptly declined by Richbourg.
The premises were then surrounded
by guard, with instructions to al
lew no enc to pass in or out Of the
picket line. Cash's pistols and rifle
were taken from him. He protest
ed bitterly against this, but said he
yielded only to superior numbers.
Capt Riehbourg, being deter
mined to let nothing prevent the
most thorough search for young
Cash, left most of his men at the
house, and at o'clock this morn
ing went to Cheraw to summon a
larger posse ofhorsemon with which
to enter the swamp and track the
fugitive to his hiding place. He is
supposed to be near Cash sdepot, on
an island in the Peedee swamp.
Arriving at Chsraw at 10 o'clock,
Capt. Richbourg called on the In
tendant and authorities for the force
he desired, fifty men. The addition
al posse is now being made up. Capt.
Richbourg will make no treaty with
the Cashes.
Up to 10 pm. tonight the posse
had not succeeded in effccting the
the capture of Cash. He is still sup
posed to be hiding in the Peedee
swamp. Col E. b. G. Cash, the
father of the outlaw, is now on route
to Columbia under the escort of an
armed guard. He will. arrive here
early tomorrow morning. d" l'si