Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
Highway Robbery.

a young man named Arthur IL. Sny-
der, who has been here for several
weeks looking for desirable bargains in
real estate, was robbed of about $500
last Friday evening about o'clock at a
point on the ridge road to Elm Mills,
6 miles northeast of this city. The
circumstances as told the INDEX by
Snyder are these:
He owns claim near Elm Mills and
Friday afternoon had started to go
there in wagon accompanied by man
named Richard ChitwOod. When they
were six miles from town, two men ran
out from canyon near the road and
with drawn revolyers called to Snyder
to hold up his hands, which he proceed
ed to do. He and ChitwoOd were then
told to get out of the wagon and give up
their money. They alighted and while
one of the robbers held a cooked re-
volver at his head, Snyder was searched
by the other and his money, something
over $500, taken from him. He was
then told to get back in the wagon and
start toward Medicine Lodge, and
warned not to look back. This order
was partially Obeyed, though Snyder
says he did look back. After coming
some distance, the horses were taken
from the wagon aud Snyder and Chit
wood rode them into town.
On arriving here about Z o'clock Sny-
der says thai he went to every place in
town hunting for two others of the
ChitwOod boys, Goo. w. and j. r., and
not finding them he was convinced that
his first impression was correct and
that they were the parties who robbed
him. He says that he recognized both
of them even with their masks on,
could tell them by their walk, sizes ETC.,
and he was satisfied that the ChitwOod
with him was party TO the robbery.
He then hunted up the officials, swore
out warrants for the arrest of the three
men, and by 10 o'clock they were in the
hands Of the officers.
Their preliminary examination was
set for last Saturday afternoon, but con-
tinued until Tuesday and at that time
continued until next Monday, 18th
inst. Failing to give the bond required
by the justice they were sent to Jail.
G.. w. Chitwood is the young man
who worked up the case against Ben.
Reyes, charged with changing the
brands on cattle. He has been staying
in town for several weeks. The other
ChitwoOds are his brothers, and live
near Elm Mills. Snyder the man rob-
bed knew them all and says he can
swear positively that they were the
guilty parties. He says that he will
prosecute them to the bitter end.
G, w. and ]. r. Chitwood were with
Snyder and Dick ChItwood before they
left town, going with them in the wag-
on to Mrs. LeFevre's where the Chit
woods were boarding. They claim that
they can account for every minute of
time from then until they were arrest
ed and feel confident of proving an al.
ibi.
A painter who lately came here nam
Riley Griffin has been active in show
ing his friendship for the Chitwood boys
and after their arrest was hunting the
town over for witnesses to prove that
they were not present at the robbery
Saturday night, at the request of the
ChitwOods he took a team and started
out to get the wagon abandoned the
night before by Snyder and Dick Chit
wood. A party of citizens, six in mum.
Der, concluded that Griffin knew some.
thing about the robbery and as he left
about dark it was thought he might be-
going after the money taken from Sny,
der. These six men accordingly follow
ed Griffin, and after he had gone about
miles they overlook him and callef
to halt. He was then asked what b,
knew about the robbery, and decIarins
his Innocence, one end Of a rope wa,
adjusted around his neck and the othel
was thrown over the limb Of a conyen
lent tree. He was then crOss-question
ed and asked IL he desired 10 send an,
messages home. lie replied that ht
would like for his folksto know how h,
died and for what crime, and announc
cd his readiness to be swung up. H,
was not further molested, but Above,
to return to town. The party who CON
stituted themselves q special commit
tee to investigate the case. are ALI re
spectacle citizens and business men
AS 70 whether they were prudent II
this instance we leave it to others /,
4 say