The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-04-16
There is unite history connected with

the capture of ex-clerk Taylor, of Miles
City. 1t seems when they got to st. Paul
some of Taylor's friends procured writ
of habeas corpus, and it was placed in
the hands of an officer who found his
men on board the Northern Pacific train,
to leave at 4:05. Taylor's counsel
was not permitted to see him and when
the Miles City officer Comfy, was asked
by what authority they held Taylor, they
replied, upon the authority of the re-
volver." The writ was then served on
Sheriff Comfy and point blank refusal was
made to give the prisoner up. The
officers having Taylor in charge drew
their revolvers and said, off you think
you have got force enough to stop us,
you'd better try it." The train began to
move out and the st. Paul officers had to
get off, but it did not stop here, a dis
patch was Immediately sent to the sheriff
of Crow Wing county, who Immediately
organized posse sufficient to prevent
escape from the train. When the train
reached the depot proper, he started
through, accompanied by two deputies.
In the forward sleeper he found the four
men described, who, upon the sheriff's
addressing them, instantly drew weapons
and backed into corner. Each had a
pair of self.cocking revolvers, cowboy
calibre, and each covered his man, half
dozen having rushed to the sheriffs SUP
port. The coach was jammed with peo-
pie intensely excited. Three times as
many pistols were leveled on the Mon
tana fellows, who backed up their brag-
gadocio with the explanation Of how
many they would kill on the first move
ment. The sheriff explained the situa-
ton and his order for the party's deten-
ton. They demanded papers and he
had only kilograms, but he said it did
not make any difference, they had to
stop with him. They swore they would
not. "All aboard" no good. Meanwhile
the trains time was up, and the conduc-
tor was adding to the confusion by call
ing Gall aboard" A deputy sheriff in
terfered and prevented his moving the
train, while messenger brought assist
ant superintendent Root, who instructed
the engineer to wait orders from him.
Not knowing this, however, the conduc-
tor from rear car was pulling the bell
cord to 60 ahead. Finally, expostulation
being in vain, the daring sheriff demand
ed surrender of the guns and bein
refused, walked up and took them from
the Montana buffers one after the other,
handing them over to deputies, and
before the belligerent gentlemen could
realize what had happened to them they
were hustled from the coach, bag and
baggage, and were en- route to the Jail.
Although demonstrating with great Bit
terness all were searched and the pris-
ioner, Steve Taylor, was locked up.
Sheriff Smith and the deputies Comfy
were restrained in the corridor. The
sheriff then answered sheriff O'Gorman's
message that he had his men. Sheriff
Merits bravery and GOODNESS cannot be
overstated. He was entirely unarmed.
and so informed the party, but showed
them that escape was impossible and
resistance would cost them their lives.
His nerve saved bloody ARRAY, as the
party are all desperate men. In the Jail
they regretted they had not opened fire,
saying they ought to have fought out and
taken the chances of fight and fight.
Toward midnight the officers were re-
leased on bail given by Capt. R. L. Ed
wards of Miles City, who stopped over
here to see the result of the trouble We
shall be much surprised if under this
state of facts, and the open defiance ofthe
law officers in Minnesota, if the governor
of that state will give them up until the
writ has been inquired into.