The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-10-20
VARNELL IN Hoe.
He Is Captured on the Plains
by Sheriff Tom. Bell, of
Hill County,
white work .ug ON n che in
New Mexico ana As-umed,ne
Nnme Of Rob woods.
a Brief sketch Of the murder Of
Jonas Land, and varnsll's Es-
cape snd Capture.


remember the murder of Jonas Land
q highly respected farmer, who re
sided near Hubbard City, Il'll county
In 1888. Full accounts OF the Grim,
were published at the time, and tn,
details were horrible enough. II
attempting TO rescue a daughter
| from the embraces Of varnell the
father was shot dead IN his own
yard. Varne'i then made his escape
sud was never apprehended until
last week.
varnell had au accomplice by the
name Of George Walker who was
tried at the fall term of the district
court In this city, in 1888, aud &C
quilted.
The murder was theme for tho
newspapers throughout the state for
several months after its commission,
and his exccllency, Governor Ireland,
offered reward Of $500 for The cap.
ture of Narnell aud this put the
officers aud detectives In central
Texas on their vigilance. and every
effort was made 10 capture Varnell.
Especially did the sherifis Of MtLen-
nan and Hill counties and Van Halls
detective agency, OF Waco, vie with
each other to see who would capture
the murderer. IL was Known that
Varnell spent part of his time in Hill
aud McLennsu counties, and at sew
eral different times parties went from
Wsco after him, but us he had u great
many friends il was impossible to get
near him .thout his hearing OF their
coming, eud he would invariably es-
cape. a
When man commits such Nm afro
cious murder as Tom Varnell has
committed, II IS impossible for him to
always escape the vigilance of the
law. lie may dodge the officers
for few months or even
years, but he VIII finally be-
come reckless and at last
The officers will nab him, just so
with Tom Varnell; 1t was only a
matter of time when he would be
captured. The particulars of his ar
rest are given to the FyAMINPR by
M. VIM. Poage, who has known Var
nell for several years, and came from
lei Paso TO Hillsboro with Sheriff Bell
Deputy Sheriff Mckinney aud the
prisoner.
The Brigman's, whose home Is in
Hill county, have a rancho out on the
Texas plains, near the New Mexico
line, and II was through them that
Sheriff Bell learned of Varnell's
whereabouts. lie was working Oh
Jim Newmao's rancho, which is adj.
joining the Brigham rancho, under
the assumed name of Bob Woods
Sheriff Bell then laid his plans TO cap.
ture Val hell. and sent Deputy Sheriff
Mckinney out to the Brigham rancht
TO watch his movements. Mckinney
learned that it would never do to at.
tempt to capture Varnell while h,
was on the Newman rancho, as he wa
surrounded by his friends, and they
would not let him be taken. But af
Ter watching for some time, 1t becam'
known to Mckinney that Tom had |
sweet heart at Magdalena, in Sorocct
county, New Mexico, aud that he pait
her a1 occasional visit. While Ii,
was of on one of these visitsit wonlt
be the time 10 capture Varnell, ans
when Tom left the rancho about tw,
weeks ago and started for Mag
dalena, Mckinney came to Colorado
City and notified Sheriff Bell at Hills
boro, that IL was tn
accepted time, and Mr.. b. o
| once left for the west. lii
aud McKinnep went to Magdalens
Securing the services of the sheriff o
Sorocco county, they laid in wait TO
Varnell. They soon found him, eu'
the three watched him as he loade'
his Winchester, aud started to sc,
his sweetheart. They intercepted
him at her door; the three tire,
| lhtir guns down on him and dc
maaded his surrender. Instead o
submitting, Tom commenced I
draw his winchester, which was in
scabbard, aud would have no donb
used Ii, but one of the men jumpe
on him, and tho others came TO hi
assistance. Tom fought like tige
aud IL was sometime before he wa
handcufied and brought under con
troll. After securing the prlsone
Bell and his deputy started for Texai
Mr.. Poage met them at I'll Pas
aud in travelling with the part
he had chance to converse wit
| Varnell Tom told Mr.. Poage thu
since the killing of Land he ha
lived life of terror; he imagine
that every officer wis on his track an
was trying to capture him. Iu h
dreams he imagined that he was cal
tured, tried and hung; he died a
hundred deaths; he had came yer
near freezing on the prairies, and ha
been In ''hot boxes" In evading Il
officers. After be YVES arrested an
knew that he had to go back to HI
county, he felt easier, because u
agony was over. AT times he though
he would give himself up to the o
iicers, but he did not want to give I
} his freedom.
Bell brought Vainell all the WI
from Magdalena hsudcrtied 10 hin
elf, with Mckinney near them Ell q
time.
Varne'' has numerous friends
this and Hill counties, and IL is 50
he can give an 100000 bond.
course he win employ the best cou
sci that en- be had; and q stroi
= fight for him will be made.