Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-24
MURDEROUS DESPERADOES.
Two Prisoners in Attempting to Escape
from Custody Murder Two Officers
and Are Themselves killed-Hor.
rible Scene in Passenger
Car.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex Feb, %.


Particular. of the murder of United States
Marshal Gosling, Saturday night, are these
On the International train, Gosling, with
Deputies Looring and Manning, WAS bring
ing to the city two prisoners. Pitts and Yal-
ger, convicted of robbing Smithwick post
office, in Burnett county, and having life
penalties. Marshal Gosling had kindly con-
sented to let the wife of Pitts and the sister
of falge set beside them on their way.
Pitts mother-in-law was seated beside them
with another woman. while Berham, brother
in-law OF Pitts. and four other men were i'm
mediately in front of them. Care was taken
by the officers that the men of the party car
ried no arms, but the women managed to
conceal revolvers in their clothes, and de-
spite the viglence Of the officer and his dep
utes these weapons were slipWd into the
possession of the prisoners, Pitt and Yalger.
Once In possession of the weapons, they lost
no time in using them. The train was going
at the ordinary rate of speed and the pas
sengers were settled in their seats, expecting
nothing of an extraordinary character. when
pistol shot startled them, or rather voley,
for noth Pitts and Yalger opened fire at
once.
Marshal Gpsling was killed Instantly, and
Deputy John Manning also dropped. Though
it wos apparent subsequently that he had re-
ceived a mortal wound, he raised himself on
his elbow and put his revolver into service
scene of the widest commoton immediate
! ly ensued. The prisoners and their party
jumped to their feet and ran to the door
The deputy who was unhurt drew his pistol,
as did half the inmates of the car and opened
regular fusilade on the retreating despera-
does. The prisoners, revolvers in hand,
made for the door and, manacled together,
jumped from the train.
There was some difficulty in bringing the
train to a stop and backing up to where they
jumped, and by the time this was accom-
plished they had got out of the way. That
portion of the car where the shooting was
done resembled a slaughter house Blood
was on the seats and floor on the windows.
on the sides of the car and on the clothes of
the people.
Gosling was dead, Manning was suffering
terribly from his wound received in the
melee, Pitts mother-in-law was fatally and
Yager's sister dangerously shot, both hav-
ing several wounds.
The woman and others of the party were
held by Looring and the passengers and
taken to New Braunfels, where those who
were not wounded were placed in Jail and the
wounded ones guarded. Manning and Cos.
ling's body were brought here, Physicians
say that Manning is fatally wounded
Gosling was appointed by President Gar
field in 1882. He leaves a wife and two
children. A dispatch from New Braunfels
says that quite an excitement prevails there
Deputy Looring nglimmedately organized posse
and started in pursuit of the prisoner. They
found the dead body of Pitts a short dis
tance from the scene of the tragedy, and
came upon Yalger eight miles distant lie
gave fight, and was pierced by three bullets
fred bv the posse. He was brought to New
Braunfels, where he died. Four men are
under arrest as confederates of the dead des.
peradoes. Mrs Brown, mother-in-law of
Pitts, died at three o'clock this morning in
the Jail at New Braunfels in great agony
Pitts was wounded in four different places,
three of which were mortal. Thev, at the
request of Mrs. Brown, were buried side by
side.
Today Deputy Manning is lying in pre-
carious situation.