The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-03-06

Desperate Fight With Convicted Mall Rob
hers In = Hallway Car, Resulting IN Five
Deaths and Son.c serious wounding.
SAN ANTONIO, TEX, February 22.--
This city Is in fearful commotion over
tional train last evening about dusk
within four miles Of New Braunfels.
United States Marshal Hal Costing with
two deputics-will Looring and John
Manning bringing to this city two
prisoners named Pitts and Ycager, con
victcd Of robbing Smithwick Post-otiicc
In Burnett County and having life penal
tics. Marshal Gosling had kindly con
scented to let the wife Of Pitts and the sis
ter Of Yeager sit beside them on the
train. Pitts mothcr-n-law was seated
near them with another woman, while
Bcnham, brothcr-in-law OF Pitts, and
four other men, were Immediately II
front Of them.
Indications are that the whole terrible
affair was planned before the officers aud
their prisoners started on the trip, and
the manner 10 which the bloody work was
done shows the desperate character Of
the prisoners and their friends and rela-
tives. Care was taken by the officers
that the men OF the party carried no
arms, but the women folks managed To
conceal rcvolvcrs about their persons.
and despite the vigilance Of the Marshal
and his deputies, these weapons were
slipped into the possession Of
the prisoners, Pitts and icagcr. just
when aud just how this was done Is not,
and probably never will be, known. Once
.l ls.ue
no time In using them. The train was
going at the ordinary rate Of speed and
the passcngcrs--the car was full--wcrs
settled In their seats, expecting nothing
OF an extraordinary character, when Q
vollcy, for both Pitts and Ycager opened
firc at once.
Marshal Costing was killed instantly,
and Deputy John Manning also dropped.
Though II subsequently developed that he
had received mortal wound, he raised
himself on his elbow and put his revolver
into service. A scene OF the widest com
motion Immediately cnsucd. The two
prisoners and their party jumped TO their
feet and started for the door. Deputy
Will Looring, who was unhur:.
drew his pistol, as did hall
the inmates OF the coach, and
opened . regular fusiiadc on the
retrcatng despcradoes, but whether any
Of the bullets took, effect or not Is not
known. The prisoners, revolver In hand,
made their way 10 the door, and man
acled together as they were, jumped from
the train. which was the last
seen OF them. Manning and GoslIngt
body were brought here. Physi
clans say Manning Is fatally wounded.
Looring Is out with posse from New
Braunfcs after Pitts and Yaegcr, who will
probably be lynchcd II taken alive.
DALLAS, TEX, February 23.-The
dead body Of James Pitts was founc
within 100 yards Of where he es
capped from the train. II l. supposed
that the passenger who fred at Pitts and
Yeager, as they jumped of hit Pitts and
killed him. Ycager got loose from the
dead body aud escaped TO the mountains,
although he was wounded In the neck.
Deputy Marshal Looring, who was I'M
injured In tho fight on the train, overlook
and captured Ycagcr but the posse shot
him three times, Killing him. Yeager
made desperate 6ght.
Pitts mother died this morning. Miss
Yeager, sister Of the dcspcrado, who was
wounded yesterday, II Il thought will re-
cover The killed thus far are Marshal
GoslIng, Deputy Marshal Manning, Pitts,
Ycagcr and Mrs. Pitts.
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