The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-03
TWO OFFICERS KILLED.
A Deputy Sheriff Kindly Loans His Pistol
to Prisoner and Is Promptly Killed.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
EVANSVILLE Ind. June "A terrible tragedy
took place at Jasper, last night, by which two
officers in the discharge of duty met their
death at the hands of two desperadoes.
The facts, as obtained by your correspondent,
are as follows: Robert H. Reeves
is farmer living in Columbia township,
Dubois county He is about sixty years old,
and somew; 1T of hard character, having
already served term in prison. He has two
sons-John, aged thirty-fve, and George,
thirty years; they are saloon keepers in
Terre Haute, and are rated as desperadoes.
For the past year they have been in the
habit of visiting their father every two or three
months and remaining eight or ten days. There
has been an indictment for grand larceny in
Martin county hanging over their heads for two
years past, but for some reason no at
tempt has ever been made to serve
it. About a week ago the sheriff
Of Dubois county received the warrant, with
isstrpe.ions to arrest the hoys, who We're then
at their Fathers farm The sheriff swore in two
deputy sheriffs-John Gardner and William Cox
for this purpose. The two deputies found
no opportunity to arrest the men un-
til yesterday when old man Reeves
came to Jasper, leaving his two sons
about a mile and half from town. The depu-
ties, by watching the old man, found the hiding
place of their men about o'clock and arrested
them While going to town old man Reeves
said to Gardner, That's pretty pistol you
have; let me see it."
The officer handed his pistol to Reeves. where
fha trio fo cho br,fx
prevented by Cox drawing his own revolver, and
telling Reeves not to attempt to fire. Reeves
thereupon shot Cox in the wrist, causing
his pistol to drop from his hand.
Old Reeves then fired two shots at Cox, one en-
tering the thigh and the other lodging in the
back, paralyzing him from the waist down.
Meanwhile the sons had opened fire upon
Gardner, shooting him four times,
two shots taking effect in his back
one in the left arm and one in the forehead
between, the eyes. After both were rendered
helpless, the two young men went through
Gardner's pockets, securing $40 in money and
some valuable papers. They also appropriated
Gardner's and Cox's revolvers and their horses,
and escaped, coming south towards Evansville.
The wounded officers lay suffering intense
agony until about o'clock last evening, when
they were discovered by farmers and brought to
Jasper, where medical attendance was procured.
Gardner fingered until o'clock this morning,
when he died, after having suffered greatly.
Cox is alive at this hour, but death is mo-
mentarily expected
Nothing has been heard of the murderers and
the authorities have taken no steps to-
ward their apprehension. The officers re-
main inactive, simply because 70 reward
has been offered for the arrest of the criminals
Both the murdered men were well known and
esteemed in the community. Gardner was for a
long time resident of Evansville, and was
known as a brave and kind hearted fellow Both
men leave families The citizens are excited
and loud in condemnation of the inaction of the
authorities.