The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-27
LONG HUNT FOR MURDERER
An Alabama Man, After Twenty Years
Pursuit, Finds His Brothers Slayer.
The Prisoner and Pursuer Return to Alabama
Handcuffed Together, Followed by Cow
boy Friends of the Former.

When the $3.50 o'clock train over the vandalia
railroad pulled into the Union Depot yesterday
afternoon, five individuals allghted who attract
ed unusual attention. The first was an officer,
following him were two old, gray-headed men,
shackled together and last came two cowboys
IN high-topped boots, seedy dress and large white
Eats The officer was the United States marshal
for the State of Missouri; one of the men in
shackles was murderer, the other was the
brother of the man he murdered, and the two
cowboys were bosom friends of the murderer,
and they were following him to his former home
to lend him aid in escaping punishment.
In 1866 Calvin McFee and Joseph B. Hard
wick lived on adjoining plantations in Cherokee
county, Alabama Near them was third tract
of land, which they both claimed, and over which
they had much litigation. The court of the
county finally decided that Hardwick was the
rightful owner of the land, and when McFee
heard of the decision he sought Hardwick at his
home and shot him through the heart McFee
returned to his own home bade his family fare
well and the same night he left the country.
In the same neighborhood lived William B.
Hardwick, brother of the murdered man, and
he vowed that he would ind the murderer if it
took him a lifetime. That was in 1885, and he
was then thirty-six years of age. He started on
the trail of McFee and followed him to Texas,
from there to California, thence up into the
Northern Territories where he lost track of him.
But he was not dshearrened, and for the past
twenty years he has been continually searching
for him. He has been in every State and Terri
int TTp;n ~ hoo do %r;r 20
South America, where ne heard the fugitive had
gone. Two weeks ago, while in st. Louis. he
heard of man by the name of Cal McFee in
Southwest City, Mo-, and he at once
set out for the little town. There he learned
that McFee. the man for whom he mad been
searching for twonty years, was living quietly on
little farm near the town, and was regarded as
one of the communitys best citizens He at once
visited United States Marshal Rice at Spring
field, and asked his assistance in getting the
back to Cherokee county, Alabama. The mar
shal returned to the little town with him, and
McFee now an old. gray haired man, was placed
under arrest. He submitted peacefully, and said
he would return without the formality of a
requisition.
The arrest produced great excitement in the
community, especially among the cowboys with
whom MeFee had been quite intimate, and for
awhile it looked as If there was going to be az
uprising against Inc marSnal ana the VlnOlCLlV0
brother Of the murdered man. When the time
came to start home with the prisoner, Hardwick
said he was afraid his prisoner would again es
cape on the road. and, as means Of safety, he
asked to be handcutfed to him, and the marshal
fastened the murderer and his pursuer together.
The cowboys held meeting over the arrest of
their friend, and two of their number were APP
pointed to go with him to his home and see that
he was accorded justice They were furnished
with plenty of money, and given orders to use
their best efforts to secure the acquittal of Nc
Fee
The burly men of the plains remained close
by the prisoner and his companions all the time,
and when the strange company reached here
yesterday. Mr.. Rice called upon the police apd
wanted the cowboys held for few days, as he
believed they intended to make an effort to free
the prisoner before Alabama was reached. The
police refused to arrest them. The five left on
the o'clock train over the j., NJ. & I. railroad
for the South last night.